Kicking and Screaming

I read the most remarkable statement the other day in a discussion between a Calvinist and a non-Calvinist:

"God doesn't drag people kicking and screaming into Heaven!"

The non-Calvinist sounded absolutely outraged that Calvinists would believe that God would take people to Heaven against their will (i.e. "kicking and screaming"). This misrepresentation derives from the belief that Calvinists hold that God's grace is irresistable (the "I" in TULIP), meaning that if God has determined an individual will come to him, then it is going to happen.

It is worth mentioning that Calvinists do not believe that God forces anyone to go to Heaven against their will, but rather changes their heart so that their will is then in alignment with God's on the issue of salvation. This is not mucking about with the will itself, but rather changing (regenerating) that which determines the types of choices the will makes (the heart).

But let's consider for a moment the (straw-man) objection of the non-Calvinist who would make such a statement above (note that I am certainly not saying all non-Calvinists would make this statement.) It is important to consider this statement, because it demonstrates clearly just how important the "freedom to choose" is to this individual.

I wonder what one who would make this criticism would answer to the following question:

"If God already knew that your spouse would not willingly accept God's gift, would you prefer He let them spend an eternity in hell, or would you rather he brought them to Heaven kicking and screaming?"

When the question is phrased this way, I wonder if the non-Calvinist might feel different about this argument? When the question is phrased this way, might the non-Calvinist reevaluate just how important the "freedom" of their spouse's will is, as compared to their eternal disposition?

I wonder.

-- BK