Bible Study Fellowship has been going through the book of Romans. They are currently in Romans 9-11, and they are taking a very Calvinistic position. I’m told they have taken the view that in these chapters, Paul is teaching about individual election to eternal life, where God chooses some individuals for eternal life, but not others.
If God chooses only to save some people, it puts His good character in doubt. When the objection is raised that the Calvinistic view makes God arbitrary and morally questionable, the BSF response is that this is a mystery you cannot understand.
If you would like a completely different take on Romans, let me recommend two books.
First, please see my book Chosen to Serve: Why Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life on amazon.com or through our bookstore. Contra BSF, I argue the Bible teaches that election is to service, not to eternal life. God doesn’t choose individuals to have eternal life. Rather, He chooses people, places, and things to work for Him, to accomplish a task or a job. And He often does that for evangelistic reasons, to bring salvation to the whole world (John 3:16). I wrote the book to be very simple, very clear, and it sticks with the Biblical texts. I was completely incredulous of that idea when I first started my study, but as I went through the Bible verse by verse, it became clear to me that the Calvinistic view I had assumed was wrong.
Second, please read Zane Hodges’ Romans: Deliverance from Wrath. My book only addresses the election issue. Zane covers the whole of Romans. It will help you read Romans in a completely different, non-Calvinistic way, including chapters 9-11. I know BSF does not allow you to read any commentaries but their own, but if you know they are taking a Calvinistic view, you should be curious about other interpretations—ones that do not paint God as a moral monster.
BSF does good work. But like any organization, they can get things wrong, too. And I believe they are certainly wrong on Romans and election.
It’s not the end of the world, but it’s a great opportunity to delve even deeper into the Bible.
Ken Tamashiro
Thanks Shawn for sharing your views.
In my understanding of Romans chapters, 9-11 Paul was talking about Israels past /present /future. It is so sad to me that the Calvinist will disregard the Historical Context of what Paul is writing about.
One of my favorite book that keeps me informed Historically and explains Circumstances of the story and deals with hard to understand passages from a Dispensational point of view is the Ungers Bible Handbook. What I like about his book is, he gets to the point quickly.
I believe for me, when I look at a Bible passage, there is circumstances and motivation to the what was being written and when I get a picture of what is going on, what is written makes more sense.
Grace and Peace to You
Ken Tamashiro,
Tamra
I just finished reading “Chosen to Serve” and highly recommend it to anyone seeking clarification on passages used to teach God electing some for heaven & others for hell. It just makes sense that God chooses people, believers and unbelievers, to perform a service or task to accomplish His will.
John Kulp
I know very little about Bible Study Fellowship, but it is regrettable that whenever someone starts presenting the truth about sovereign election to glory apart from the will of man, he is labeled by this blog as a Calvinist, as though that bogeyman will serve to sufficiently warn earnest students against the doctrine of personal election by grace. God will not be seen as a “moral monster” by anyone who understands their own depravity, God’s mercy, and His right to choose from among universally rebellious humans.
Diane
I appreciated your very gracious tone in this, Shawn. I agree with your conclusions, and I have a passion to share the biblical view that Christ died for ALL, and “WHOSOEVER” believes in Him (EVERY PERSON IN THE WHOLE WORLD)… should not perish but have everlasting life.
I appreciated you pointing out the following…. “BSF does good work. But like any organization, they can get things wrong, too. And I believe they are certainly wrong on Romans and election.”
I have Christian friends involved in BSF, and I know they love the Lord and are serving Him. I don’t have any desire to be offensive to them, but just to encourage them to check out the evidence presented in books (such as you recommended) to see if it is biblical. As Bob Wilkin said in the title of his book…. “LET THE SCRIPTURES DECIDE.” I desire the same thing for myself… for God to correct me where I’m wrong. That’s always part of my own prayer request for myself.
Thank you for your wonderful ministry at GES.
Tyler S
To say that God’s character comes into question if he indeed has chosen some but not all would be to presume to know every possible reason of his for doing so and that not one of them is a good one. This is why they have left it, as it seems to me, a mystery. Each different interpretation, or theology, really, seeks to answer the most questions without raising the most issues. Free grace is an interpretation, not THE interpretation. At that, I did not come across one mention of it at seminary or post seminary grad school, having been raised in it my whole life. I think free gracers should be fair to other interpretations. Calvinists are not only within orthodoxy but have been the vanguard of it.
Phil
“Moral monster” seems like an accurate term to apply to someone who creates human beings, forces them to sin, then condemns them for their sin. Can’t think of a better term.
Curtis
Thanks, Shawn. Everything you write is worth reading.