Hyper-Calvinism

Hyper-Calvinism is a theological error that distorts the doctrines of Calvinism, particularly those concerning God's sovereignty, election, and human responsibility. It goes beyond traditional Reformed teachings, often misapplying or overemphasizing certain aspects of predestination and divine sovereignty, while undermining human responsibility, evangelism, and the call to repentance and faith. Hyper-Calvinism tends to eliminate or reduce the role of human agency in salvation, leading to a denial of key biblical teachings and a departure from historic orthodox Reformed theology.

History of Hyper-Calvinism

1. 17th-18th Century Roots: The roots of Hyper-Calvinism can be traced back to the debates following the Synod of Dort (1618-1619), where Reformed theologians opposed the Arminians and affirmed the five points of Calvinism (often summarized by TULIP: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, Perseverance of the Saints). While mainstream Calvinism maintained a balanced view of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, some theologians took these doctrines to extremes, leading to Hyper-Calvinist views.

   English Particular Baptists in the 18th century, such as John Gill, were influential in the development of Hyper-Calvinism. Some of these Baptists overemphasized the doctrine of election to the exclusion of the universal call to repentance and faith. This led to a denial of the need for evangelism and a rejection of the free offer of the gospel to all people. They believed that since only the elect would be saved, there was no need to preach the gospel indiscriminately to all.

2. Controversy and Decline: Hyper-Calvinism became more pronounced in 18th-century England, particularly among Baptists and Dutch Reformed groups. The controversy reached its peak in the ministries of John Gill and later William Huntington, who further emphasized the absolute sovereignty of God to the point of denying the role of human responsibility in responding to the gospel. In contrast, more orthodox Reformed figures like Andrew Fuller and Charles Spurgeon argued strongly against Hyper-Calvinism, upholding the biblical call to evangelize and the free offer of the gospel to all people.

   Hyper-Calvinism went into decline after the strong opposition it faced from Fuller, Spurgeon, and others in the 19th century, but its influence has persisted in some Baptist and Reformed circles, albeit in more isolated forms.

Theology of Hyper-Calvinism

Hyper-Calvinism involves a series of doctrinal errors or extremes that distort traditional Calvinism. Here are key theological points associated with Hyper-Calvinism, including answers to the specific views mentioned:

1. God as the Author of Sin:

   • Do Hyper-Calvinists believe this? Yes, some extreme Hyper-Calvinists believe that God is the author of sin or that He directly causes sin. They argue that because God is absolutely sovereign, He must determine and cause everything, including human sin and evil.
   • Why it’s heretical: This contradicts historic Reformed orthodoxy, which teaches that while God is sovereign over all things, He is not the author of sin (James 1:13). God permits sin in His providence, but human beings are morally responsible for their sinful actions. The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF 3.1) affirms that God "neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin."

2. Denial of Human Will:

   • Do Hyper-Calvinists believe this? Yes, many Hyper-Calvinists deny or minimize the role of human will. They argue that human choices are irrelevant because God’s decrees override all secondary causes, including human decision-making.
   • Why it’s heretical: Reformed orthodoxy teaches that human beings have a will and make real choices, even though those choices occur under the sovereign will of God. The Westminster Confession (WCF 9.1) teaches that God’s sovereignty is compatible with human responsibility.

3. Knowing the Elect:

   • Do Hyper-Calvinists believe this? Some Hyper-Calvinists believe that it is possible to know the number of the elect or that they can identify the elect based on external signs or certain theological beliefs.
   • Why it’s heretical: Historic Reformed theology teaches that no one but God knows who the elect are (2 Timothy 2:19). The elect are known only by God, and assurance of election comes through faith in Christ, not by external knowledge or speculation.

4. Evangelism is Wrong:

   • Do Hyper-Calvinists believe this? Yes, many Hyper-Calvinists believe that it is unnecessary or even wrong to evangelize or offer the gospel to all people. They argue that since only the elect will be saved, there is no need to preach to everyone.
   • Why it’s heretical: This denies the biblical command to preach the gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8) and contradicts the free offer of the gospel, which is central to Reformed theology. Evangelism is a means by which God calls the elect to salvation, and Scripture commands believers to share the gospel indiscriminately (Romans 10:14-15).

