As a follow-up to Brother Michael’s previous post on Chuck Smith (found here), I’m presenting an audio clip of a critique that James White did in response to an audio clip of Chuck Smith and other Calvary Chapel speakers in which they attacked the Doctrines of Grace, equated Calvinists to cultists, and even opposed God’s sovereignty.
Christ Alone Wyoming 
Egad! Chuck Smith came across as more ignorant than I could have imagined. No man has a perfect understanding of theology – ’tis a pity some folk denigrate other views; more’s the pity with some folk elevate man to be the determining voice in salvation.
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Speaking of James White, here he is with a 12-minute discussion about the “particular atonement” from the Book of Hebrews:
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Here’s one thing about Reformed theology that keeps on impressing me: the consistent focus on the sovereignty and majesty and sufficiency of God and Christ. All other views elevate man to some degree, tipping any Saint off to the lie within.
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you would think “Christians” would like the fact that God chose them instead of them choosing Him. It makes me wonder about people that constantly deny the doctrines of Grace.
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My only comment is this:
Whether someone claims to be of Chuck Smith, Calvin, Arminius, Menno or ANYONE else other than Christ, you are carnal.
Paul rebuked the Corinthians for claiming to be of him, Apollos or even Peter.
1 Corinthians 1:11-16 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
1 Corinthians 3:1-4 1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
Argue with the Word, not me.
But beware:
Proverbs 30:6 Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
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Unprofitable Servant,
I agree with your about not calling myself a Calvinist, though I hold fast to the 5 points of the TULIP (as well as the 5 solas, from which the TULIP sprouts). For each man has error and we must not be seen as disciples of sinful men, but of the sinless Lord Jesus. Let all who claim His name point folks to Him alone. Yet not let us think that we cannot profit from godly, imperfect men who have gone before.
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I haven’t heard exegisis(by Chuck and co-host) that good since I was in the Pentecostal movement.
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So Chuck Smith gives a brief comment on Rom. 8 and you say he is ignorant and imply he is going to hell? God predestined those whom He “foreknew”, it is both God’s work and man’s free will, God works out his sovereign will in salvation through our free will, we cannot understand it completely because Gos is so much wiser then us but the Bible teaches He “desires all men to come to repentance” and “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”, God seems to base His election of us on our cooperation with His ways. I admit Chuck did not handle that verse quite correctly but the reason CC is against calvinism is because it makes God out to be a bully rather then a loving Father.
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@Loren: Calvinism does not make God a bully. No one deserves salvation, but God in His kindness chooses to save some. This is a loving act in my mind, even if we do not exert our will in the process 🙂
@UnprofitableServant: I don’t think anyone is following Calvin per se; rather, his name is used just to sum up, or evoke, the principles involved in his theology 🙂
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