"Am I Good Enough?"   (Confessions of a Former HyperCalvinist)

Question: What is a hypercalvinist? 

A hypercalvinist is usually someone who believes that he/she knows better than anyone else what the gospel is, even though they themselves might not be saved.  They piously say, “God must do everything” and thus dismiss all others as “easy believers” or “shallow” or “easy going” about spiritual things.  A hypercalvinist believes that much preparation and conviction must precede one’s salvation (see preparationism below). 

I was a hypercalvinist for many decades.  I could win most arguments with other people, to my shame.  But I had the gnawing feeling that I was still lost – and I was.  Sometimes I thought maybe my ‘lostness’ would somehow be a credit, but underneath, the gnawing weight of sin persisted.  

Talking about ‘misery’ did not afford relief.  Talking about ‘experiences’ did not relieve the heavy load of sin and guilt.  Talking about our experiences of dreams, visions, etc. did not afford relief.  I even thought sometimes that I had deeper experiences that the select few in the church.  But all of these could not remove my load of sin. 

What could?  Visiting my pastor couldn’t; his advice was to “keep doing what you are doing.”  But my sense of sin prevented me: it hurt to much. 

Being the NRC assistant librarian, I read An Alarm to the Unconverted, weeping and praying over each page.  Here at last was a book for me – that didn’t deal lightly with sin.  And I knew I needed alarming!  Well alarm it did.  And it sent me out of myself.  Oh how I drenched my bed with tears!  

This book, by God’s grace, led me from a sense of alarm to the cross where real justice was meted out against the Lamb of God – such as I deserved and felt, but could never endure.  It showed me a glorious Savior who pardons, justifies, cleanses, and lifts burdens setting the heart free! 

Sola Deo Gloria! 

Common Questions 

1. Isn’t it true that God must do everything? 
Answer: I believe this is a half truth (which Satan is very good at).  For instance, God will not do the repenting or believing for you.  Jesus did not say, “you can do nothing,” BUT rather He said, “without Me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).  Now the real problem mankind faces is that he is yet without the Savior.  This is your greatest need!  If you have a sense of need, that is all you need.  Go to Him! 

2. But how will I know if my sense of need is ‘enough’? 
Answer:  You can never know.  The nobleman’s need was a dying daughter.  The woman at the well had a need: water.  And we all have a need: we are sinners and blind and unbelieving.  Zacheus’ need was curiosity about Jesus.  Our great need is that we need our sin to be taken care of (cf. Rom. 3:10).  

The sick irony of hypercalvinism is that being blind, sick, and unbelieving, they unbiblically prescribe what ‘need’ God should send.  Is not God sovereign?  When will you start listening?  I have watched people face death without realizing it was God’s messenger.  I believe that God sends messengers and opportunities.  Faith in Jesus Christ is our great need. 

3.  But isn’t this way to easy
Answer:  Will you continue standing the Bible on its head and put to nothing the death of Christ on a hideous cross?  How dare you call that too easy!  If this is not ‘making the cross of no effect,’ I don’t know what it. 

4. What is ‘Preparationism’?
Answer: It is a false belief that you must be prepared in some way before believing the Gospel.  The bondage of this belief is that you can never be prepared enough and will never know if you are prepared enough.  Trying to get prepared enough may be a spiritual work that pleases someone (e.g. the minister, relative, etc.), but will never take away one’s sin!  

This is a great stumbling block for unsaved people!  Nothing but the blood will do – the blood of Christ alone!  Sola Christos!  Nothing else will do.  Stop trying and just trust Him to do a perfect work.  Trusting Him may be one thing you haven’t done. 

5.  But if I believe, won’t my whole life unravel?
Answer:  It probably will – because you have a new Master.  But you won’t be left to throw off anything that pleases Him.  As you read His Word, HE will graciously show you what is that good and perfect will of God, by His Spirit.  Families will then truly become godly. 

You don’t throw off the good; rather the bad habits (sin) are overcome by His strength.  His grace is so good that you won’t want it any other way. 

6.  But what if I lose the confidence of my family or friends?
Answer: This is entirely possible, even probable.  But remember that in Christ you will get a Friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24).  Moreover, you will get other friends – true Christians, who are genuinely concerned about your soul and your welfare. 

7.  But won’t I lose my church’s connections?
Answer:  Probably.  You might even be called to witness to you unbelieving hypercalvinistic friends and families therein.  But remember, you’ll have a new Master.  He will send you His Holy Spirit to comfort, help, and guide you (John 14:16-18, 26-27).  Make sure you find a well-balanced, biblical church.  They do exist!  Avoid hypercalvinistic and neocalvinistic (neo-Kyperism) churches.  The important thing is that you are saved from this present evil world (and church) by casting all your trust on Jesus.  Believe in Him: He will save you if you if you trust Him for all your issues. 

8.  But isn’t it wiser to wait?
Answer: Perhaps you will take this to heart: 

Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched / Weak and wounded, sick and sore;

    Jesus ready stands to save you / Full of pity joined with pow’r.

 

Come, ye needy, come, and welcome / God’s free bounty glorify;

    True belief and true repentance / Every grace that brings you nigh.

 

Come, ye weary, heavy laden / Bruised and broken by the fall;

    If you tarry ‘till you’re better / You will never come at all.

 

Let not conscience make you linger / Nor of fitness fondly dream;

   All the fitness He requireth / Is to feel your need of Him.

 

Refrain:

 

I will arise and go to Jesus / He will embrace me in His arms;

    In the arms of my dear Savior / O there are ten thousand charms.[1] 

Will you still object?  When the Bible says, “COME” (Isa. 55:1), will you say, “wait,” or “I intend…?”  Indeed, Today is the day of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2).  The near future may be too late.  The Jews could not enter the Promised Land because of their unbelief (Heb. 3:19).  I pray this would not be true for you. 

“Be ye not unbelieving or slow to understand; be not perverse but willing to heed my wise command” (cf. Psa. 32; Psalter 84 is good). 

“Ho, every one that thristeth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isa. 55:1).

 

“I Jesus have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.  I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let them that heareth say, Come.  And let them that is athirst come.  And whosover will, let him take the water of life freely.  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely, I come quickly.  Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen”  (Rev. 22:16-21).

In Christ and for His glory,

Harry K. (member of GCRBC)

If you have any questions, or comments regarding this, please feel free to contact us at:  info@LethbridgeBaptist.com. 

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