What Love Is This?: Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God

When I was exposed to the teachings of Calvinism, I immediately wanted to know the BIBLE TRUTH, and what Jesus, the Apostles, and early Church Fathers really taught. It was several years ago, when I heard a Calvinist teacher on the radio, say some things about God that seemed so radical, it caused me to feel righteous indignation. Things he said were so contrary to what I had believed about a loving, merciful, fair God after 50 years of Bible study. I printed his message from his web site, and the disgust I initially felt erupted again even more so, as I read word for word his comments. He makes the God of love and mercy I know and trust to be a liar and a tyrant. He portrayed a God who purposely sends people to hell because He can, in order to bring glory to Himself, as He is sovereign over everything and everyone!! It is so shocking to me! These condemned people apparently have no opportunity to repent and believe in Jesus as their Savior. My God in the Bible is a "whosoever will God". He desires to give everyone opportunity to believe in Jesus Christ and be forgiven of their sins. I truly felt it was a warning from the Holy Spirit not to trust or support this false teacher and his heresy. Oh sure, he taught some truth, as all false teachers do to lead people in and make "filthy lucre". He is a very thorough and widely known pastor/teacher and writes many books, but I have come to believe he is very wrong about some very important Biblical doctrine.My search was on in earnest to know the TRUTH about God and salvation, which is possible to everyone by faith alone in Christ alone. I asked the Holy Spirit to lead and teach me. I read and reread the contexts of Scripture he used in many Bible versions, commentaries, ordered books on the subject from Amazon, church histories, pro and con web sites, the Britannica, and even by mistake a Calvinist's book. UGH! I am sure God has shown me the TRUTH about Calvinism, and I hope to help others to reject Calvinism and believe the TRUTH as The Holy Spirit of God would have all to believe.Every one of the T.U.L.I.P. doctrines Calvinism teaches are so convoluted and turn Scripture upside-down and inside-out by twisting, misinterpreting, ignoring scripture contrary to their teachings, and changing the meanings of words. Calvinistic teachings are not true to the whole Bible. If you are a Calvinist or Reformed believer, you especially need to read this book by Dave Hunt while checking everything he writes with the Holy Bible. You could be deceived, and I care about you as surely as God does.What is most alarming are the lives Augustine and Calvin lived - neither were like Jesus Who demonstrated patient, loving, forgiveness to lost sinners, while He also denounced unbelieving false teachers who rejected Him as their Messiah and as the Son of God. The Fruit of the Holy Spirit demonstrated by Jesus was not evident in Augustine's or Calvin's behavior. They acted more like angry, hateful tyrants forcing people to obey what they taught or be punished by beheading, burning, imprisonment, banishing, and flogging. A well-known quote comes to mind. "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still!" Jesus used gentle persuasion to convince, as did the Apostle Paul and other Bible writers. Augustine and Calvin were probably not truly 'born again of the Spirit' and surely seemed to not be filled and controlled by the Spirit. Many revere them today and accept and teach their heresies, which is why I write this to those deceived by their teachings, and why this book by Dave Hunt was written to expose this heresy.Other books I recommend are: TACKLING TULIP, Ralston; CALVINISM, NONE DARE CALL IT HERESY, by Kirkland; DETERMINED TO BELIEVE by Lennox, and many more on Amazon, which explain the Truth about this false teaching called Calvinism or Reformed Theology. Above all read the Bible through as you have never read it before, asking the Holy Spirit to teach you. Acquaint yourself with the true God of love, Who is opposed to sin, because it harms and destroys the people He loves. John 3:16 says "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD (includes everyone), THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON (JESUS), THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE." He sent His Beloved Son, to die and shed His sinless blood for the sins of mankind and womankind in order that if they believe in Jesus, they might be saved from eternal punishment in Hell. The TRUTH is there to uncover maybe for the first time in your life!The Epistle (letter) of JUDE says to "CONTEND FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS". That should eliminate everything else DEVELOPED by dreamers like Augustine (Roman Catholic Theologian) and John Calvin (former Roman Catholic), who were obviously inspired by Satan, the lying deceiver, to divide the Church of Jesus Christ, and misuse/distort the WORD of God to lead people astray. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Good News that "WHOSOEVER WILL" may believe the TRUTH in the BIBLE, change their mind, repent, and trust God and Jesus Christ by faith alone for salvation, the forgiveness of their sins. If conversion is real, it will be followed by a changed life and good works. God wants everyone to be saved from their sins, but sadly not all will desire salvation and believe, trust, and call on the Name of the Lord to be saved.The Gnostic connection seems to be the root of Calvinistic teachings. The Gnostic cults rose up in the days of the early Church and combined false ideas with the teachings of Jesus, the Apostles, and the early Church Fathers. One Gnostic school, the Valentinians, followers of Gnostic Valentinus, taught that some people were predestined to go to hell, had no free will, and had no chance of being saved. Sound familiar? It should, if you are familiar with Calvinism. The early Church Fathers strongly opposed these false teachings, as they believed in man's free will as taught by the Old and New Testament writers, who were inspired by God the Holy Spirit to write the TRUTH of God.Then Augustine, a Catholic theologian in the second century developed more corrupted doctrine together with these already rejected Gnostic teachings. The New Testament Church referred to his doctrine as Augustinianism, and it was soundly rejected.by the true Church. Eleven centuries later, John Calvin, left the Roman Catholic Church to become one of the Reformers. He was a great admirer of Augustine and revived and 'perfected' Augustine's doctrines. They were accepted by many and became known as Calvinism in Europe and beyond even to this day. Calvinism is being aggressively taught in many of America's Bible Schools, Seminaries, and Churches. God wants you to be careful and not let false teaching lead you from the Truth of God and His love for all lost sinners. The Bible teaches Apostasy will be a growing threat and danger in the last days before Jesus returns. When we believe the TRUTH, "the joy of the Lord is our strength." Please, do not allow yourself to be deceived!!

