Why I still reject 5-point Calvinism, but, fully embrace being a 4-point middle knowledge Calvinist.

This article is in reference to a previous article about being a non-denominational Non-Calvinist Reformed Protestant.

In my previous article I mentioned I had to reject Calvinism, but, embrace still being a Protestant whom was Reformed.

I can no longer say I reject all forms of Calvinism, but, only the form that rejects free will. This would be 5 point Calvinism and forms of theistic determinism. I am in fact a Calvinist, but, a 4-point middle knowledge Calvinist.

1- Total Depravity: There is not one aspect of my existence which is not infected by sin. However, the image of God I have been created in has not been ERASED, but rather, EFFACED. Think of a little drop of black ink being dropped into a tall glass of pure water. Every single particle of the water is now “infected” by the droplet of ink; however, it is still a glass of water. In fact, it is still drinkable (although your teeth will turn black). The water needs to be cleansed and purified.

2- Unconditional Election: I affirm predestination and election, but logically, this is not the same thing as causal determinism. God elects to create a world in which he knew with omniscient certainty, exactly how all things will happen. All things means all things, from all movements of subatomic particles to all actions of free creatures. God does not move my limbs or force my thoughts or choices (that is causal determinism); I am genuinely free to make my own choices, and logically speaking, I could have chosen otherwise. God simply elects a world in which he omnisciently and perfectly knows how we will freely choose. Thereby, he elects, guarantees, and predestines EVERYTHING, including our free choices that are not causally determined. We are logically free to choose otherwise as there are no causal strings attached (knowledge does not stand in causal relation). Now, to be candid, perhaps this is not “unconditional” in one sense, as it seems that our election is conditioned upon God’s middle knowledge of how we would freely choose in these circumstances. Perhaps instead of unconditional, we can call it, “Ultimate Election!”

3- Limited Atonement: God created a world in which he knew all people would not freely choose the marriage proposal offered by God. Therefore, God actualized and elected a world in which he knew the atonement was logically sufficient for all mankind; however, he also specifically knew what individual humans would freely choose to reject it (although they did not have to). It follows that God created a world in which he knew that the atonement would only be freely experienced by a limited number of humanity.

4- Perseverance of the Saints: God created a world in which he knew what persons would freely choose to love God for eternity. This is easy if God is truly omniscient! Therefore, God actualized a world in which he knows what persons will choose to love God and persevere into the infinite future. True love never fails (1 Cor 13:4-8).

I affirm 4 of the 5 points, but, modified to include Gods middle knowledge to allow for free will as opposed to the determinism of 5 point Calvinism.

Or in the words of Tim Stottard;

I know some who claim to be “3-Point Calvinists.” I can affirm four of the five points of TULIP, thus, in some respects, I am more “Calvinistic” than many Calvinists! Theologians will tell you, logically speaking, as soon as one affirms two of the five points, the other three logically follow. That is true, unless one replaces the “I” of TULIP with the “M” of middle knowledge of God. This is exactly what I have done; however, I don’t think TULMP is going to stick.

Since I can affirm four of the five points of the TULIP acronym, sometimes I label myself as a, “4-Point middle knowledge Calvinist!” That’s exactly what a Molinist is. If you’re still confused as to whether you should embrace Molinism or not, consider the words of my friend, Randy Everist:

“If you believe you have free will and that God does not force you to do all that you do, and if you believe God knows everything that could happen, will actually happen, and would have happened in any other circumstances, then you are a Molinist” [if you realize it or not].[9]

Anything is better than affirming that God is NOT a Maximally Great Being! That is why I am not an Open Theist or a TULIP kind of Calvinist!

Not all Calvinism is 5-point and affirming of determinism or limited Atonement/provision. So, I need to correct my previous article because I am a Calvinist Reformed Protestant. However, I am still against theistic or naturalism determinism. As well as pushing 5-point views as the very definition of the entirety of Calvanism.