I have refrained from responding to some Calvinist’s misrepresentations of my book, Reflections of a Disenchanted Calvinist because I do not have the time, they do not actually pose a serious challenge to my position, and their demeanor affords little evidence that it would be fruitful. On one occasion I did, below is the response that I wrote to a young Calvinist who offered a critique of my book. Unfortunately, he believed he understood substantially more about Calvinism proper, and my engagement of it than he did.
I have tried on three different occasions to read your “critique” of my book, Reflections of a Disenchanted Calvinist. Unfortunately, you have either elided or missed the point of my statements and therefore misrepresented my positions in each and every response you have made at least the ones I read. This is not to say that you have intentionally misrepresented me and the seriousness with which I seek to struggle with the biblical perplexities and texts, inapt as you may deem me to be.
It appears to me that your mischaracterizations of my engagement with the Scripture are sophomoric. While they may impress some and fuel arguments about the truth, I do not believe they add one whit to arguing toward the truth. In my opinion, you have simply demonstrated once again why it is excruciatingly difficult for brothers to disagree without using obfuscating maneuvers. I am assuming that you have done so unintentionally and without malice. I sense that you love God and His Word. Nevertheless, you have done damage to Calvinism, Scripture, Truth and the spiritual growth of those who read your mishandling of some very seriously nuanced positions.
I do pray that in years to come, you will grow in your understanding of these matters, which is not to say that you are not a dedicated student of the Scripture. It is to say that we ought to be able to disagree without seeking to trivialize distinctions with a difference and/or summarily dismiss what one does not understand as being merely unnecessary philosophizing, jejune biblical knowledge, or arguing emotively. I believe that a sense of our very limited knowledge (in comparison to what there is to be known about it) concerning whatever we speak about can afford us all some well needed and Christ honoring humility.
Regretfully,
Ronnie W Rogers
