Dave Hunt’s book, What Love is This? Calvinism’s Misrepresentation of God, has stirred significant debate within Christian circles. As a response to Hunt’s critique, this article delves into the accusations leveled against Calvinism, offering a robust defense and clarifying What Love Is This, according to Calvinistic theology. It’s crucial to address the mischaracterizations present in Hunt’s work, ensuring a fair and accurate understanding of Calvinism for English-speaking audiences seeking theological clarity. This review aims to provide a more comprehensive and SEO-optimized perspective on the core issues, drawing from the original review while expanding on key arguments.
Examining the Core Claims of “What Love Is This?”
Hunt’s central argument in What Love is This? revolves around the assertion that Calvinism presents a distorted view of God’s love. He contends that if God is truly loving, He must desire and enable salvation for every individual. Calvinism, with its doctrine of election, supposedly contradicts this notion by suggesting God chooses only some for salvation, seemingly limiting His love. Hunt posits that a God who could save all but chooses not to is inherently unjust and unloving, drawing parallels to a bystander who refuses to save a drowning person despite having the ability. This perspective frames Calvinistic theology as a misrepresentation of God’s character, particularly His love.
John Calvin, a prominent theologian whose teachings are central to the discussion on “what love is this” within Calvinism.
However, this critique often rests on misunderstandings and misrepresentations of Calvinistic tenets. It’s essential to unpack these misunderstandings to reveal the true nature of Calvinistic theology and its understanding of divine love.
Addressing Misconceptions of Calvinistic Theology
One of the primary mischaracterizations in Hunt’s book is the claim that Calvinism limits God’s saving grace to a select few, leaving the majority of humanity without hope. This is a significant distortion. Calvinists firmly believe that God’s saving grace is indeed offered to the whole world. They believe in the universal offer of the Gospel, inviting all to repentance and faith in Christ. The issue, according to Calvinism, lies not in the offer, but in humanity’s inherent inability to respond to this offer due to their fallen nature.
Furthermore, Hunt inaccurately portrays Calvinism as blaming God for sin and the damnation of sinners. Calvinistic theology, in fact, strongly affirms human responsibility for sin. While acknowledging God’s sovereignty over all things, including human actions, Calvinists clearly distinguish between God’s decree and His role as the author of sin. Sin originates from humanity’s free will, albeit a will corrupted by the fall. Individuals are held accountable for their choices and actions, and damnation is a just consequence of rejecting God’s offer of salvation, not a predetermined outcome imposed by a capricious deity.
Another critical misrepresentation concerns the Calvinistic view of human choice and free will. Hunt alleges that Calvinism denies genuine human choice and will, suggesting that salvation, according to Calvin, has nothing to do with personal belief. This is a profound misunderstanding. Calvin and Calvinists do believe in human choice and will. However, they recognize that fallen humanity is spiritually dead, unable to choose God apart from divine grace. This inability doesn’t negate the existence of free will in other spheres of life, but it highlights the spiritual incapacity of humans to initiate salvation on their own. God’s sovereign grace is therefore seen as essential to enable individuals to respond to the Gospel and exercise their will towards Him.
Reclaiming the Calvinistic Understanding of Divine Love
So, what love is this, according to Calvinism? It is a love that is profound, sovereign, and ultimately just. Calvinistic theology does not diminish God’s love but rather seeks to understand it within the framework of His sovereignty and holiness. God’s love is not a weak or sentimental affection but a powerful and purposeful force that is manifested in both His mercy and His justice.
The doctrine of election, often criticized as unloving, is actually understood within Calvinism as an expression of God’s sovereign love and grace. It highlights that salvation is entirely God’s initiative and gift, not something earned or deserved by humans. Election is not about God arbitrarily choosing some and rejecting others out of spite; it is about His sovereign freedom to extend grace to whom He will, while justly leaving others to the consequences of their own choices. This is rooted in the biblical declaration, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion” (Exodus 33:19).
Calvinists argue that God’s love is not diminished by the reality of hell. Hell is not a contradiction to God’s love but a manifestation of His justice against sin. God’s love is perfectly compatible with His wrath against unrighteousness. To ignore or downplay God’s justice in the name of love is to present an incomplete and ultimately distorted picture of His character.
Furthermore, Calvinism emphasizes that God’s love is ultimately revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Christ’s sacrificial atonement is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love for humanity. He willingly offered His Son to redeem a people for Himself, bearing the penalty for their sins. This act of love is not limited or restricted but is offered to all, even though its saving efficacy is particularly applied to those whom God has chosen.
The Importance of Accurate Theological Engagement
Dave Hunt’s What Love is This? has undoubtedly raised important questions about Calvinism and its portrayal of God. However, its reliance on misrepresentations and flawed interpretations hinders productive theological engagement. It is crucial for those seeking to understand Calvinism to move beyond caricatures and engage with its primary sources, particularly the writings of John Calvin himself.
Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion, far from being a product of shallow understanding as Hunt suggests, represents a profound and biblically grounded exploration of Christian theology. It is a work that has deeply influenced generations of Christian thinkers and continues to offer invaluable insights into the nature of God, salvation, and the Christian life. To dismiss it based on superficial criticisms is to miss out on a rich resource for theological understanding.
In conclusion, understanding “what love is this” within Calvinism requires moving past misrepresentations and engaging with the nuances of its theological framework. Calvinistic theology presents a God whose love is sovereign, just, and ultimately revealed in the saving work of Jesus Christ. While debates and discussions are vital for theological growth, they must be grounded in accuracy and a genuine desire to understand differing perspectives.
