Sovereignty DeCalvinized

Leighton Flowers's video is about how he defines "sovereignty" as opposed to how Calvinists define it. He argues that he believes in God's sovereignty but he does not believe that the Bible defines what that means the way Calvinists like Pastor John Piper teach it.



Professor Flowers defines "Sovereignty" through making a distinction between the scope of God's

power versus what God has decided to do with Creation.  He argued that God is indeed control of everything but has chosen not to be in meticulous control of everything  such as human free will allowing us to make decisions. He quotes A.W. Tozer when Tozer taught that God in his infinite power chose give us the ability to choose between good and evil.

Flowers further tells us that Calvinists misunderstand Sovereignty because Calvinists like John Piper  teach that God determines and decides all human decisions and actions because God is Sovereign. Flowers counters by saying "Sovereignty" does not mean that. Flowers and several Arminians think that Calvinists are arguing that evil thoughts and motivations originate in God himself. And despite the way he played the re-contextualization of John Piper's statements I do not think that Calvinists like John Piper, John MacArthur, and James White are arguing that at all. I have heard Flowers agree that most Calvinists would not affirm that God is the author of evil, but he thinks that it's inescapable that their theology demands that conclusion. I do not think that is a fair assessment.

Here is why. Years ago James White, who is Calvinist, debated George Bryson, a Arminian, on this issue on the Bible Answer Man radio program.  Bryson asked White if God predestines the rape of children? I think James White gave the good answer: God has a purpose for any evil God allows to happen. White did not say that God caused the evil. For example, God does not hold a gun to your head forcing you to do evil.  And yet God knew what was going to happen and for his own purposes history and lives play out the way it does.

We have to remember that when people sin it is not God's fault because it is the fault of the sinner.

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. - James 1:12-14

Instead God, can turn acts that had evil intention by the people committing into something good for his people.  Recall that when Joseph was betrayed by his own brothers and sold him into slavery and about 30 years later, God raised Joseph into being second only to the Pharaoh in Egypt allowing him to save so many people from death by salvation. Please recall how Joseph understood what happened to him and the part his brothers played in his life. 

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. -Genesis 50:19-21

There are many scriptures that shows us exactly that. God predestines what occurs, but we cannot always know the reasons why God does what He does. When Calvinists teach that God predestines everything they are not saying that God is the author of evil - no evil comes about because of us.