Hyper-Calvinism refers to a theological position that is more rigid and extreme than traditional Calvinism. It emphasizes God’s sovereignty and predestination to the exclusion of human responsibility and the free offer of the gospel. Here is a more detailed overview of hyper-Calvinism and an analysis of whether it aligns with Scripture.
Beliefs of Hyper-Calvinism
Hyper-Calvinists hold to five key beliefs that set them apart from mainstream Calvinists:
- Double predestination – They believe God actively predestines some people to damnation, not just passively leaves them in their fallen state.
- Limited atonement – Christ’s atoning death on the cross was only for the elect, not for all people.
- Gospel regeneration – People must be regenerated by God before they can savingly believe the gospel or repent of sins.
- Gospel offer – Evangelists should only offer the gospel to those they deem are elect, not make a well-meant offer to all.
- Duty-faith – Unbelievers have no responsibility to repent and believe the gospel.
In essence, hyper-Calvinists overemphasize divine sovereignty and downplay human responsibility. They believe God alone does all the work in salvation – He elects, regenerates, gives faith, and causes repentance. Humans are completely passive in salvation and cannot freely respond to the gospel offer.
How Hyper-Calvinism Differs from Calvinism
Orthodox Calvinists disagree with hyper-Calvinists on several key points:
- Double predestination – Most Calvinists believe God passes over the non-elect, leaving them in sin, rather than actively reprobates them.
- Limited atonement – Mainstream Calvinists say Christ’s atonement is sufficient for all but efficient only for the elect.
- Gospel offer – Calvin instructed preachers to offer salvation to all people and call them to repentance and faith.
- Duty to repent and believe – Though humans cannot savingly repent or believe apart from grace, Calvinists say it remains the duty of all people to do so.
So in summary, Calvinism affirms both God’s sovereignty and human responsibility in salvation. Hyper-Calvinism leans too far toward divine sovereignty to the diminishing of human accountability.
Biblical Analysis of Hyper-Calvinism
When examining hyper-Calvinist beliefs in light of Scripture, some don’t stand up to biblical scrutiny. Here are a few problematic areas:
1. Double Predestination
The Bible never explicitly teaches God actively predestines people to damnation. Passages on election like Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 1:4-5 only refer to those predestined to salvation. We don’t see symmetry in predestination to salvation and damnation.
Romans 9:22-23 ESV – What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory.
This passage is sometimes used to defend double predestination, but it’s debatable. The “vessels of wrath” could refer to those who have prepared themselves for destruction by rebellion rather than God actively fitting them for ruin.
2. Limited Atonement
The Bible presents Jesus’ death on the cross as having an unlimited scope. He is the atoning sacrifice not just for Christians but for the “sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).
1 John 2:2 ESV – He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 ESV – For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
So while the actual application of Christ’s redemptive work is only to those who believe, the offer and potential efficacy is for all people.
3. Duty to Repent and Believe
The Bible issues a summons to all people everywhere to repent and believe the gospel. This would make no sense if people were unable to respond.
Acts 17:30 ESV – The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
Mark 1:15 ESV – Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Though humans will never repent and believe apart from God’s grace, the universal commands indicate people maintain a duty to repent and believe.
4. Well-Meant Gospel Offer
Jesus and the apostles extended the gospel offer to all people indiscriminately. The Great Commission calls us to share the gospel with every creature under heaven (Mark 16:15).
Matthew 22:14 ESV – For many are called, but few are chosen.
This shows a well-meant offer of salvation goes out to many, even though only a few will respond positively and be among the elect.
Pastoral Implications of Hyper-Calvinism
Hyper-Calvinism can have negative practical effects within a local church or denomination:
- Stifles missions and evangelism since the gospel is not to be sincerely offered to all.
- Undermines assurance of salvation since you can’t know if you’re among the elect.
- Breeds spiritual apathy and moral laxity since human responsibility is diminished.
- Worship lacks zeal and passion since God alone energizes the affections.
- Prayer is undervalued since God’s sovereignty negates the need to pray.
Mainstream Calvinists avoid these pitfalls by holding divine sovereignty and human responsibility in biblical balance.
Historical Examples of Hyper-Calvinism
Here are a few notable cases of hyper-Calvinism through church history:
1. Joseph Hussey (1726-1810)
Hussey pastored a Baptist church where he forbid any preacher from inviting all people to salvation or calling them to repent and believe. He said the gospel was only for the elect.
2. Gospel Standard Baptists
This ultra-strict Calvinist denomination in England opposes general redemption and denies that repentance and faith are the duty of all people. They limit their evangelism only to those they deem elect.
3. Protestant Reformed Churches
Led by Herman Hoeksema, this denomination broke away from the CRC over issues like common grace and the well-meant gospel offer. They deny God loves or desires to save all people without exception.
While other denominations and theologians could be mentioned, these illustrate how hyper-Calvinism has reemerged at various times.
Responses to Hyper-Calvinism Claims
When interacting with hyper-Calvinist beliefs, here are some responses to keep in mind:
- Affirm God’s absolute sovereignty, but caution against diminishing human responsibility.
- Point to God’s universal love and the offer of the gospel to all people.
- Note biblical examples of God desiring the salvation of all (1 Tim 2:4, 2 Pet 3:9, Ezek 18:23).
- Stress that while God alone saves, the means He uses involves human gospel preaching and witnessing.
- Encourage passion in prayer and missions while relying on God’s sovereignty.
- Press for assurance of salvation based on Christ’s finished work rather than guessing about election.
The key is keeping divine sovereignty and human responsibility held in biblical balance.
Conclusion
In summary, hyper-Calvinism takes some biblical doctrines to an unbalanced extreme. While maintaining God’s sovereignty, hyper-Calvinism diminishes human moral accountability and willingness to repent. It limits the efficacy and scope of Christ’s atonement contrary to Scripture. Hyper-Calvinism would do well to recover the mainstream Calvinist view that upholds divine sovereignty while retaining the well-meant gospel offer to all people with the summons to repent and believe.