Calvin - God the Murder Planner

Once again we will see Calvin destroy the very character and Holiness of the LORD God the Almighty by making him the author of even the smallest of murders.

In this chapter Calvin attempts to explain that nothing happens fortuitously, but instead "all things are ordered by the counsel and certain arrangement of God".

He continues with "Let us suppose, for example, that a merchant, after entering a forest in company with trust-worthy individuals, imprudently strays from his companions and wanders bewildered till he falls into a den of robbers and is murdered."

Calvin continues to explain that "His death was not only foreseen by the eye of God, but had been fixed by his decree."

John Calvin [a.d. 1509-1564]

Institutes of the Christian Religion - Chapter 16 - Section 9
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.iii.xvii.html

 

9. But since our sluggish minds rest far beneath the height of Divine Providence, we must have recourse to a distinction which may assist them in rising. I say then, that though all things are ordered by the counsel and certain arrangement of God, to us, however, they are fortuitous,—not because we imagine that Fortune rules the world and mankind, and turns all things upside down at random (far be such a heartless thought from every Christian breast); but as the order, method, end, and necessity of events, are, for the most part, hidden in the counsel of God, though it is certain that they are produced by the will of God, they have the appearance of being fortuitous, such being the form under which they present themselves to us, whether considered in their own nature, or estimated according to our knowledge and Judgment. Let us suppose, for example, that a merchant, after entering a forest in company with trust-worthy individuals, imprudently strays from his companions and wanders bewildered till he falls into a den of robbers and is murdered. His death was not only foreseen by the eye of God, but had been fixed by his decree. For it is said, not that he foresaw how far the life of each individual should extend, but that he determined and fixed the bounds which could not be passed (Job 14:5)

By transfering the responsibility of evil actions onto man, and his ability to make both good and bad choices as a free moral agent, the false teachings of Theistic Fatalism takes it hold and we see the fruits in full view.