In The Tumbling “U,” Dr. Robert Congdon addresses Calvin's  teaching on Unconditional Election: that God elects or chooses those who will go to heaven and those who will go to Hell.

Dr. Congdon applies the inductive method of Bible study to discover the definition and purpose of "election." He does this by examining three groups in the Bible that are designated as being "elect:" the elect angels, the elect nation of Israel, and the elect church.

He demonstrates that Calvin's definition of election does not agree or harmonize with God's revealed purposes for each of these "elect" groups. By considering the contexts where the words "election," "elect," and "predestined" appear, he shows that they are never used to indicate salvation of  individuals, but always are used in a plural context, indicating that an entire group has been designated as elect. God uses the term, "election" to designate groups that He has set apart to serve Him in a special way. He then offers an alternative view of election as it relates to the church: individuals who choose to receive Christ become a part of the elect church that is being conformed to the image of God's Son. Election is the result of being saved, not the cause that makes one saved. The key to "election" for all three groups is found in the concept of "service to God."