Sit Down Ye Saints of God!

As it is with birth, so it is, for the Calvinist, with death. When someone dies, someone else can always say, “It was his/her time to go,” or “The Lord knows what is best.” Conversely, when someone is not killed in a demolished car, someone will say the opposite, “It was not his/her time to go,” or “S/he was spared for a purpose.” If we pressed pre-destination to its logical conclusion, we would never go to a doctor, never have surgery, or never worry about habits, food or safety. If somewhere there is a ticking clock set to ring out the timing of our death, why make any effort to prolong our lives? John Wesley warned that Calvinism can tend to destroy our zeal for good works. We often sing, “Rise up ye saints of God, have done with lesser things; give heart and soul and mind and strength to serve the King of Kings.” Someone once said that Calvinist should sing, “Sit down ye saints of God, there’s nothing you can do; God is in charge of everything and has no need of you.” Is that the God you want to serve? I know some find comfort in not being held accountable, but this is going to a wild extreme, and again, I just can’t go there. During our next visit, I will introduce you to an old friend: Jacob Arminius.