{"id":30498,"date":"2019-07-08T08:59:01","date_gmt":"2019-07-08T14:59:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/?p=30498"},"modified":"2026-07-15T13:19:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T20:19:06","slug":"calvinism-changing-the-meaning-of-words-to-promote-a-theory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com\/blog\/calvinism-changing-the-meaning-of-words-to-promote-a-theory\/","title":{"rendered":"Calvinism: Changing the Meaning of Words to Promote a Theory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
John Calvin – Bibliotheque Publique et Universitaire, Geneva, Switzerland painting now out of copyright; in public domain<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In 2018, Lighthouse Trails published Bob Kirkland’s book Calvinism: None Dare Call It Heresy<\/em>. Over the last few years especially, the editors at Lighthouse Trails have grown increasingly troubled and dismayed to see how Calvinism has and continues to infiltrate today’s Christian churches, ministries, and colleges. If you do not understand what Calvinism really teaches, it would be a good idea to seek that understanding because sooner or later, it is <\/em>going to affect your family, and the results could be devastating, especially for the younger members of your family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people automatically think that the main premise of Calvinism is believing in eternal security and<\/em> if you are not Calvinist, then you must not <\/em>believe in eternal security for the believer (or in salvation solely by the grace of God and not of man’s merit). That is NOT what Calvinism is really all about. In fact, as Kirkland shows in his book, Calvinism does not<\/em> offer the assurance of salvation at all, and it actually diminishes and cheapens the grace of God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people also think that if you are not<\/em> Calvinist, then you must<\/em> be a so-called “Arminianist.” The fact is, there are many Christians (of which we are among them) who are neither Calvinist or Arminian. *see note below<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please do not take this lightly. At some point, we do believe Calvinist leaders and teachers (in particular, the newer ones coming on the scene) will fold in with the great apostasy and will take their followers with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the next three days, Lighthouse Trails is offering Calvinism: None Dare Call It Heresy<\/a><\/em> at 40% off retail (use code: CLVN). If you truly cannot afford to buy the book, please e-mail us at editors@lighthousetrails.com, and we will send you a complimentary copy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Below is chapter 3 of Bob Kirkland’s book, Calvinism: None Dare Call It Heresy.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Calvinism: Changing the Meaning of Words to Promote a Theory”<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By Bob Kirkland<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only way Calvinists can support their theory from the Bible is to alter the meaning of Bible words or take them out of context. When a Calvinist teaches \u201cwhosoever will,\u201d he means whosoever \u201cGod wills.\u201d Calvinist Arthur (A. W.) Pink (1886-1952), who \u201csparked a renewed interest in the exposition of Calvinism,\u201d1 wrote, \u201cThe fact is, the love of God is a truth for the saints only.\u201d2 He said: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

[T]he \u201cworld\u201d in John 3:16 must, in the final analysis, refer to the world of God\u2019s people.3<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

When a Calvinist talks about the \u201csovereignty\u201d of God, he has his own definition of the word sovereignty<\/em> (as he does with the word depravity<\/em>). Easton\u2019s Illustrated Bible Dictionary<\/em> says that the sovereignty of God is \u201c[H]is absolute right to do all things according to his own good pleasure.\u201d4 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

God, in His sovereignty, in His absolute right to do all things according to His own good pleasure, has established some laws for mankind. For example, the Bible says, \u201cexcept ye repent ye shall all likewise perish\u201d (Luke 13:3). God, in His sovereignty, has determined that the sinner who does not repent will not gain eternal life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considering that the word \u201csovereignty\u201d is not in the Bible and considering the actual meaning of the word, rather than Calvin\u2019s distorted meaning (which he needed to support his theory), we see God is no less sovereign because He, according to His own good pleasure, gives man a free will making him capable of repenting of his sin and receiving Christ as his Savior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, when A. W. Pink said the \u201c\u2018world\u2019 in John 3:16 must, in the final analysis, refer to the world of God\u2019s people,\u201d he continued, saying, \u201cMust we say, for there is no alternative solution.\u201d5 The dictionary says, a solution is, \u201can answer to a problem.\u201d John 3:16 presents no problem unless you are a Calvinist needing a \u201csolution\u201d to support your theory. The way a Calvinist solves his problem is to simply change the meaning of words in the Bible and in the dictionary to mean what they need to mean to support their position. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calvinist writers have made many declarations that God has decreed everything that would happen in this world, from Adam\u2019s sin to the doom of billions of people in Hell. The only way they can maintain their theory is to change the words \u201cworld\u201d and \u201cwhosoever\u201d to \u201celect.\u201d Since Calvinists can change these words in John 3:16, it must be all right to change these words in John 15:18-19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

