I normally do not make posts this long, but since I probably have zero readers, I will archive this material online for my own sake; but as a preface the beginnings of this post should be understood in terms of 1 Corinthians 1-2 (foolishness of the gospel.)
Provisionism is Not Foolishness:
Provisionism is not foolishness. In fact, it makes perfect sense.
It’s simple. Even children are trained in this framework from a young age:
If you choose to believe in Santa…
If you stay on the good list and endure to the end of the year…
Then you will receive good gifts as a reward.
But if you don’t believe or if you fall away into bad behavior, you get coal.
That’s Provisionism in a nutshell. Believe, behave, endure, and receive the reward. It’s not foolishness because it’s not foreign—it’s how every human system works.
For adults, it’s even more practical:
You lost your job and owe a mortgage you can’t pay.
The good news? There’s a corporation willing to help.
If you believe the owner will pay you at the end of the month…
If you stay in the corporation and endure to the end without quitting…
Then you will certainly receive your paycheck.
That’s not foolishness—that’s just a contract. Work, endure, and be rewarded.
Provisionism is not foolishness. It (Provisionism) is completely rational, completely understandable, and completely human-centered.
And that’s exactly the problem.
Paul Was Not Ashamed of the Foolishness He Preached
Paul didn’t preach a transactional system that made sense to the world. He preached a Gospel so offensive, so radical, that it was mocked, rejected, and called foolishness by those who were perishing (1 Cor. 1:18).
The world understands contracts. It does not understand a God who saves people who didn’t choose Him (John 15:16).
The world understands religious effort. It does not understand a God who says “It depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” (Romans 9:16).
The world understands wages. It does not understand grace that actually saves rather than just offering an opportunity (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Provisionism is not foolishness because it’s not the message Paul preached. It’s just another works-based system with better branding.
I’m Not Ashamed of Calvinism Because It Is Foolishness
Calvinism is mocked, twisted, strawmanned, and hated—and that’s exactly how it should be.
Paul never had to defend an accepted Gospel. He had to defend a rejected one.
Paul never had to clarify a reasonable Gospel. He had to clarify a foolish one.
Paul never had to suffer for a man-centered Gospel. He suffered for a God-centered one.
So when the world rejects Calvinism, when it ridicules and distorts it—that is exactly what should happen. That’s what always happens when you preach that God alone saves, that man is powerless, and that salvation is not a paycheck but a gift given to the elect.
The only reason to say “I am not ashamed” is when the world is calling your message foolish.
And the world does not call Provisionism foolish. It makes too much sense to them. It’s too familiar. Too humanistic.
But the Gospel Paul preached? That was offensive. That was foolishness to those who were perishing.