Book review on "Chosen But Free" by Norman Geisler

In the Book Chosen But Free , Norman Geisler the author makes a statement that Calvin has been misunderstood by the neo –Calvinists of our present day and that Calvin was not an extreme Calvinist like the neo-Calvinists make him out to be today.  Geisler has a decent amount of evidence for this claim in his book.  Geisler claims that Calvin believed in unlimited atonement as he states in his book, “While Calvin believed that the benefits of the Atonement are applied only to a limited group, he held that the extent of the Atonement is unlimited…Christ died for the sins of the whole human race” (p.200). Geisler’s belief is that the neo-Calvinist took the idea of limited atonement as a misunderstanding by Calvin or as a spring board to prove that Christ only died for the elect. This belief does make sense to me after all this is not the first time that someone has twisted the words of a leader. The book states that these extreme Calvinists have basically taken the simple principles first introduced by Calvin and have distorted and corrupted them dramatically. Geisler goes on to into further details about how Calvin believed that Christ died for the whole world not just for the elect and backs it up with scripture and the words of Calvin. For example the book says that Calvin believed that no one should parish and in a quote by Calvin he states “This is his wondrous love towards the human race, that he desires all men to be saved , and is prepared to bring even the perishing to safety. We must notice the order that God is prepared to receive all men into repentance, so that none may perish. These words indicate the means of obtaining salvation, and whoever of us seeks salvation must learn to follow in this way” (p.202). This clearly states that Calvin did not believe in only a select few being saved. Also in the book Geisler says that Calvin believed that the offer of salvation was never limited in its offer just in its effect, just like a person cannot benefit from the perks of having a membership to an exclusive gym or resort without the actual membership. This is also true with salvation, a person will not benefit from salvation unless they receive salvation through faith and belief in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and savior.  Calvin’s views on Calvinism is hard to interpret while he did seem to lean toward some points of extreme Calvinism such as encouraging  extreme Calvinism’s T-U-L-I-P  according to Geisler,  he also seems to make it clear that he strongly believed that everyone had a chance at salvation.  This is confusing and makes perfect sense why confusion would happen when understanding where Calvin stands, but this does not give people the right to twist and distort what Calvin said just to prove their extremist view. This is why   Geisler’s view seems to be the most believable view of Calvin’s view on atonement because it points toward a simpler and more practical view.  

Worship and the Church

A few decades ago worship in the church was fairly standard but today church worship has evolved into many different forms. This reconstruction of how worship is performed is a good improvement because  not everyone is drawn towards the same type of worship.  As long as worship is performed to praise God I do not see a need for it to be boxed in and only certain types used. For example, some church’s use more modern music instead of hymns, use many musical instruments while others use very little or none at all and some church’s worship feels more like a concert while others feel more like a laid back  day with your family. Some people in the church are very happy about this change while others are not. Neither form of worship is wrong. There is no right and wrong for how many instruments are used. No church is perfect but I believe that everyone worships differently and the key is to find a church where you are free to worship unhindered. Churches need to be as different as the people attending, in this way everyone can find a church best suited to their type of worship. God does not care what way worship is performed as long as it praises him, in the Bible worship was performed in many different ways as it says in Palms 150:4 “Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs”. Sometimes church’s get so wrapped up in all the bells and whistles of worship that they lose sight of what really is important praising God. Church worship may be changing but it is for the better. As it continues to change the key that church’s need to keep in mind is to keep Christ the center of it all, after all we would not have a reason to celebrate if Christ had not died on the cross for us.

My Testimony

I became a Christian when I was five. I do not remember much about my life before I became a Christian, but I know I was never that serious about my relationship with God or that devote of a Christian. When I was 16 I had a falling out with God. When problems came into my life instead of taking them to God I would rely on other things. One day I realized my relationship with God was not what it should be and I was wandering from God. I hated the thought of drifting from God so I started changing things in my life, turning from insignificant things to God. My biggest commitment to God was when I went on a mission trip about a year ago; it was hard because I had always been afraid of mission trips. It was also hard because my family was afraid for my safety and was not big on the idea, even though where I was going was not dangerous. I have never been a rebellious child so it was hard to see my family’s disapproval, but eventually they accepted the idea and were ok with the idea. I have come to know that Christ is patient and no matter how many times we mess up we can always come to Him. God has really taught me how loving he is and that He knows the future so I don’t have to worry. God has really taught me to just trust Him.