FAQ—What about missions and evangelism?

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Q. 1. “Since God has eternally reprobated some (Canons of Dordt, I:15), decreed not to give them saving faith (I:6), and desires not to save them (II:8), why then should we desire or pray for the salvation of any particular unbeliever whom we may meet?

Let it be clear: [although] we express no general desire of *God* for the salvation of all men or of any particular man … [and] do not say to everyone or anyone we meet: “God loves you, wants to save you, and has a wonderful plan for your life” … refusing to say “*God* loves all of you” does not prohibit a Reformed Christian from saying: “*I* sincerely desire that you be saved.”

(Prof. Barry Gritters, “The Standard Bearer,” vol. 77, no. 6 [Dec 15, 2000], pp. 139-140)

         

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Q. 2. “But the man may be reprobate … I certainly may not express a desire that is contrary to the decree or desire of God.”

This [attitude] goes beyond the Reformed faith and misapplies the truth of reprobation … God’s people may not conduct themselves according to what may be God’s hidden will, but according to what is His ‘revealed’ will. To do otherwise is a gross form of hyper-Calvinism …

Calvinism answers with the words of holy apostle Paul who, after Agrippa refused to believe the preaching of Christ, said to this stubborn unbeliever: “I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am (a believer!), except these bonds” (Acts 26:29).

With Calvin, true Calvinists respond: “With what zeal to spread abroad the glory of Christ was this holy man’s (Paul’s) breast inflamed … and doth desire that (Agrippa) might escape the deadly snares of Satan, and to have both him and also his partners to be partakers with him of the same grace …” (Calvin on Acts 26:29). Rather than being afraid of expressing this desire, Calvinism in its true form has heartfelt zeal exactly because a Calvinist loves his neighbor and desires the glory of God in his salvation.

(Prof. Barry Gritters, “The Standard Bearer,” vol. 77, no. 6 [Dec 15, 2000], pp. 139-140)

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