5. Assurance of Election Before Faith:

   • Do Hyper-Calvinists believe this? Yes, some Hyper-Calvinists teach that individuals must have assurance of their election before they can repent and believe. They view election as something to be known in advance, rather than trusting Christ first.
   • Why it’s heretical: This is contrary to historic Reformed teaching, which holds that assurance of election comes through faith in Christ and ongoing sanctification, not prior knowledge. Calvinists teach that people come to faith by hearing the gospel and responding in repentance and faith, and through this, they gain assurance of their election (2 Peter 1:10).

6. Once Professing, Always Saved:

   • Do Hyper-Calvinists believe this? Some Hyper-Calvinists hold to a form of antinomianism that teaches that once a person makes a sincere profession of faith, they are saved regardless of their later actions, even if they live in unrepentant sin.
   • Why it’s heretical: This denies the doctrine of perseverance of the saints (which includes persevering in holiness), as Reformed theology teaches that true believers will continue in faith and repentance (John 10:28-29; 1 John 2:19). A person who abandons their faith demonstrates that they were not truly converted.

7. Racial Election:

   • Do Hyper-Calvinists believe this? Some fringe groups, particularly in the context of Kinism or other racist ideologies, have claimed that God has chosen some races and rejected others.
   • Why it’s heretical: This is a gross distortion of Reformed theology. Scripture teaches that God’s elect come from every tribe, language, people, and nation (Revelation 5:9). God does not choose people based on race but based on His sovereign will.

8. God Does Not Command Everyone to Repent:

   • Do Hyper-Calvinists believe this? Yes, some Hyper-Calvinists argue that God does not command all people to repent because not all people are elect.
   • Why it’s heretical: The Bible teaches that God commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). Reformed orthodoxy holds that while only the elect will respond to the gospel, the call to repentance and faith is a general command to all people.

9. Sacraments as Obstacles:

   • Do Hyper-Calvinists believe this? While not common, some extreme Hyper-Calvinists may downplay the importance of the sacraments, viewing them as unnecessary or even obstacles to salvation by faith alone.
   • Why it’s heretical: Reformed theology teaches that the sacraments are means of grace, ordained by Christ to strengthen faith (Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 27). The sacraments do not save in and of themselves but are spiritual tools through which God works in the hearts of believers.

10. Saving Faith as Belief in Predestination:

    • Do Hyper-Calvinists believe this? Some Hyper-Calvinists equate saving faith with belief in the doctrine of predestination, rather than faith in Christ.
    • Why it’s heretical: This is a distortion of the biblical teaching on faith. Saving faith is trust in Christ alone for salvation, not simply an intellectual belief in the doctrine of election (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).

11. Only Calvinists Are Christians (Neo-Gnostic Calvinism):

    • Do Hyper-Calvinists believe this? Some extreme Hyper-Calvinists may believe that only Calvinists are true Christians, creating a neo-gnostic exclusivism based on theological knowledge.
    • Why it’s heretical: This view is sectarian and unbiblical. The Bible teaches that anyone who trusts in Christ for salvation is a Christian (Romans 10:9-13), regardless of their theological framework. The gospel is not restricted to those who hold a particular view on election.

The Historic Christian Orthodox View

Reformed orthodoxy rejects Hyper-Calvinism as a distortion of biblical Calvinism. Key points of the orthodox view include:

1. God’s Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: Historic Reformed theology teaches that while God is sovereign over all things, humans are still morally responsible for their actions (Romans 9; Romans 10:9-15). God ordains the ends and the means, including the preaching of the gospel and human faith in Christ.

2. Free Offer of the Gospel: Reformed orthodoxy teaches the free offer of the gospel to all people, with a genuine call to repentance and faith. While only the elect will respond, the gospel must be preached to all (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 10:13-15).

3. Evangelism as a Divine Command: Evangelism is a central part of the church’s mission (Acts 1:8), and all Christians are called to participate in the proclamation of the gospel.

4. Faith and Assurance: Faith in Christ precedes assurance of election, and assurance is given through sanctification and perseverance in the Christian life (2 Peter 1:10).

5. Perseverance of the Saints: True believers will persevere in faith and holiness, and those who fall away demonstrate that they were never truly saved (1 John 2:19).

Conclusion

Hyper-Calvinism takes Reformed doctrines of God's sovereignty and election to unbiblical extremes, denying human responsibility, evangelism, and the free offer of the gospel. It has been rejected by historic Christian orthodoxy because it distorts the balance of Scripture, undermines the command to evangelize, and misconstrues the nature of faith and repentance. True Calvinism upholds both God’s sovereignty and human responsibility in salvation, while affirming the call to preach the gospel to all people.

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