John Calvin Goes to Berkeley [Paperback]

James G. McCarthy's "John Calvin Goes to Berkeley" is an enjoyable book that deals with an important contemporary issue: the growth of Calvinism, especially among young people. The setting is the famed University of California where some Calvinist members of a campus ministry are starting to make their presence known by putting pressure on the group leader to do things their way and to teach the Calvinistic view of predestination. This development is very troubling to the leader and many of the group members who do not know a great deal about Calvinism, but know enough to be very uncomfortable with the idea of pushing Calvinism onto the other members of "University Christian Fellowship". Inevitable problems and conflicts ensue leading several members to embark on a quest to better understand the Biblical teaching on predestination. The main Calvinist group member is dealing with pressures of his own since his pastor that he is counting on for a recommendation to a Reformed College is not at all happy with his membership in a group that is largely non-Calvinist.

The book has a few unexpected twists and plenty of sub plots that keep the story interesting even for those who don't care much about the theological themes. The eventual solution to the predestination problem is intriguing and unexpected as well. It will especially appeal to anyone who is involved with campus ministry or anyone who is interested in the Arminian and Calvinist debate. I read the book very quickly due to my interest in both of the main themes and had a hard time putting the book down. It leaves you anxious to find out what will happen next, especially regarding the student's personal investigations regarding what the Bible has to say on the topic of predestination, and the interpersonal dynamics of the conflicts that result.

The University of California Berkeley, founded in 1868, has a rich history and controversial reputation as a place, in the 1960's at least, for free speech and freedom of expression. In James G. McCarthy's latest book, "John Calvin Goes to Berkeley," Berkeley is still a bastion for free speech and freedom of expression, but not so much for conservative Christians.

McCarthy's novel chronicles five students, Alex, Angela, Elliot, Rod and Jamie, as they face the challenges of the everyday college student at Berkeley. Alex is president of the UCF (University Christian Fellowship) on campus. The UCF experiences hecklers and aggressive opposers at their pamphlet table on Berkeley's lawn. Mind you, there are many other tables on campus promoting various activities, but it is the UCF which receives assaults and censure.

Trouble begins in the UCF when the staunch Calvinist, Rod, vice-president of UCF and future candidate for Westminster Seminary, becomes agitated with the method of the staunch Arminian, Jamie, in his witnessing to a non-believer. Jamie, the Arminian, had informed a non-believer of her need to repent - and to repent at that very moment. Jamie was convinced that God was genuinely offering her eternal life if she would repent and trust in Christ. Rod, on the other hand, wondered how on earth Jamie could know that God was offering her eternal life since no one can know who are the elect of God (11). Controversy ensued.

At the next UCF meeting, Rod and Jamie, as well as some other students who gathered, began questioning and then arguing over the doctrine of predestination. Had God already predetermined to save only some people, bringing them to faith and salvation by a mere decree, thereby consigning the rest to hell, or had God predetermined to save those who believe (cf. 1 Cor. 1:21)? Fearing that the disagreement would tear the fellowship apart, one student, Elliot, posed that the five of them study the subject in order to "solve" the seeming contradiction of God's sovereignty and humanity's free will. They set out to solve predestination.

The journey that these five students take is amusing, funny, perplexing, frustrating, impressive, challenging, and in the end, surprising. While their "solution" may not convince the strict Calvinist, some will be convinced. Others will certainly have food for fodder. Can the subject of predestination (or better, election) be studied objectively, without any presuppositions? That was the goal of at least three out of the five students. The Calvinist, Rod, wanted to convert everyone to Calvinism, for according to him (and the majority of Calvinists today), it is the gospel. The Arminian, Jamie, was convinced of his position, not too willing to seeing it otherwise, but was not too certain as to why he believed what he believed.

The darkest chapter was definitely chapter twenty-five, when Angela, a non-Calvinist, and Rod, engaged in a bitter argument, concluding with Angela trying to slap Rod. The reader senses the potential for animosity when discussing such an explosive topic. If emotions are not checked by the Spirit of God, one finds oneself reacting with vitriol and contempt at the views of his or her opponents.

But is there not something deeper than mere frustration underscoring her reaction? Was Angela not trying to express how Rod's theology made her feel? His views of God were blasphemous to her -- Rod made God out to be a monster (218). In Rod's defense, Arminianism makes man to be his own Savior -- it is, in his opinion at least, a works-based system and a false gospel. Clearly, there is no way -- absolutely no way -- that the two systems are compatible, not even antinomously so.

I was not sure if I was going to appreciate the group's solution to predestination until I read chapter thirty-three. When the group was being challenged by someone who had previously tried and failed to "figure out" predestination, the solution to predestination was more than merely tenable.

Granted, this is just a fictional novel. But the historical setting, as well as the arguments which both sides garnered, were very impressive. The characters were real-to-life and sincere - even the staunch Calvinist, whose success in converting the students of UCF to Calvinism would determine his pastor's recommendation for his admission to Westminster. The novel was not only endearing and thoughtful, but it was entertaining and challenging as well. I did not want to put it down! I wanted to find out how on earth this group of everyday college students was going to "solve" the quandary of the ages.

"The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world" (John 1:9 NET Bible).

It is good that the discussion of Calvinism and Arminianism can be discussed in our churches today. Most churches, especially those in the Emergent movement, are so doctrinally anemic that they could hardly discuss such doctrines with any depth. However, it appears that this book has more of a motive to produce animosity and prejudice against Calvinist brothers and sisters in Christ, through presenting Calvinists with an unbalanced view of evangelism. These men can be more accurately considered "Anti-Calvinists" or Hyper-Calvinists. Let us not forget our Christian forefathers (post Roman Catholic rule) and the missionary pioneers of our past, predominantly Calvinists. Those men of the first Great Awakening, predominantly Calvinists. Those who wrote the great confessions of faith of the past, predominantly Calvinists. They weren't struggling to understand predestination, they embraced it. Let me also be balanced, there were also great Arminians like John Wesley. Let Arminians not be guilty of trying to convert people to "Free-Will" ideology above converting them to Christ. There are unbalanced Calvinists, and there are unbalanced Arminians. Do not let a story with emotional emphasis be the determining factor in your doctrinal beliefs, let the scriptures do that. Exegesis, not Eisegesis and emotion, need to be the determining factors in our doctrine. It is amazing how many staunch Arminians rely on the writings and examples of Calvin, Whitefield, Spurgeon, Judson, Fuller, Carey, Bunyan, Pink, McArthur, Piper, Dever, Martin Lloyd-Jones, Jonathan Edwards, John Newton, Sproul, John Foxe, Owen, Luther, William Wilberforce, D. James Kennedy, and so on, and yet demonize their theology. I assure you that Calvinism is not only the minority, it is also the position where more people come under personal attack for believing it. I do not know why unless it is the flesh that causes people to be angry with the Calvinistic position. In the eternal scope, it won't be a problem for me, if God declared my position to be in error, to repent and take credit for my part in salvation that I previously credited to God. But if Arminians are wrong, they will have to repent for giving themselves the credit for something that God deserved the glory for. I encourage you to read the "Potter's Freedom" by James White or "Doctrines That Divide" by Erwin Lutzer. Be objective and seek the truth, for God's glory. Soli Deo Gloria.

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