Calvinists, Not Passivists

William Carey: The Shoemaker Who Became the Founder of Modern Missions; John Brown Myers; London 1887

Calvinists, Not Passivists[1]

The term Calvinism evokes emotional responses across the vast kingdom of God's people. Some vehemently oppose the doctrines of grace to the extent that they deny its adherents salvation. Others adamantly support the doctrines of grace to the extent that they deny its opponents salvation. Between these extreme views, there exists a wide range of healthy, friendly soteriological discussion, debate, and discourse. Within this spectrum, one of the honest recurring questions I receive from the opposing side goes something like this, "If God chooses those who are saved, then why evangelize?" This question is fair but is not in itself an "Aha! I stumped you!" question by any standard. Therefore, this friendly polemic seeks to answer the question by first establishing that 1) God is sovereign in salvation, 2) God uses means to achieve his purposes, and 3) God uses evangelism to save the neighbors and the nations. After establishing these three truths, I will pose a four-part answer to the question, "If God chooses those who are saved, then why evangelize?"

1. God is Sovereign in Salvation

"If God chooses those who are saved, then why evangelize?" First, let's briefly establish that yes, God chooses those who are saved (i.e. He is sovereign in salvation).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Ephesians 1:3-6

One argument I have heard through the years regarding this passage is that God predestined a way for people to be saved through Jesus. While this statement is gloriously true in concept (John 14:6), when you read about God choosing or predestining something in the Bible, it is in reference to people, not simply a salvific process. In the Scripture above, he chose "us" before the foundation of the world that "we" should be holy. These are pronouns that refer to people. People were chosen in eternity past. God chose people. Additionally, “in love, He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself according to the kind intention of his will” (v. 5). And he has graciously blessed "us" in the Beloved all with the motive that his glorious grace would receive praise (v. 6). Again, God's predestination is spoken of not as referring to a provision or a path but to a people. Peter expresses this most plainly, stating, "you are a chosen race" (1 Peter 2:9). God chooses people, which makes the question, "Then why evangelize?" valid and fair.

#2) God Uses Means

First, if we entertain the question at hand, we should also roll off a litany of other similar questions. For example, why did God use words when he spoke light into existence when he could have just silently willed it (Genesis 1:3)? Speaking of Creation, why did God tell Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply when he could create humans from dust (Genesis 1:28; 2:7)? Why does God use the Sun for light when he is sufficiently radiant himself (Revelation 21:23)? Why did Yahweh use "a strong east wind" to move the Red Sea when he could have just spoken the words to make the waters part (Exodus 14:21)? Why did he use water to drown Pharoah instead of just speaking his death into reality (Exodus 15:4)? Why does God use angels to deliver his messages (Luke 1:13; 26-38)? Why does God use the preaching of the gospel to change hearts when he could just transform them with a single thought (Romans 10:14-17; Acts 2:41)? Can you think of any other questions like this about the means that our Heavenly Father uses to achieve his purposes within the world he created? These questions, which recall many biblical facts, establish that God is a God of means.[2]

#3) God Uses Evangelism to Save the Neighbors and the Nations

In his infinite wisdom, the Lord has seen fit that evangelism is the means by which he chooses to bring lost, dead people to be found, alive forevermore, in Him (Romans 6:7; 10:17). The zealous Evangelist William Carey recounts well that following the resurrection of Jesus, men of God evangelized as a means to bring the good news to the masses. He recalls how "Phillip went and preached at Samaria with great success" (Acts 8:4-8). And how Peter preached in Lydda and to Cornelius at Cesarea. At this time, it became necessary to send men to Antioch in Syria, so "the apostles sent Paul and Barnabas . . . and a church was formed in that city also, which in a little time sent out several eminent preachers."[3] William Carey's survey of New Testament evangelism is sufficient to establish that the Sovereign God Almighty uses evangelism to save the neighbors (Jews) and the nations (Gentiles). Therefore, having established that 1) God is sovereign in salvation – see Ephesians 1:3-6, 2) God uses means to achieve his purposes – see Romans 10:17, and 3) God uses evangelism to save the neighbors and the nations – see Acts 1:8, we shall answer the question, "If God chooses those who are saved, then why evangelize?"

Why Use Means?

God's supreme motive is his glory (Ephesians 1:6). All explanations that answer the "then why evangelism?" question must fall under this ultimate motive. Every time God uses means, he is doing it for his glory. Therefore, let us look at how God uses evangelism to sanctify the evangelist whether they are a Calvinist or not, for his glory.

The Evangelist

Evangelism Sanctifies the Evangelist

The enterprise of evangelism includes an evangelist (one of those elect people mentioned in Ephesians 1:3-6 above). My primary argument regarding why God uses evangelism is simple. God uses evangelism to sanctify the evangelist and sanctifying his elect brings God glory. I recently heard a missionary in Italy describe some of the benefits of evangelizing. One of those benefits, he explains, is learning to actively trust God. I would add to this astute observation that when one learns how to trust God, one also learns that God is trustworthy.

