On Calvinism, Satan is redundant

Here's a question for you, what is the role of Satan within a Calvinistic understanding of scripture?

Well the truth is, Satan becomes redundant within the Calvinistic system. Let me explain why.

God's meticulous ordination of all events:

The Calvinist view of determinism says that God has meticulously ordained every event, decision, and action, including the choices and actions of individuals.

This understanding of God's sovereignty extends even to the allowance and ordination of sin and evil. Consequently, this raises the question of Satan's role in the grand scheme of things.

If God has predestined every detail, including the presence of sin, then Satan's role as the tempter and the origin of evil becomes less meaningful, as his actions would also be ultimately ordained by God.

The undermining of Satan's opposition to God:

The Bible consistently portrays Satan as a malevolent force, actively opposing God and seeking to thwart His purposes (1 Peter 5:8; John 8:44). However, if God has meticulously ordained all events, including Satan's actions and the existence of sin and evil, then Satan's opposition to God loses its potency. In effect, Satan's schemes would merely be carrying out God's predetermined plan. Calvinism raises questions about the authenticity of Satan's role as the enemy of God and His people.

The implications for spiritual warfare:

The concept of spiritual warfare is a prominent theme throughout the Bible, with believers called to resist the devil and his schemes (Ephesians 6:10-18; James 4:7). In the context of Calvinistic determinism, however, spiritual warfare takes on a different dimension. If God has ordained every event, including the actions of Satan, then the battle against the forces of darkness appears less consequential.

As believers, our struggles against temptation and spiritual opposition would be, in essence, struggles against God's preordained plan.

This raises concerns about the significance of our spiritual warfare and our role as active participants in God's redemptive story.

The impact on God's character and the problem of evil:

One of the primary issues with Calvinistic determinism is its impact on our understanding of God's character. If God meticulously ordains all events, including sin and evil, it becomes difficult to reconcile this view with the biblical portrayal of God as holy, loving, and just (1 John 4:8; Exodus 34:6-7).

The redundancy of Satan within the Calvinistic framework compounds this problem, as it places the responsibility for evil and suffering squarely on God, rather than on the malevolent actions of a spiritual adversary.

In conclusion, the implications of Calvinistic determinism for the role of Satan raise several concerns. If God meticulously ordains all events, including the actions of Satan, the biblical themes of Satan's opposition to God, spiritual warfare, and the problem of evil become increasingly complex and difficult to reconcile with our understanding of God's character.

We need to affirm the sovereignty of God while also recognizing the reality of human freedom, responsibility, and the presence of a genuine spiritual adversary in Satan.

By upholding the biblical portrayal of Satan as the enemy of God and His people, we maintain a more balanced view of God's sovereignty that allows for human agency and spiritual warfare. This perspective preserves the integrity of our relationship with God, emphasises the significance of our choices and actions in the ongoing battle against sin and darkness, and presents a more coherent understanding of the problem of evil.