The below letter was originally written in 1996 out of concern for author Dave Hunt's (Seduction of Christianity; A Woman Rides the Beast; etc.) views on those doctrines commonly called "Calvinism" or "the doctrines of grace," which often go under the acronym "T-U-L-I-P." This acronym identifies five doctrines in logical progression : the Total depravity of man, God's Unconditional election of those who would be saved, Christ's atonement Limited to those elected of God, the Irresistable drawing with which the Holy Spirit calls those who are elect, and the Perseverence to the end that marks the elect.

The fact that Dave Hunt denies these doctrines in favor of the "Arminian" viewpoint, which emphasizes free will and human responsibility, is no great secret. I have many precious brothers and sisters in Christ who hold this same viewpoint. However, Mr. Hunt tends to represent Calvinism as an "offshoot" rather than what it in fact is - the theology of the Reformation. It is this "revisionist" attitude toward the Reformation that prompted me to write Mr. Hunt.

Three additional letters are exchanged after this one. Follow the links at the bottom to read the entire exchange.

Dave Hunt:

Many years ago, I was a teenage Christian, saved withing my local Church of the Nazarene and pretty much believing whatever I heard "from the Bible" at my church and whatever truths I gleaned from my handy NavPress "discipleship kit." However, I had always loved to read, and went around to used book stores buying every "Christian" book that I could find to add to my "library." (As you can imagine, some of the books I ended up with are viewed with great humor or horror!)

It was on one of my excursions to a "book haunt" that I picked up a book entitled Confessions of a Heretic. Now, I immediately had several reservations about purchasing this book. After all, why would a Christian such as myself want what was obviously self-confessed heresy by what I considered to be a very bold author! Well, needless to say, I examined the book more carefully and found it to be the testimony of someone who found the Bible at variance with his denomination. Just that small realization (that someone could find that the Bible differed from their church) lodged itself in my mind. Guess what? Right, I bought the book.

Furthermore, I read the entire book in just a couple of days. Your book opened my mind to the reality of the spiritual gifts and the baptism of the Spirit (and, I might add, without having to accept tongues as evidence), but it also did something even greater. Thereafter, I opened my Bible! Not just in church, but (I'm whispering now, lest I be heard) by myself, alone with God! I began to systematically tear apart the teachings of my church (which included "entire sanctification" and possible loss of salvation) to see if I could reassemble them from Scripture. Many of them I could, some I could not. Eventually, I was "invited" to leave the church due to my questioning of the "rules of conduct" found in the "church manual" (due to my reading of Col. 2:21). Some of the members had also discovered that I had been "led astray" by the "Baptist" doctrine of "once saved, always saved" and by the "Pentecostal" view that "tongues" was a valid gift today. I must have looked like a strange bird indeed!

Incidentally, I had laid aside your book shortly after reading it and it had been "swallowed up" by a great number of books that I had at the time. I never conciously realized that your book had affected me like it had until years later with the benefit of hindsight. All I knew was that my views were not "Baptist," "Pentecostal," or any other such thing. No, my views were based squarely on my study of the Scriptures and that had become all that mattered to me.

After leaving the Church of the Nazarene, I began attending Church in the City (at that time affiliated with the Assemblies of God, but now a "Vineyard" church). They were "tolerant" of views like eternal security and did not insist on tongues as "evidence" of anything but were open to the gifts. However, after only about a year, I began to grow uneasy with the massage of "love" and "unity" being promoted there. References to a "new" thing called "inner healing" made me very uncomfortable, especially since the "healers" appeals to Scripture seemed very contrived. The participation of the church in "Catholic Charismatic" functions sealed my discomfort and I took a trip to my local Christian book store to see if I could find any books that would tell me anything about these things.

Guess what? God used you again. The book store had just received their second shipment of a new book that the clerk told me was highly controversial. The book was entitled The Seduction of Christianity and was authored by T.A. McMahon and Dave Hunt. Wati a minute! Dave Hunt? The "heretic"! I purchased the book immediately!

Again, I read the book rapidly and ended up at another church after exhorting a few close friends at the previous church. (In all fairness to Church in the City, they eventually had a sunday school class using your book as a text and discussing the issues raised therein. The class was reportedly fairly open to your exhortations and the church did make some changes, although I am unsure to what extent.) The book strongly reinforced what I had received as the message of Confessions... and I have lived by "Sola Scriptura" ever since. I now regard looking for a church home as second only to looking for a lifelong mate!

Currently, I greatly appreciate your stand for the faith and your stand against the unscriptural "love and unity" doctrine prevalent in so many churches and parachurch groups. I especially appreciate your willingness to stand up to Rome! While gaining a lot from the ministry of the late Walter Martin, I was always disappointed in his view of Catholicism. Please keep up the good work!

Now that I have shared with you my testimony concerning your ministry's affect on my life, I want to discuss a disagreement that we have. Actually, there are many, not the least of which are my views on eschatology. But what I want to bring up here are your views on what has historically been called "Calvinism."

You have obviously spent a great deal of time studying the Reformers, and you appeal to the Reformation a lot for support. Why, then, do you dismiss Calvin's view of Divine Sovereignty in salvation with "the wave of a hand," quoting maybe a verse of two that, in your view, support the Arminian doctrine of "free will"? This both concerns me and insults my intelligence. Please understand; my concern is not so much that you reject "full-fledged Calvinism." Many dear friends of mine hold the same view as you do. What concerns me is that you reveal by your statements on the same subject that you have not given it the Biblical research that it deserves.

Furthermore, the "Calvinistic" view of God's providence is part and parcel of "Reformation" theology! This was the majority view of Protestant churches for a long time! Surely such a well-read man as yourself realizes this! Why not deal with the view honestly from a historical perspective? (When I say "honestly," I am not attempting to suggest that you as such are "dishonest," just that perhaps you are taking a biased view of Church history.)

Theologically speaking, it was in the framework of Augustine's teachings on Sovereign Grace that Luther found a witness to his discovery of "justification by faith." Also, the doctrine of eternal security was a logical consequence of Calvin's theology and was always viewed as such until very recently in history! In contrast, you make statements and answer questions concerning Calvinism as if it were some "off the wall" view held by believers on the "fringe" of orthodoxy! How does your Presbyterian friend, Dr. Jay Adams, feel about this?

Brother, all I ask is that you be fair in representing your brothers and sisters in Christ who differ with you on this issue. If you have studied the different viewpoints to your satisfaction, then I respect your viewpoint and pray that God will enlighten us both where we err. However, can you please give this part of Reformation theology the respect that it deserves as he conclusions of honest believers who are interpreting difficult Scriptures and agree to disagree with us? Furthermore, please refrain from treating Calvinism as something that just "fell off the turnip truck" and be honest, in your books and newsletter, with Church history.

If you will notice, I have quoted no passages from Scripture regarding "the doctrines of grace." This is because I am not trying to win coverts to Calvinivsm, and I highly respect your ability to form your own views from Scripture with the help of the God that I serve. (However, I am not promising that I won't write again with questions on the subject!) Calvinism is not easy to accept, especially for one outside of a Calvinistic tradition. Trust me, I know.

Thank you so much for your time. Again, keep the faith! Realizing how incredibly busy you must be, I would greatly appreciate a response to my questions in your own good time and as your schedule allows.

In Christ Jesus,

William S. Kilgore