USING THE CALVINISTIC \u201cSOLUTION\u201d IN JOHN 15:18-19 <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

John 15:18-19 says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Using the Calvinist \u201csolution\u201d of changing the word \u201cworld\u201d as they did in John 3:16 so that it means elect, John 15:18-19 now must read:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the elect hate you, who are the elect, ye know that the elect hated me before the elect hated you who are elect. If ye elect were of the elect, the elect would love his own elect: but because ye elect are not of the elect, but I have chosen you elect out of the elect, therefore the elect hateth you elect who are elect.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

No doubt, this is a foolish translation of the verse; however, it is no more foolish than the Calvinistic interpretation of John 3:16. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word \u201cworld\u201d is found over 240 times in the Bible. A few times, the Greek word obviously reveals different meanings; however, the word \u201cworld\u201d never means Calvin\u2019s so-called elect. Never! The only reason for rejecting the obvious simple-to-understand meaning of the words \u201cwhosoever\u201d or \u201cworld\u201d in John 3:16 is to support Calvin\u2019s heresy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALL MEANS ALL <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Joshua 6:3 says, \u201c. . . all<\/em> ye men of war.\u201d
Psalm 31:23 says, \u201c. . . all <\/em>ye his saints.\u201d
Psalm 31:24 says, \u201c. . . all<\/em> ye that hope in the LORD.\u201d
Psalm 32:11 says, \u201c. . . all <\/em>ye that are upright in heart.\u201d
Psalm 134:1 says, \u201c. . . all <\/em>ye servants of the LORD.\u201d
Luke 13:27 says, \u201c. . . all<\/em> ye workers of iniquity.\u201d
Romans 5:12 says, \u201c. . . all<\/em> have sinned.\u201d
Galatians 3:8 says, \u201c. . . all<\/em> nations be blessed.\u201d
Revelation 19:5 says, \u201c. . . all <\/em>ye his servants, and ye that fear him.\u201d (emphasis added in the above verses)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Nobody argues that \u201call\u201d means \u201call\u201d in Romans 5:12 when it says, \u201c. . . all have sinned.\u201d The only reason to suggest \u201call\u201d means something else in Acts 17:30, when God commands \u201call men every where to repent,\u201d is because Calvinists need to change this to provide a \u201csolution\u201d to support their view.
Listen to the doubletalk of A. W. Pink when he says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That God commandeth \u201call men\u201d to repent is but the enforcing of His righteous claims as the moral Governor of the world.6 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What Pink is saying here is that God is not sincere when he says \u201call men every where to repent,\u201d but only saying it to show how righteous and moral He is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then Pink uses Acts 5:31 to say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[T]his Scripture does not declare that it is God\u2019s pleasure to \u201cgive repentance\u201d (Acts 5:31) to all men everywhere.7 <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s see what Acts 5:31 actually says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

In this passage of Scripture, Peter and the apostles declared to the High Priest and Council that God had made Jesus a Prince and Savior bringing repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. Their audience was Jewish, and therefore, their speech pertained to the Jews they were addressing; however, they were not saying that the Jews were the only ones to be saved and forgiven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Pink uses this verse to support his theory that it is not God\u2019s pleasure to \u201cgive repentance\u201d to all men everywhere. In taking Acts 5:31 completely out of context, perhaps Pink did not realize that by trying to use this verse to fit his own theology, he was actually saying that only Jewish people will ever get saved. Hence, all Gentiles will end up in Hell. That would include Pink himself. And because there is ultimately no free will in Calvinism, there is nothing anyone can do about it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