I have purchased many on this subject, but this one in my opinion is the best, because he does not use the same answers that others do, and most important, helped me to realize that the real issue at question is God's character. While reading this book, I am often praising God as new light comes into my heart. I shall read this book over and over again. It to me, is worth more than gold, as I want to know God, I want to know the truth, and I want to be an intrument in His hands.

David Hunt has been documenting the atrocities of John Calvin for decades now that Reformers still haven't fully owned up to or reconciled. This is the culmination of years and years of documentation work often quoting John Calvin directly. One thing Calvin and his magistrates did well in Geneva, Switzerland (where they ruled) was keep excellant records. All of this is still available today for your reading and research, but David Hunt as put all the major records in one work for your own understanding. Most people think they understand Calvinism, they don't. Most Calvinists don't understand Calvinism. Calvinism must be understood in three parts:1. John Calvin himself. That is who he was, what his did, and the nearly 5 dozen murders, torturings and live burnings at the stake all in the name of religious purging and forced church attendance. These were the days where you had to pay to have a seat in church, all under John Calvin's and his magistrates religious oversite.2. Calvinist doctrine. Otherwise know as the "T.U.L.I.P" synopsis. David Hunt breaks this down in real terms of what this means. For instance; did you know John Calvin states that a relatively few souls are pre-selected (before we were all born) for heaven, and the rest for hell, whether you want to or not. That's right, you have no say in it at all, one way or the other. You want to go to heaven? Well, if you are not one of God's special elect, sorry.3. John Calvin's world view. That is, how all of this effects how one applies all of this and approaches life. Reformers have a tendency to be very male dominated and patriarchal. They are very academic in study and religious structure, and closed. Remember the Salem witch trials? Yes, Calvinists. I bet you didn't know that.This is the most documented and one stop resource of John Calvin you will ever read, or ever need.

Dave Hunt, although not a favorite of mine (but of my husband), goes in depth to prove the errors of John Calvin's doctrine and how it has misled thousands, if not millions, of people down the wrong path--all by simple deception of misunderstanding and his own interpretation of the Word of God--rather than letting God interpret His own Word by His Word, which is how it should be interpreted. John Calvin--like countless others before and after him--makes the same mistake--that by reading into Scriptures things that he thinks it DOES say when it doesn't--is how it becomes a doctrine--and a wrong one at that. OSAS is one of the biggest lies to permeate the Christian world. Whether you believe Mr. Hunt (or me by extension) or not, does not change the fact, or the Scriptures--that it is a lie and a damnable heresy. There is no such thing as once you are saved, you are permanently saved (born again), so no matter what you do from that moment forward, you are "okay" in God's sight--even if it IS sin--you are still going to heaven: only a perverted understanding of the Scripture would come up with that doctrine. If you steal, lie, commit adultery, become a drunkard, a murderer--all this and more--are "under the blood" so to speak, and thus you are still guaranteed eternal salvation and heaven. Mr. Hunt PROVES to you, without a doubt, that this is NOT what the Scripture teaches...that and so much more. He also covers the acronym TULIP, which is still another heretical teaching by John Calvin. A book well worth reading and owning.

Dave Hunt as usual biblical, fair,and deeply thought out points - so glad I have it in my library

I am finding this book to be excellent thus far.

Wow, I learned so much, great study too

It’s a big book but easy to understand. Well written.

Very long, but also very good. It's hard to understand how someone can still be a calvanist after reading this book!