Speaking of God’s Love - Part 5

Yesterday I came across a video and checked it out of curiosity. It’s a 12-minute video by Trent Horn, titled “One Christian Truth Calvinists CAN’T SAY.” In essence, it’s about Calvinists (according to Trent) not being able to honestly say “God loves you” and or “God died for you,”

If you’re a Christian, you should be able to tell anyone you meet that same basic truth, unless you’re a Calvinist. If you are an honest, consistent Calvinist, then you cannot tell a complete stranger God loves you. Because Calvinism teaches that God does not love everyone. Under Calvinism, God alone decides who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. The people God loves go to heaven, and the people God does not love go to hell. People go to hell not because they reject God, but because God rejects them. However, if your theology prevents you from sharing a basic part of the Christian message to someone, i.e. that God loves them, then maybe your theology is the problem and it’s the thing that needs to go. —Trent Horn

I have already explained in the first four parts (read them if you haven’t) of this series why it’s not biblical to go around uttering these words to strangers. And just because Non-Calvinists can and do utter them doesn’t make it true or biblical. Christians have said many things over the years that these sayings have become unbiblical “axioms,” such as

• “God wouldn’t command people to do what they’re unable to,”

• “God won’t give you more than you can handle,”

• “God hates the sin but loves the sinner,” etc…

Not to mention the abuse of Revelation 3:20 by street preachers. Now, Trent and many others want to add “God loves you and died for you” to the list. I guess we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (pun intended).

Personally I don’t have a problem with people saying “God loves you” or “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” as I believe God won’t strike either group down even though both are wrong. We’re always growing in grace and in knowledge (2 Peter 3:18). I myself have said things that were not biblical before I was reformed. I have even casually said “God loves you” to others, and even to those online in the past when witnessing. As His children, God understands where we’re at in our walk with Him. I handle those that want to say “God loves you” with this wisdom from J.C. Ryle,

We should notice, firstly, the hasty ignorance of the Apostle Peter. One moment we find him refusing to allow his Master to do such a servile work as He is about to do—“Do you wash my feet?” “You shall never wash my feet.” Another moment we find him rushing with characteristic impetuosity into the other extreme—“Lord, wash not my feet only, but my hands and my head.” But throughout the transaction we find him unable to take in the real meaning of what his eyes behold. He sees, but he does not understand.

Let us learn from Peter’s conduct that a man may have plenty of faith and love, and yet be sadly destitute of clear knowledge. We must not set down men as graceless and godless because they are dull, and stupid, and blundering in their religion. The heart may often be quite right when the head is quite wrong. We must make allowances for the corruption of the understanding, as well as of the will. We must not be surprised to find that the brains as well as the affections of Adam's children have been hurt by the fall. It is a humbling lesson, and one seldom fully learned except by long experience. But the longer we live the more true shall we find it, that a believer, like Peter, may make many mistakes and lack understanding, and yet, like Peter, have a heart right before God, and get to heaven at last. —J.C. Ryle

If you want to say “God loves you” to random strangers, that’s between you and God. I’m sure that as you grow in knowledge and understanding, you’ll be convicted by what Scripture teaches and will think twice about it.

“So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!” (2 Corinthians 5:16 NLT)

Judge Righteously…

Christ instructs us to judge righteously (cf. John 7:24), yet Trent and others err by judging according to appearance. By focusing on what Calvinists can’t say, they mistakenly assume that Reformed Soteriology is false. Calvinists have valid reasons for not casually and carelessly declaring “God loves you” to strangers, which is grounded in Scripture’s teachings on God’s love. Explore the four preceding posts in this series to learn more.

“If you sincerely drink poison, it will kill you: if you sincerely cut your throat, you will die. If you sincerely believe a lie, you will suffer the consequences. You must not only be sincere, but you must be right.” —Spurgeon

You can be sincere, honest and meant it when you declare God’s love to strangers, but that won’t make it true nor biblical. There’s not an example in Acts of any apostle exemplifying that for us. Positivity or unity isn’t the measuring stick either. Not even what people can or can’t say… in fact, what Trent and others are advocating for might just be enticing speech…

“With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
With her flattering lips she seduced him.
Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter…
—Proverbs 7:21-23

“God is love” is the beating drum of the New Age movement. This unbalanced view of God has infiltrated (enticed) the mind of many to the point that they have a hard time seeing or talking about God rightly.

Walk in Wisdom Toward Outsiders

We should be mindful of context and situations when interacting with others, adjusting our words and tone accordingly (cf. Proverbs 15:23, 25:11-12; 1 Corinthians 9:20; 3 John 1:13-14). In a church setting, “God loves you” may be appropriate for fellow Christians, even if they’re false converts, and yes I know what you might be thinking but that’s for another post. Outside of church we should exercise caution. When the Jailer trembled, Paul didn’t calm him down with “God loves you,” nor did he give him a lecture on the amazing love of God. Yet, in order to encourage Christians to do good works, Paul usually starts his epistles with God’s love for them. Paul tailored his messages to his audiences and it would be wise of us to do the same by following biblical examples.

God is not only Love but He is also Holy, and the Scripture put an emphasis on His holiness.