No, Pentecostals are generally not Calvinist. Their theological understanding, particularly concerning salvation, aligns more closely with Arminianism rather than Calvinism.
Understanding the Differences: Pentecostalism, Calvinism, and Arminianism
To fully grasp why Pentecostals are not Calvinist, it's essential to understand the core theological distinctions, especially regarding soteriology (the doctrine of salvation).
Pentecostalism
Classical Pentecostal soteriology is primarily Arminian. While Pentecostals believe in the security of the believer, this security is understood as being conditional upon continual faith and repentance. This means that, according to Pentecostal theology, an individual's salvation can be maintained through an ongoing relationship of faith and obedience, implying the possibility of falling away if one ceases to believe or repent.
Key Characteristics of Pentecostal Theology (in relation to salvation):
- Conditional Security: Salvation is secure, but its continuation depends on the believer's ongoing faith and repentance.
- Emphasis on Free Will: Individuals have the freedom to accept or reject God's grace.
- Experiential Faith: A strong emphasis on personal experience with the Holy Spirit, including spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues, divine healing, and prophecy.
Calvinism
Calvinism, named after John Calvin, emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty in all things, particularly in salvation. Its core tenets are often summarized by the acronym TULIP:
- Total Depravity: Humanity is utterly corrupted by sin and incapable of choosing God on their own.
- Unconditional Election: God chooses certain individuals for salvation entirely based on His sovereign will, not on any foreseen merit in them.
- Limited Atonement: Christ died only for the elect, ensuring their salvation.
- Irresistible Grace: Those whom God has chosen will inevitably come to faith; they cannot resist God's saving call.
- Perseverance of the Saints: Once saved, believers will persevere in faith until the end; they cannot lose their salvation (often referred to as "eternal security" or "once saved, always saved").
Arminianism
Arminianism, named after Jacob Arminius, developed as a response to some aspects of Calvinism, placing a greater emphasis on human free will and the universal offer of salvation.
Key Characteristics of Arminian Theology:
- Conditional Election: God elects those whom He foresees will choose to believe in Him.
- Universal Atonement: Christ died for all humanity, making salvation available to everyone.
- Resistible Grace: While God offers grace to all, individuals can resist and reject it.
- Conditional Security (or possibility of apostasy): Believers can, through their own free will and failure to persevere, fall from grace and lose their salvation.
Comparing the Doctrinal Stances
Here's a simplified comparison to highlight why Pentecostalism aligns with Arminianism and differs significantly from Calvinism:
| Aspect of Theology | Calvinism | Arminianism (and Pentecostalism) |
|---|---|---|
| Human Will in Salvation | Human will is enslaved by sin; God's election is primary | Human free will plays a role in accepting or rejecting grace |
| Election (Who is Saved) | Unconditional election; God chooses | Conditional election; God foresees who will believe |
| Grace | Irresistible; cannot be refused | Resistible; can be rejected |
| Security of Salvation | Unconditional; "Once saved, always saved" (Perseverance of the Saints) | Conditional; dependent on continual faith and repentance |
Practical Implications
The distinction between Calvinist and Arminian views has practical implications for how believers understand their walk of faith:
- For Calvinists: The emphasis is on God's unwavering faithfulness and sovereignty, providing assurance that salvation is entirely God's work and cannot be lost. This can lead to deep confidence in God's plan.
- For Pentecostals (and Arminians): The emphasis is on the ongoing responsibility of the believer to maintain their faith and repentance. While God provides grace and enables salvation, the individual's continuous response is crucial. This encourages active participation in one's spiritual journey and emphasizes personal accountability.
In summary, while both traditions are Christian, their fundamental views on how salvation is initiated, maintained, and assured are quite distinct, placing Pentecostalism firmly outside the Calvinist tradition.
