Embarrassing & Contradictory

George A. Kendall has written another long-winded article, titled “More on New Oxford Review,” in The Wanderer (Dec. 7, 2006). The other long-winded article appeared in The Wanderer (Aug. 24, 2006), and the NOR replied (Oct. 2006, pp. 14-15).

In his first article, Kendall accuses the NOR of being “Calvinists.” The question before us is: Does God hate unrepentant sinners? In his first article, Kendall says, “Certainly, the whole theme of God hating sinners [Ed. Note: unrepentant sinners] fits in very well with the Calvinist doctrine that some are predestined to be damned….” That God hates unrepentant sinners has nothing to do with the Calvinist doctrine that God predestined people to Hell before the foundation of the world. In the doctrine of predestination, you can repent all you want, but if God has predestined you to Hell, there is nothing you can do about it. Rather, this has to do with free will. In Catholic doctrine, God gives us free will, so we can repent or not. God’s grace is abundant, and He loves us if we repent. Kendall got free will and predestination mixed up. This is elementary theology. He was just embarrassing himself.

In Kendall’s second article, he accuses the NOR of a hint of “Pelagianism.” Calvinism teaches that God predestines people to Hell or Heaven. Pelagianism teaches that man is capable of securing salvation by his own powers, without God’s grace. Calvinism and Pelagianism are opposites. In his second foray, Kendall again accuses the NOR of “Calvinism.” Go figure.

In the NOR (letters section, June 2006, p. 19), Kendall quotes Jesus: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies….” Kendall says that “we bloody well better love” our enemies. Kendall repeats this in his first Wanderer article.