Why I'm Not A Calvinist - Part 1: It's Not God's Fault

I'm not a Calvinist.  I call myself an Arminian, even though a lot of Southern Baptists don't like that label because they think all Arminians believe that you can lose your salvation.  That's not the case.  You can be an Arminian and believe in eternal security.  I don't reject the entire TULIP of Calvinism, just the ULI in the middle.  I affirm Total Depravity, as do all classical Arminians, and I affirm Perseverance of the Saints, as do all Southern Baptists.  But I reject Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, and Irresistible Grace.  In other words, on the five points of Calvinism I'm a classical Arminian, but classical Arminians disagree among themselves on Perseverance of the Saints.  For a quick summary of classical Arminianism, check out the "FACTS of Salvation" on the website of the Society of Evangelical Arminians.

Why do I reject Calvinism?  I'm going to give two reasons -- one in this post, and one in the next -- although I could give many more reasons.  The first reason is this:  It's not God's fault that people go to hell.  Let me explain.  I believe the Bible teaches that some people (most people, in fact) will go to hell for all eternity, and that hell is a terrible place of conscious, eternal torment.  Admittedly, this is a difficult doctrine to explain.  Skeptics want to know why a loving God would send people to hell for all eternity.  Calvinism and Arminianism offer contrasting answers to that question.  Calvinism says that some people go to hell because God does not offer them salvation.  He does not give them the option or possibility to be saved.  He does not make salvation available to them.  In other words, it's God's fault that some people burn in hell for all eternity.  On the other hand, Arminianism says that some people go to hell because they reject Christ.  God offers them salvation, He gives them the option and possibility of salvation, He makes salvation available to them, but they reject Him.  In other words, it's their own fault that some people go to hell.

The Arminian answer seems to be much more congruent with Scripture.  The idea that God would send people to hell without giving them the option or possibility of salvation does not fit with the picture of God that we see in Scripture -- a God of love who wants everyone to be saved (1 Jn 4:8; 2 Pt 3:9).  

In short, I'm not a Calvinist because I don't think Scripture blames God for people going to hell.  It puts the blame on people who have chosen to reject God's free offer of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.