What Love is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God [Hardcover]

Dave Hunt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004

Many sincere, Bible-believing Christians are "Calvinists" only by default. Thinking that the only choice is between Calvinism (with its presumed doctrine of eternal security) and Arminianism (with its teaching that salvation can be lost), and confident of Christ's promise to keep eternally those who believe in Him, they therefore consider themselves to be Calvinists. It takes only a few simple questions to discover that most Christians are largely unaware of what John Calvin and his early followers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries actually believed and practiced. Nor do they fully understand what most of today's leading Calvinists believe. Although there are disputed variations of the Calvinist doctrine, among its chief proponents (whom we quote extensively in context) there is general agreement on certain core beliefs. Many evangelicals who think they are Calvinists will be surprised to learn of Calvin's belief in salvation through infant baptism, and of his grossly un-Christian behavior, at times, as the "Protestant Pope" of Geneva, Switzerland. Most shocking of all, however, is Calvinism's misrepresentation of God who "is love." It is our prayer that this volume will enable readers to examine more carefully the vital issues involved and to follow God's Holy Word--not man. "The first edition of this book was greeted by fervent opposition and criticism from Calvinists. In this enlarged and revised edition I have endeavored to respond to the critics." --Dave Hunt

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dave Hunt has given exact details to show the agonizing faults of Calvinistic abuses that most people have not considered." --Elmer L. Towns, Dean, School of Religion, Liberty University

"I am glad to see Dave deal with a tough subject...and challenge the Biblical basis for TULIP." --Jim Custer, Right Start Ministries

"Dave Hunt has given us a fascinating expose of modern five-point Calvinism that is both highly readable and practical." --Bob Wilkin, Ph.D., Founder and Executive Director, Grace Evangelical Society

Review

“Calvinism...comes perilously close to blasphemy. And that is why I congratulate Dave Hunt for writing this excellent clarification of the doctrine that has its roots more in Greek humanism, from where it originated, than it does in Scripture.... Every evangelical minister should read this book. If they did, we would see a mighty revival of soul-winning passion that would turn this world upside down as multitudes saw the real God of the Bible, not the false God of Augustinianism and Calvinism.” —TIM LAHAYE, Author of more than 50 books and co-author of the Left Behind Series

“Dave Hunt has done it again....stirred the Christian community into taking a serious look at the aberrant teachings... of John Calvin...and thoroughly documents his findings. It is a, must-read for those who are serious in their desire to understand the influence that Calvin has had and continues to have on the Evangelical church.” —CHUCK SMITH, Pastor, Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa

“Dave Hunt has given exact details to show the agonizing faults of Calvinistic abuses that most people have not considered.” —ELMER L. TOWNS, Dean, School of Religion, Liberty University

“This book exposes traditional Calvinism for portraying God in a totally unscriptural manner....[and] will stand as a definitive work on the subject.” —WILLIAM MACDONALD, Author of more than 80 books in 100 languages

“Dave Hunt continues his intrepid com-mitment to revealing the truth—however unfashionable or politically incorrect it may be deemed. Blind-fold your prejudices and be ready for a stunning and desperately needed perspective on this highly controversial area. Here is another essential for the serious student of God’s Word.” —DR. CHUCK MISSLER, Founder, Koinonia House

“Rarely has anyone undertaken the exhaustive task of detailing and documenting the misconception of God’s sovereign grace as has Dave Hunt....This book needs to be read by every communicator of the Gospel....” —ARNO FROESE, Executive Director, Midnight Call Ministry • Editor, Midnight Call

“This incredible book by Dave Hunt is imperative...[and] exposes the horror of spiritual apartheid for what it really is. Calvinism makes our Heavenly Father look like the worst of despots and I join Dave in declaring Him: Not Guilty!” —JOSEPH R. CHAMBERS, DD, DSL, Pastor, author, and radio host

“Dave Hunt has given us a fascinating exposé of modern five-point Calvinism that is both highly readable and practical. I especially enjoyed the section on perseverance and assurance of salvation.” —BOB WILKIN, PH.D., Founder and Executive Director, Grace Evangelical Society

“As a biblicist, I find this to be a refreshing biblical review of things which for many years have brought confusion to believers. We’ve allowed words and ideas of men to determine our positions. This book reminds us to listen to what the Word of God has to say.” —HARRY BOLLBACK, Co-founder with Jack Wyrtzen of Word of Life International

“In Dave’s book, we are challenged to go back to the Scriptures as we evaluate the workings of God on this all-important subject of salvation. This is definitely a book that causes us to reflect on how we formulate our doctrine.” —JOE JORDAN, Executive Director, Word of Life Fellowship, Inc.

“I am glad to see Dave deal with a tough subject, supply materials that many of us have not accessed until now, and challenge the Biblical basis for tulip.” —JIM CUSTER, Right Start Ministries

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 573 pages
• Publisher: The Berean Call; 2nd Revised edition edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1928660126
• ISBN-13: 978-1928660125
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (143 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #79 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Protestantism > Calvinist

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

126 of 162 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Where the rubber meets the road: Calvinism verses the Bible, September 25, 2005

By 

King Lemuel "Trust, but verify" (Puyallup, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Love Is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God (Paperback)

I read an online version of this book. Then I read some of the one star reviews posted at Amazon by Calvinists. Besides this book, I recently read the "5 points of Calvinism weighed and found wanting."

