Reformed doctrine of predestination - Boettner - XIV - Chapter 20, 21 & 22

Required reading
Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner (Available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example).  Read Chapter 20 (That it is unfavorable to good morality), 21 (That it precludes a sincere offer of the gospel to the non-elect) and 22 (That it contradicts the universalistic scripture passages).

My summary
Now we conclude the section looking at objections to the doctrine of predestination.

The first objection today is that predestination encourages men to be careless and indifferent about their moral conduct and their growth in grace, on the ground that their eternal welfare has already been secured.  Boettner answers this by pointing out that:
(i) God predestines us for perseverance as well as faith and repentance;
(ii) Predestination is the strongest possible motive for holy living;
(iii) History shows that those who believe in predestination live the very moral lives.

The second objection is that predestination precludes a sincere offer of the gospel to the non-elect.  Boettner refutes this by showing:
(i) Arminians preach to all men despite believing in God's foreknowledge;
(ii) The offer to the non-elect is sincerely made, particularly as the preacher does not know who the elect are.

The third objection is that predestination contradicts other universalistic Scripture passages.  Boettner responds that:
(i) 'all' does not always mean every single person;
(ii) 'world' does not always mean every single person.

What grabbed me
I liked the use of church history to show that Reformed beliefs promote holiness: ' Concerning the Puritans in this country McFetridge says: "Amongst all the people in the American colonies, they (the Puritans, Calvinists of New England) stood morally without peers. They were the men and the women of conscience, of sterling convictions. They were not, indeed, greatly given to sentimentalism. With mere spectacular observances in religion they had no sympathy. Life to them was an experience too noble and earnest and solemn to be frittered away in pious ejaculations and emotional rhapsodies. They believed with all their soul in a just God, a heaven and a hell. They felt, in the innermost core of their hearts, that life was short and its responsibilities great. Hence their religion was their life. All their thoughts and relations were imbued with it. Not only men, but beasts also, were made to feel its favorable influences. Cruelty to animals was a civil offense. In this respect they were two centuries in advance of the bulk of mankind. They were industrious, frugal and enterprising, and consequently affluence followed in their path and descended to their children and children's children. Drunkenness, profanity and beggary were things little known to them. They needed neither lock nor burglar-proof to secure their honestly-gotten possessions. The simple wooden bolt was enough to protect them and their wealth where honesty was the rule of life. As the result of such a life they were healthy and vigorous. They lived long and happily, reared large and devoted families, and descended to the grave 'like as a shock of corn cometh in his season,' in peace with God and their fellow-men, rejoicing in the hope of a blessed resurrection." It is further to be remembered as a diadem upon the brow of Calvinistic morality, that in all the history of the Puritans there is said to have been not one case of divorce. What a crying need there is for some such influence today! Lawlessness in general was scarcely, if ever, more unknown than among the Puritans. If, then, Calvinism was actually unfavorable to morality, as charged, it would indeed be a strange coincidence that where there has been the most of Calvinism there has been the least of crime...Instead of being a system which leads to immorality and despair, it has worked out exactly the opposite way in every-day life. No other system has so fired people with ideals of religious and civil freedom, nor led to such high ideals of morality and endeavor in all phases of human life.'

Although experience is not our supreme authority, it is useful in confirming our beliefs.  And experience clearly shows that Calvinism breeds morality.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 23 (Salvation by grace) and 24 (Personal assurance that one is among the elect).

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.