Three Types of Calvinist
by Steve Hays
There are different perspectives on Calvinism. Different ways of approaching Calvinism. Differences of emphasis or orientation:
1. Soteriological
This orientation stresses doctrines like unconditional election, reprobation, special redemption, spiritual inability, sola gratia, monergistic regeneration, perseverance. It has special reference to the human situation. This is typically the focus of Reformed pastors, preachers, and evangelists.
2. Theological
This orientation stresses doctrines like absolute predestination and meticulous providence. It operates at a more cosmic level. It lays more emphasis on God's relation to the world in general rather than God's relation to mankind in particular. There are people who incline to (1), but distance themselves from (2).
3. Philosophical
This orientation piggybacks on (2). If (2) is true, then everything happens for a reason. There are no random, aimless events. No brute facts. No fortuitous accidents. Everything serves a purpose in a part/whole, means/ends relation. God leaves nothing to chance. Everything unfolds according to his master plan for world history.
This dovetails with the principle of sufficient reason. There are no inherently inexplicable truths. And that's a condition of intelligibility. In principle, there's a rational explanation for everything, although many things may be inscrutable to humans, given our epistemic limitations.
I recall in one of our discussions you asked me about biological evolution and my thoughts on it. Given the broad nature of this topic at the time I only was able to give you a superficial overview of my thoughts... so today I wanted to give you a more complete explanation. It is a big topic to cover but I will try to be as brief as I can about why I don't believe evolution has been demonstrated to be a fact. Thanks for your patience.
When I hear atheists and liberals mock and attack Christianity I always encourage them to migrate to a country where none of the influences of Christianity are present. I tell them that it would be better for them to live in a country where none of the plagues of Christianity has taken root — Better to go to North Korea, Syria, Cuba, Libya, Burma, Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Haiti, Indonesia, Cambodia, Nigeria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Jordan, Algeria, and Angola. Better to go to a country where Christianity has not spread its influence. Better to live in a country where there is virtually no freedom of speech, no free enterprise, no representative government, no civil liberties, virtually no rights for women than live in a country where Christianity has installed and disseminated such vile values.