Hunt's book is a fairly long (over 400 pages). It is written more at the popular level than, for example, Life in the Sun and Elect in the Sun by Robert Shank or God the Ruler by Cottrell. Shank's books frequently include references to Greek Grammar and quotations from the Greek New Testament. Hunt does not get down and dirty with the Greek exegisis.

Though written at a popular level, Hunt still includes many references to scriptures and his book continually argues scripturally against Calvinism. The 400 pages allow Hunt to develop his arguements in detail, yet it is not so long as to beat dead horses. It also is an easy read: the pages turn quickly and the points Hunt makes are clear, understandable, and easy to remember.

Many of the one star reviews say he misquotes or mischaracterizes those of opposing positions. This may be occaisionaly true, given the length of the book, perhaps a mistake in quotation inadvertingly now and then occurs, but, on the whole, he gets the Calvinistic position correct, he uses extensive and extended quotes from those on both sides of the debate. Overall, these do not mischaracterize.

Let's think about the debate for a moment: Hunt's book is only one chapter in this debate that has been ongoing since the days of Augustine (circa 400 AD) and John Calvin (mid 1500s). If the Lord tarries, Hunt's book certainly will not be the last.

For all the ire expressed here at Amazon in these one star reveiws, you would think Hunt had resorted to ad hominem attacks against Calvinism. Nothing could be further from the truth. What Love is This is not a polemic diatribe against Calvinism. Hunt merely has shown: here is what the Apostles taught, here is what the Calvinists teach. He has merely pointed out the differences between scriptural Christianity and Calvinism. These differences are real and they are substantial. This is the tenor of the entire book. Hunt is not tyring to skewer John Calvin, he is merely trying to point out why Calvin is wrong biblically. If you have read Shank's "life in the Sun" or "Elect in the Sun" you will find the same irenic spirit in What Love is This.

Instead of trying to debunk Hunt's persuasive biblical arguements, Hunt's critcs, who have submitted reviews to Amazon, must think it is easier to assasinate the messanger than to deal with his message! It appears to me that Hunt's book has hit a sore spot or two!

If you are looking for a biblically argued refutation of Calvinism written at a popular, irenic level, Hunt's book is a great choice.

59 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Put Calvinism on Trial, Read This Book, October 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: What Love Is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God (Paperback)

First, a little background. I grew up as a believer blissfully unaware of the Calvinism debate. Then, a couple of years ago I got exposed to Calvinism through R.C. Sproul's ministry. Despite nagging questions, I became an ardent and enthusiastic 5-Point Calvinist. I read nothing but Calvinist authors (like Piper, Boice, Boettner, Lutzer, Macarthur and Sproul) and I began to filter everything through the grid of Calvinism. I also listened to Sproul every day.

However, since the "apparent" inconsistencies in Calvinism still haunted me, I decided to put Calvinism on trial. Since I had already heard one side, I decided to hear the other.

Despite the fact that Calvinists universally berated Dave Hunt as being an ignorant yokel, I figured I would have to read his book to find out what the hubbub was about.

Dave's book, along with George Bryson's, poked so many holes in Calvin's case that it could no longer hold water (at least in my mind.) I concluded that, at worst, Calvinism is flat out wrong, and at best, there is at least enough reasonable doubt about each of the five points to reject the whole system as a unbiblical.

Read this book, put Calvinism on trial. As for me, I will never call myself a Calvinist again.

166 of 225 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sending Shockwaves thru the Christian Community, May 8, 2002

By 

Gary Osborne (Spring Hill, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Love Is This? Calvinism's Misrepresentation of God (Paperback)

Dave Hunt has done it again. Some 20 years after his highly controversial, yet highly important book "The Seduction of Christianity", Dave has come up with another shocker! This time he examines what is surely the most divisive issue in Evangelical Christianity - namely CALVINISM.

From start to finish the reader of this book, regardless of his or her stand on the issues, will be compelled to hear Dave out. He does all he can to clearly explain what Calvinism is - not by simply telling the reader what Dave thinks it is, but by providing the reader with quote after quote from those leaders in the Christian community who are themselves Calvinists. Dave Hunt leaves no room for guessing here. He makes his case clear. Calvinism, in Dave's book, is clearly a false theological system that has its beginnings in 4th and 5th Century Rome. If anyone wants to understand the genesis of this doctrinal system, this book is a must.

Dave goes on to point out the glaring inconsistencies, the misapplied logic, and the oft used Scriptures that supposedly support the TULIP. He then proceeds to throughly dismantle the system with a plethera of scripture references and an overview of the true nature of God (which Dave feels is attacked by the concept of Calvinism).

This book will undoubtedly upset the staunch Calvinists. In fact, from the early returns, it appears that even reviews such as mine will suffer because I give the book a high rating. But the fact remains that if someone wants to know how non-Calvinists view the TULIP this book is a must! Dave Hunt clearly and concisely sums up the "other side" for everyone. Even if the reader disagrees with his conclusions, he or she can at least have a better understanding of how other Christians look at their doctrinal distinctives (ie Calvinism's 5 points).

I wholeheartedly recommend this fascinating book to Calvinists and non-Calvinists alike!