Recently, I've been getting some inquiries about why I chose to use the term "Yard Sign Calvinism" to describe the moral framework of woke leftists. I coined the phrase about three years ago, and used it describe the kind of people who use yard signs to signal their moral superiority over the rest of us. These have a variety of catch phrases, but of particular note is the "We believe" secular credo loaded with phrases like "love is love," and "science is real."
The emergence of these yard signs pushed me further into the realization that people are not really motivated by politics - that is to say policy decisions and their real-world impact - but by faith, and though they may claim otherwise, secular materialists absolutely have a religion.
Thus, the key to understanding (and predicting) their behavior was to understand their theology, not through their tangled, illogical and contradictory policy positions. Using this lens, one sees their moral framework as a Christian heresy rather than a cohesive political/economic program.
If it is a heresy, what are its features? This post will answer that question.
For one thing, it is all about moral superiority. Yard Sign Calvinists are just better than you, in every way. They're so good they have to let the world know. It's not enough for them to donate heroic amounts of money or volunteer at a soup kitchen, that takes actual effort. The yard sign does all the work necessary.
Theologically speaking, this very closely resembles the Elect of Calvinist doctrine. Those who aren't of the Elect, are governed by the doctrine of Utter Depravity, deserving neither mercy, or even respect. This is why the Elect treat everyone else with such utter disdain. It also explains why there are two sets of rules - one for them, and one for everyone else. Thus, one of the Elect harassing someone online for a meme, trying to get them fired, or even driving them to suicide always has a clear conscience. They may not phrase it that way, but they feel they are doing the Lord's work. Often they'll claim it is karma.
However, the same tactics used against them are vile, evil, horrific because they are Good People. Bad things shouldn't happen to Good People, and they get really upset when they do.
This is why I use the term Yard Sign Calvinists - by their yard signs they are saved. They also believe in Justification by Rage Alone instead of grace. They don't really experience grace as Christians do. For them the use of power is their chief source of pleasure. That is why this is also a demonic faith, fueled by pride (the signs they display for social status), wrath and envy.
Only a Yard Sign Calvinist would live in a 3,500-square-foot home with two SUVs in the driveway while keeping a "Climate Change Now" sign in the yard.
Now let's look at an actual Calvinist apologetic and see whether there is any alignment with their beliefs.
They have a nifty (naturally Dutch-centric) acronym to capture their Five Graces: TULIP, which stands for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace and Perseverance.
I'll let them speak for themselves:
Total depravity says that we are not just sick, but we are dead in our sins, in our trespasses, and there’s nothing that we can do in and of ourselves to procure our salvation.
Unconditional election says that before the foundation of the world, before we were born, before there even was a creation, God in his own immutable decree determined who would be saved—that he elected. He chose those who would by faith come to him and this choice was not based on foreseen faith—not just God putting in the tape to see what we would do millennia later—but based on his own good will and purposes he chose us.
Limited Atonement, or sometimes called Particular Redemption, means that the extent of Christ’s work on the cross—insofar as it was a saving work to save sinners—is for the elect. That Christ died as a substitutionary sacrifice for the elect only. So the extent of the atonement is limited in that way.
Irresistible Grace means that God sovereignly, supernaturally, irresistibly by his Spirit, of his own accord and not cooperating with us—so it’s monergistic not synergistic; that is, he’s the only one working, mono—saves us and causes us to be born again and implants within us the faith to believe.
And then finally the P is that God will work out in all of his chosen ones, in all of those who are truly justified, that they will persevere to the end and will ultimately be glorified.
To me, this sounds a lot like how the yard sign virtue-signalers think. They are the Elect, Good People chose because of who they are. Maybe not by God, but by the Goddess, or karma, or whatever. They also believe that everyone else is irredeemable, so they don't even try to convert them.
It's interesting that in the discussion below, the presenters go out of their way to say that Calvinism seems to contradict evangelization because if God picked the winners and losers before time, what good will missionaries do? They don't really have a strong answer to that, which is interesting, and they admit that a number of Calvinists believe that.
Limited Atonement also rolls into this, because to the extent that they may believe in God, they love it when their enemies suffer from natural disasters. Hurricanes wrecking the Bible Belt fills them with glee and is proof that the depraved are suffering and getting no grace from God. (The atheists wing will ask "where is your sky god now?")
Irresistible Grace and Perseverance reinforce the Unconditional Election doctrine by guaranteeing that the Elect will be saved. They are going to heaven, no matter what they do. This is why there is such a wide disconnect between their stated goals and the results of their policies and actions. It doesn't matter whether gun control lowers crime, and if it produces massive violence, well, their intentions were pure, and they're still Elect.
Indeed, every policy is the Right Thing To Do whether or not it works.
And yes, they can seamlessly transition from calling for civility and respect in one breath to damning everyone they disagree with in the next. The same people whose signs read "no human is illegal" also want their political opponents thrown in prison for life.
Even my kids get it, noting that houses with "Hate Has No Home Here" would likely fail the test if a someone wearing a MAGA hat knocked on the door.
This is the part where I make the obvious statement: no, these people are not actual Calvinists. They are likely entirely ignorant of all of this, but the Puritan belief system is nevertheless deeply embedded in American culture.
Calvinism's greatest strength is the feeling of self-esteem and individual license it offers. Once you realize you are of the Elect, you can do anything you want.
All religions are prone to individual scandals, but I think it fascinating that the greatest Reform theologian of the 20th Century, Karl Barth, openly kept a mistress in his home for decades. She was also his secretary, so necessary for his work, which justified his unrepentant adultery. Also important - none of his colleagues ever called him out on it. Only decades after his death was the truth revealed.
Barth's actions were the logical end of Calvinism. One of the catalysts for writing this post was a debate with a Calvinist, and when I remarked that I was but a wretched sinner, he said that those who have true grace no longer sin. When challenged on this, he said that their actions may resemble sin, but are now sanctified, which sounds a lot like Barth having a mistress but it being no longer sinful because of his grace.
I think the most powerful argument against Calvinism is its fruit. Or rather, the lack thereof. The birthplace of Calvinism and one of the most staunchly Calvinist principalities - Switzerland and the Netherland, respectively - have both embraced the modernist culture of death. The Dutch are some of the most decadent people in Europe, and so loathe their culture and faith that they have invited waves of Muslim migrants into their cities. The ancient cathedrals - stolen from the Catholic Church - are now mere museums.
The Scottish Presbyterians have likewise collapsed into schism and degeneracy. Scotland itself is a nihilist wasteland.
Calvinism's zenith was shortly after its foundation, when it could define itself against both the Church and rival denominations, but its evangelization has been chiefly through migration and modern Calvinists struggle to raise their young people in the faith. I looked at the web page for Calvin University (formerly Calvin College), located an hour west of here, it while it claims to have a 100% Christian faculty, the "about" page has the usual diversity nonsense and brags about minority enrollment.
This is not particularly good fruit.
Calvinist can hate on me if they like, but I suggest they take the label in stride. Calvinism is a dying faith, and Yard Sign Calvinism is at least an opportunity to explain the "true" version of their religion.