"God Probably Hates You..." | How Calvinism Breaks Logic

 Here is a detailed breakdown of the video's arguments:

1. Video Summary

This video critically examines the logical coherence of Calvinism, specifically the form taught by popular preachers like John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul. The host, Joe Heshmire, argues that Calvinism is "logically impossible" due to three key beliefs within its system. He contends that these beliefs, when taken together, create a series of contradictions that are irreconcilable.

2. Major Points

The video presents three primary arguments against the logical consistency of Calvinism:

• Limited Atonement: The doctrine that Jesus's death was only for the "elect". This implies that the salvation of the elect was secured from eternity, and their actions (including faith) do not contribute to it. This view also necessitates a rejection of scriptures that state Christ died for the "whole world."

• God's Selective Love: The idea that God only loves the elect and not the rest of humanity in a saving way. This leads to the conclusion that God creates some people specifically to be objects of His eternal wrath.

• The Paradox of Loving Enemies: The conflict between the command for Christians to love their enemies and desire their salvation, while believing that God has no desire to save those same people. This puts the Christian in the position of being "more loving" than God.

3. Scripture Mentioned

The video references the following scripture:

• 1 John 4: This passage is cited to argue against the Calvinist view of God's love. The video notes that R.C. Sproul suggests the statement "God is love" is hyperbole, while John MacArthur states God's love is "qualified and controlled by his glory". The video's author argues that the Calvinist position on God's love contradicts the plain meaning of this scripture.

4. Anticipated Objections and Answers

While the video itself does not explicitly raise and answer objections, here are some common objections to critiques of Calvinism, along with typical responses:

• Objection 1: Human reason is fallen and cannot be trusted to understand God's ways.

• Answer: While human reason is fallen, it is also a gift from God. To reject logic and reason entirely in theological matters can lead to accepting contradictions that are not supported by a consistent reading of scripture. The Bible itself uses reasoned arguments and encourages believers to do the same (Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together").

• Objection 2: The Bible teaches that God is sovereign and that man is responsible. These are both true, even if we can't fully reconcile them.

• Answer: While the Bible does teach both truths, the critique presented in the video is not simply that there is a tension between them, but that the specific Calvinist understanding of these doctrines leads to logical contradictions. The issue is not with the "mystery" of God's sovereignty, but with a system of theology that appears to make God the author of sin and to command humans to have a more loving disposition than God himself.

• Objection 3: The "world" in passages like John 3:16 refers to the "world of the elect," not every individual.

• Answer: This interpretation is seen by critics as a forced reading of the text that is not supported by the context of the passages in question. They argue that "world" in its normal usage in the New Testament refers to all of humanity, and that reinterpreting it to mean only the elect is an attempt to make the text fit a pre-existing theological system.

5. Authors and Works Cited

The video cites the following authors:

• John MacArthur: The video alludes to MacArthur's teachings on the love of God. While not naming a specific work, MacArthur has written extensively on this topic, including the book The Love of God and a sermon series of the same name. In these works, he argues for a distinction between God's general love for all creation and a specific, saving love for the elect. He maintains that God's love is always consistent with His justice and holiness.

• R.C. Sproul: The video references Sproul's views on God's love and hate. This is likely a reference to his teachings on the doctrine of divine impassibility and his explanations of passages that speak of God's hatred for sinners. In his teaching, Sproul would argue that God's "hatred" is a righteous and holy opposition to sin and unrighteousness, not an arbitrary or malicious emotion.

6. Closing Summary

In summary, the video presents a logical critique of Calvinism by highlighting what it sees as three major internal contradictions. It argues that the Calvinist doctrines of limited atonement and God's selective love for the elect create an untenable paradox when combined with the biblical command for Christians to love their enemies. The video contends that this system of theology, as articulated by influential preachers like John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul, ultimately presents a picture of God that is at odds with the biblical portrayal of His character, particularly as revealed in the statement "God is love" from 1 John 4. The video's central thesis is that these logical inconsistencies make Calvinism an untenable theological position.