Evangelism Teaches the Evangelist to Trust God

When you, man or woman of God, stand before a person who does not know God and attempt to share the gospel, do you always know what to say? Is there a certain degree of fear, nervousness, or both? Do the threats of rejection, persecution, and pain prevent you from evangelizing? If so, trust God. Trust that his word never returns void (Isaiah 55:10-11). Trust that the Holy Spirit is with you and in you, actively granting you the blessed obedience of planting and watering (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). Whether you are witnessing to your next-door neighbors or the Italian populace, God uses evangelism to teach you to trust him. And when we trust him, we are conforming to the image of the Son, who entrusted himself completely unto the Father (Luke 23:46).

Evangelism Deepens the Evangelist's Knowledge of God and His Word

The Lord also utilizes evangelism as a motive for learning his word, and thus learning about him, more and more. For example, many Christians in my circle regularly encounter Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. A friend of mine recently had an encounter with one of these groups and felt unprepared to wield the word in defense of the faith. The Lord graciously utilized this experience to teach my friend the truths from the word of God that expose the falsity of Mormonism and of the JW's. A short time later, he pointed two young Mormon missionaries to Hebrews 1:1 to ensure that they know the person and deity of Jesus. The Lord is so kind that he utilized the weakness of my dear friend in evangelism to sanctify him as he now has a better grasp, understanding, and application of the Bible. Hopefully, it is apparent that an evangelist must share the Word of God in evangelism and to share that word, he must know it. And, according to Jesus, the word of God is sanctifying (John 17:17). Again, we see that the Lord uses evangelism to sanctify his people as they grow in the knowledge of his word (Colossians 1:9-10).

Evangelism Prepares the Evangelists for the Wedding Feast in Glory

Before moving on, let us cast our gaze upon the Bridegroom and his Bride momentarily. Jesus Christ died to preserve a Bride for himself (Rev. 19:6-9; Isaiah 61:10). This Bride consists of a host of evangelists. Actively spreading the Gospel of Jesus is one way that God uniquely prepares his Bride to be with her Bridegroom forever. Revelation 19:8 says, "It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." Yes, good works that derive from a Father-given faith encompass far more than evangelism, but they certainly include evangelism. Therefore, God uses evangelism as a way to help prepare the Bride of Jesus Christ for the day when she will be with her Bridegroom forever. Evangelism is sanctifying unto glory. Evangelism, what a grace! What a gift! What a God!

The Answer to the Question

So, if a non-Calvinist Christian still asks the question, "If God chooses those who are saved, then why evangelize?" let me ask you, when was the last time you evangelized to someone? Because if you are going out and sharing the Gospel, you may, and perhaps should, already know the answer to your question: God uses evangelism to save his elect because sharing the Gospel of Jesus sanctifies the evangelist, grows the evangelist’s trust in the Lord experientially, deepens the evangelist’s knowledge of Scripture, and prepares the evangelist for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

We are not Passivists

Subjectively, I suppose my Calvinist brothers and sisters would give these words a hearty, "Amen!" I am sure many of you can add to the logic and reasoning above and deepen the answer to the question, "If God chooses who will be saved then why do we need to evangelize?" However, this doctrine must be applied, lest we fall into a passivism-like mindset that since God has chosen those who are his that we have no role in the matter. God is a God of means and we are a part of those means. Therefore, Go! Do! Serve! Proclaim! – in your home, in your hometown, in your local assembly, and unto the nations (Matthew 28:19-20). Here is a beckon to you, dear reader. Utilize the means of grace that God has ordained to save and sanctify his people, namely share the Gospel of Christ everywhere you go in the comfort that God will save some among the many because "he chose us in him before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:3-4)! This question regarding election and evangelism is a God-glorifying reminder to my Calvinist brothers and sisters; let this be a jovial admonition to put your Five Points (and Five Solas) into action! We are Calvinists, not Passivists.

Notes:

[1] The term “Passivist” identifies those who take no action. It should not be confused with the term “pacifist,” which refers to those who believe war and violence are unjustifiable; a different topic for a different day.

[2] English Puritan Richard Rogers distinguishes between public and private means of grace: the ministry of the word, the administration and worthy receiving of the sacraments, and the exercise of praise and prayer. These means God provides his people, in grace, to grow in godliness. The means mentioned in this paragraph more broadly discuss God's general use of means to achieve his sovereign purposes throughout time.

[3] Click the title to read a free PDF of William Carey's An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians, to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens. In which the Religious State of the Different Nations of the World, the Success of Former Undertakings, and the Practicability of Further Undertakings, are Considered. See pages 18-20 for present quotations.