Kraft critiques what he perceives as pharisaical self-righteousness among some high Calvinist and sovereign grace adherents who prioritize doctrinal correctness over love and community, arguing that their focus on theological "rightness" as a marker of salvation mirrors Arminian error rather than reflecting genuine understanding of grace (Matthew 15:8). He contends that true knowledge of God manifests in love, peace, and humble participation in local church community with other sinners, not in isolation and constant doctrinal argumentation about who is saved or compromised. Ultimately, Kraft calls believers away from prideful theological gatekeeping toward churches characterized by mutual support, worship, and acceptance of human imperfection.
What does the Bible say about self-righteousness?
Self-righteousness is condemned in Scripture as it leads to a false sense of justification before God (Matthew 15:8).
In the context of sovereign grace, self-righteousness can lead individuals to prioritize doctrinal correctness over genuine love and fellowship. Such attitudes can create divisions, as seen in the ongoing debates between Arminianism and Calvinism. When believers hold firm to the truths of Scripture but lack grace and compassion, they risk becoming like the Pharisees—focused on their rightness rather than the grace that binds the church together.
Matthew 15:8
How do we know sovereign grace is true?
Sovereign grace is rooted in Scripture, emphasizing God's control in salvation and His unmerited favor towards sinners (Ephesians 1:4-5).
Additionally, the Five Points of Dordrecht (TULIP) succinctly encapsulate this theology: Total depravity emphasizes humanity’s inability to save itself; unconditional election asserts God's sovereign choice; limited atonement reflects the meaning of Christ's death for the elect; irresistible grace states that God's call to the elect cannot be resisted; and perseverance of the saints assures us of our security in Christ. Together, these doctrines provide a coherent framework that clarifies God's role in our salvation and the assurance it brings His people.
Ephesians 1:4-5
Why is love important for Christians?
Love is central to the Christian faith, reflecting Jesus' teachings and the nature of God (1 John 4:8).
When love is absent, as described in the article, individuals can fall into a self-righteous attitude that prioritizes the defense of doctrine over the wellbeing of fellow believers. This behavior is counterproductive and can lead to division and strife within the body of Christ. Therefore, Christians are called not only to defend the faith but to engage with one another in love, recognizing that it is through love that the church reflects the character of Christ to a watching world.
1 John 4:8
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. - Mat 15:18
I find myself once again sitting here on a Saturday night, distressed by what I see as a sad portrayal of "sovereign grace" faith online. It's the never ending debate of arminianism vs. calvinism, "right" doctrine vs. "false" doctrine, intolerants vs. tolerants, and non-compromisers vs. those deemed as compromisers. Looking at my friend list I see I've been defriended again, probably as word of my slow and sad descent into freewillism has once again been discussed amongst the "sovereign grace" camp. I know this happens, as I've been the victim of slander, discussion behind my back, even amongst people and pastors I have highly respected. All of this enabled by that perilous site called "facebook." Fake book is more like it.
It's amazing to see the words, "sovereign grace" so piously used by men and women who display NO LOVE toward others. Their fake displays of doctrinal rightness fool many, but I see right through them for who they are - self-righteous pharisees. It's self-righteousness cloaked in "defending the faith." These are people who constantly argue, form theological alignments, gather followers, are continually hyper-critical of others, and looking for fault in everything other people say. There is no love displayed - only "rightness." The whole display is alarming to me, and I pray, "oh Lord, please keep this away from my congregation! Please keep this nasty business out of my church!"
Their "sovereign grace" doctrine has led them to finding more bones than meat. And they display an angry and self-important spirit, rather than the spirit of love and peace. This only tells me that they don't know our Lord. This only tells me that their theology is wrong. This only tells me that they have no understanding of the grace they espouse! They mistake their rightness for grace. This is why they argue with the arminian continually. The arminian is clearly wrong and they are clearly right, they reason. And sadly, they reason their rightness as a condition for salvation just as much as the avowed arminian conditions their rightness for salvation. It's true that the child of God will be brought into theological "rightness", and will know the things of God. But they don't look to their rightness as the reason for their justification before God! This "rightness" is only a necessary consequence, and not a condition of being saved.
Most of all I'm saddened. Having been brought out of freewillism into the truth, and looking to the Lord in faith, and experiencing the finding of favor in His Son so many years ago, I went looking for a camp that "got the gospel right." I thought I had found it online. And for many years I was deceived. For the most part, it seems to me that these so called "high calvinists" / "sovereign grace" camp adherents are just warmed over arminians masquerading as believers. How sad, because I've known many arminians grasping in the dark, dead as they may be in sin, who seem to have a better grasp of grace than some of these folks.
And these arguments, a result of their pride, keeps them away from the true church. Most of these people are not a part of any assembly. They won't go to church with "people like that." I've seen them complain online many times that they are "sheep without a home." Yet, there is a sovereign grace church in their hometown, not far from them. But it's got "people like that." So they sit at home and post on fakebook instead. Another even packs up and moves across the country to join a church, only to be robbed of all joy because it too had "people like that." These pompous religionists keep themselves separated from the people of God because God's churches are filled with "people like that." Well I will tell you now, I'd rather be in a church with "people like that" than these sovereign grace gospel defenders. I'd rather go to church with SINNERS who KNOW they don't have everything right. I'd rather be with sinners who know that salvation is ONLY in Christ, and not in their "gospel defense." Obviously our churches aren't perfect, but they are filled with God's people who come together to worship together, support each other, to love one another, and to bury one another. They are filled with people who have all kinds of problems. But one thing I don't see is a bunch of people arguing about who is saved or who isn't saved. I don't see people fighting over who is a compromiser and who isn't. Oh, God forbid that it ever be!
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