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<\/a><\/p>\nRecently there has been some \u201cbuzz\u201d in public and \u201caround the water coolers\u201d that Calvinism justifies domestic violence and abuse. Because I am one of Calvinism\u2019s best known critics, I feel the need to wade into this controversy and nip it in the bud, so far as possible, early\u2014before it gets to the point of people accusing Calvinists (people) of justifying domestic violence and abuse.<\/p>\n
*Note to readers and potential commenters: Here, as always, I speak only for myself and not for anyone else. This is not a discussion board; if you choose to respond, respond to me only. Your comment or question will not be approved for posting here if it is not civil, respectful, thoughtful and contributes to enlightened understanding. Sermons, mere assertions, links to web sites, will not be approved. Keep a comment brief and do not post more than two comments per day.*<\/p>\n
No serious Calvinist I have ever known justified domestic violence or abuse unless one considers mere corporal punishment as that. And those Calvinists would not be alone; many Arminians and others also justify corporal punishment of children that does not leave bruises or scars\u2014when they are out of control. But corporal punishment is a subject for another day; do not respond to that.<\/p>\n
Again, no serious Christian Calvinist (and what other kind might there be) justifies domestic violence or abuse on the basis of their Calvinist theology. At least I have never met one or even heard of one. So, given the possibility that some knuckleheaded Calvinist does use Calvinism to justify domestic violence or abuse, let me say no Calvinist theologian I have ever met would justify domestic violence or abuse.<\/p>\n
However, one approach to defending the thesis that Calvinism (not Calvinists) justifies domestic violence and abuse is that, even if no Calvinist uses Calvinism to justify it, the ideology or theological system of staunch, consistent Calvinism provides a justification for it.<\/p>\n
Here is how that argument would go. According to staunch, consistent Calvinism (based on Calvin\u2019s own doctrine of divine providence as spelled out in Institutes of the Christian Religion) God designs, foreordained, and renders certain everything that happens\u2014without exception. Calvin gives an illustration of a merchant who foolishly wanders away from his traveling comrades into a forest and is set upon and murdered by thieves. Calvin argues that, although the murder seems \u201cfortuitous\u201d (accidental), a Christian will view it as planned and foreordained by God. In that case Calvin specifically rejects appeal to mere divine foreknowledge.<\/p>\n
Now, let\u2019s be clear about something. Not all who call themselves Calvinists or who belong to Calvinist churches or groups, agree with Calvin about everything. So, when talking about \u201cCalvinism\u201d we have to look to historical-theological prototypes beginning with Calvin (and perhaps Zwingli before him) and later theologians who agreed with Calvin about major points of doctrine.<\/p>\n
Back to the hypothetical argument. Because Calvinists from Calvin to Edwards to Hodge to Piper have held strongly to meticulous providence IN THE SENSE that whatever happens, nothing excluded, is part of God\u2019s great plan and design and rendered certain by God (Hodge\u2019s language but agreed to by all consistent Calvinists), even domestic violence and abuse must be willed by God.<\/p>\n
However, that argument would overlook the common Calvinist distinction between God\u2019s two wills\u2014decretive and prescriptive. According to Calvin and all consistent Calvinists, there is a difference between what God decrees shall happen and what God commands that people do and not do.<\/p>\n
Christian ethics, for Calvinists, depends not on God\u2019s decrees but on God\u2019s commands. Let\u2019s go back to Calvin\u2019s illustration of the merchant\u2019s murder. God decreed it and rendered it certain\u2014for a greater good (that we may never know or understand). But God has condemned murder, so the murdering thieves are guilty before God for murdering the merchant.<\/p>\n
Of course this is a head-scratcher for many non-Calvinists. And it is also for some Calvinists. I have heard John Piper admit publicly that he cannot explain how a sinner is responsible for committing a sin when the sin itself was designed, ordained, and governed by God. But he said that both are taught in the Bible and he is comfortable with the mystery of it all.<\/p>\n
So, given the common divine command approach to ethics taken by Calvinists, a Calvinist can and usually will condemn domestic violence and abuse as contrary to God\u2019s prescriptive will\u2014even while holding that it is decreed by God.<\/p>\n
Of course, as an Arminian, I have to spell out the alternative approach. There are two distinct wills of God but they are not decretive and prescriptive; they are antecedent and consequent. Domestic violence and abuse is contrary to God\u2019s will in BOTH!<\/p>\n
But that\u2019s not my main purpose here, in this blog post. My main purpose here is to argue that true, historical-theological Calvinism does not support or justify domestic violence or abuse and that those saying so have not studied Calvinism enough. Unless what they are saying is that the deep logic of Calvinism has a hidden justification for domestic violence and abuse that Calvinists have not recognized as such. But the same could be said about any and every evil.<\/p>\n
But, commonly, Calvinists will reject that \u201cdeep logic of Calvinism\u201d argument as wrong-headed. In ethics, they will say, we pay attention to God\u2019s prescriptive will, not God\u2019s decretive will, even if that lands them in appeal to mystery. Every theology appeals to mystery somewhere.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Does Calvinism Justify Domestic Abuse? Recently there has been some \u201cbuzz\u201d in public and \u201caround the water coolers\u201d that Calvinism justifies domestic violence and abuse. Because I am one of Calvinism\u2019s best known critics, I feel the need to wade into this controversy and nip it in the bud, so far as possible, early\u2014before it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5646","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
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