MORE VERSES USING CALVINISM\u2019S \u201cSOLUTION\u201d OF CHANGING OF WORDS<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First John 2:2 <\/strong>says, \u201cAnd he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world<\/em>\u201d (emphasis added). \u201cCalvinist Solution\u201d<\/strong>\u2014And he is the propitiation for the sins of the elect: and not for the elect only, but also for the sins of the elect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ezra 8:22 says,<\/strong> \u201cThe hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.\u201d “Calvinist Solution\u201d<\/strong>\u2014The hand of our God is upon all the elect for good that seek him; even though they have no free will to seek him, but his power and his wrath is against all the non-elect that forsake him, even though they are dead and have no free will to forsake him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psalm 10:4 says,<\/strong> \u201cThe wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God.\u201d Psalm 11:6 says, \u201cUpon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone.\u201d \u201cCalvinist Solution\u201d<\/strong>\u2014The wicked, who are not among God\u2019s elect, through the pride of his countenance, pride that God put in his heart, cannot seek after God; however, even though God has withheld from the wicked non-elect the ability to seek after God, He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psalm 13:5 says,<\/strong> \u201cBut I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.\u201d \u201cCalvinist Solution\u201d<\/strong>\u2014But I can\u2019t trust in thy mercy because I am dead and therefore not capable of trusting; my heart can\u2019t rejoice in thy salvation because I can\u2019t trust in thy mercy and besides I do not have any assurance that you included me in your mercy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CALVINISTS TEACH ALL MEN ARE TOTALLY DEPRAVED<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It is true that all people have depraved and sinful natures, and no person merits salvation. However, the word \u201ctotal\u201d means, \u201centirely, to the full.\u201d The word \u201cdepraved\u201d means \u201cmorally corrupt.\u201d To suggest that all people in the world are \u201ctotally immoral\u201d is ridiculous. None of the neighbors on the street where I live confess to be saved, but that does not make them totally immoral. We must not forget that God has put a conscience in people so that we know or have a sense of right and wrong. Even an unsaved person can feel remorse and regret when he has done something wrong. If he was totally depraved, he would not have the capability to do that (see Romans 1: 19-20).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bible speaks again and again of some people who are more corrupt than others. Ezekiel 16:47 says, \u201c[T]hou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.\u201d Judges 2:19 says that they \u201ccorrupted themselves more than their fathers.\u201d First Kings 16:25 says, \u201cOmri . . . did worse than all that were before him.\u201d Jeremiah 7:26 says, \u201c[T]hey did worse than their fathers.\u201d
However, we must remember that Calvinists have their own special meaning for words. To a Calvinist total depravity means \u201ctotal inability.\u201d The common dictionary meaning of inability is, not having the quality or state of being able to do something. <\/em>Calvinism says that because all mankind is dead in trespasses and sins\u201d (Ephesians 2:1-4), they cannot respond in any way to receive Christ as their Savior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

QUOTES FROM WELL-KNOWN CALVINISTS<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A [spiritually] dead man . . . cannot exercise faith in Jesus Christ.8\u2014Gordon H. Clark<\/p>

The sinner . . . is utterly incapable of willing anything.9\u2014A. W. Pink<\/p>

A corpse does not cry out for help.10\u2014Arthur Custance<\/p>

[W]e have no more to do with our spiritual birth than we had with our natural birth.11\u2014A.W. Pink<\/p>

[E]ven if what he or she does is simply to repent and believe the gospel, God\u2019s grace is seriously, albeit unwittingly, compromised.12\u2014Sam Storms<\/p>

[T]he sinner is of himself neither capable nor willing to receive that salvation.13\u2014Herman Hoeksema<\/p>

The Bible stresses the total inability of fallen man to respond positively to the law of God.14\u2014Kenneth Talbot and Gary Crampton<\/p>

[T]he sinner, of himself, cannot repent and believe.15\u2014A.W. Pink<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

*LTRP Note<\/strong>: In Dave Hunt’s outstanding book What Love is This?<\/a><\/em>, he shows that the terms Arminianist\/Arminianism were essentially created by the Calvinist camp to quickly discredit non-Calvinists by saying they don’t believe in eternal security or in the grace of God for salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Endnotes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. \u201cArthur Pink,\u201d Wikipedia, https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Arthur_Pink.<\/li>
  2. A. W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God<\/em> (Blacksburg, VA: Wilder Publications, 2008), p. 160.<\/li>
  3. Ibid., p. 163.<\/li>
  4. M.G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary<\/em> (New York, NY: Harper & Brothers, 1893, Scholar Select scanned edition), p. 641.<\/li>
  5. A. W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God<\/em>, op. cit., p. 163.<\/li>
  6. Ibid., p. 82.<\/li>
  7. Ibid.<\/li>
  8. Gordon H. Clark, Predestination<\/em> (Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 1987), p. 102.<\/li>
  9. A.W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God<\/em>, op. cit., p. 113.<\/li>
  10. Arthur Custance, The Sovereignty of Grace<\/em> (P & R Press; First Edition, 1979), p. 18; also at: http:\/\/www.custance.org\/Library\/SOG\/Part_I\/Chapter2.html#Page5. <\/li>
  11. A.W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God<\/em>, op. cit., p. 57.<\/li>
  12. Sam Storms, Chosen for Life: The Case for Divine Election<\/em> (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, a ministry of Good News Publishers, revised and expanded edition, 2007), p. 77.<\/li>
  13. Herman Hoeksema, Whosoever Will<\/em> (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdman\u2019s Publishing Company, First Edition 1945, reprinted 1973), p. 14.<\/li>
  14. Kenneth Talbot and Gary Crampton, Calvinism, Hyper-Calvinism and Arminianism<\/em> (Lakeland, FL: Whitefield Media Publishing, 3rd Edition, 1990), p. 40.<\/li>
  15. A.W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God,<\/em> op. cit., p. 120. <\/li><\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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