Slandering God

Fair warning: this is another post disagreeing with Calvinism. Don't mean to upset anyone, just to be part of the dialogue.

I realize that no one person represents the "official" Calvinist position (unless you count Calvin, but I mean current proponents of the larger school of thought), but I read and listen to a lot of John Piper these days, so his positions are the ones I'm mostly wrestling with. He talks here about why he believes infants who die go to heaven. His summary statement, I think, is this: "God will not condemn them because he wants to manifest openly and publicly that he does not condemn those who did not have the mental capacities to put their faith in him."

This seems so hypocritical to me. Part of Calvinism's basic teaching is that God WILL condemn those who do not have the SPIRITUAL capacity to put their faith in Him. So we have two kinds of incapacity, mental and spiritual. If you have one, you get a pass. If you have the other, you go to Hell. And you have no control over either one. You are born mentally incapable and spiritually incapable to believe in Jesus. If you live long enough, you will in most cases develop the mental capacity naturally, but you have no way to become spiritually capable unless God chooses you.

This is one of the biggest problems I have with Calvinism. I know John Piper thinks the doctrine is a treasure of God's glory, and I love John Piper, but I think the doctrine slanders the character and wisdom of God. I think it has Him condemning people for failing to do what they cannot do. I think that makes Him out to be unjust and/or foolish. I'm not saying "I don't want God to be that way, so it must be wrong." I'm saying it seems to be contrary to His character revealed in Scripture.

I'm just saying...

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