Long before you and I were alive, folks have been debating
Calvinism vs Arminianism, most often in friendly debates; but, at
times, in rather heated confrontations. Over the years that I
have been writing, I have had many of the more pleasant
discussions - and I have had some of the other, from folks who
would otherwise call me brother.
And, along the way I have had the terms "Calvinist" and "Fundamentalist" - and a few other names I will not mention in polite society, thrown at me from the Liberal and Legalistic theology teams.
Also, not to forget my non-believing Friends who often hold the belief that calling me a Fundamentalist is worse than calling me Satan. Although I have been called Satan a few times also. We will discuss Fundamentalism in another writing; for now we will take another look at Calvinism vs Arminianism.
I have many Christian Friends who know nothing about either of these opposing theologies, preferring to just concentrate on loving and following Christ in their own fellowship and leaving all other discussions alone. That is not a bad thing. But, It is much like folks who grow up in a protected environment, not realizing or noticing many of the things happening in our secular society. Many of those folks will also accept the secular version of "separation of church and state" - declaring, "Let the politicians do their thing and I will do my Christian thing." Oh, if it were only that simple.
"So, Bill, why is it so important to recognize and understand the difference between Calvinism, Arminianism, and those other theologies which teach neither?"
A person would have to be blind to not recognize that we live in a fallen world, a world where evil abounds and where a person must be constantly aware, lest someone steal his property, defame him, cheat him, harm him and his family, even to the point of killing them. Where does one find peace and security in such a world? Some find it in accumulating wealth, often paying armed guards to protect them and their families. Often they find security in knowing that with their accumulated wealth, they can buy themselves out of problems and harm. But, is that really security?
Jesus Christ offers us "eternal security" - promising that once we have, by grace through faith, chosen to follow Him as Lord and Savior - NO ONE can snatch us out of His hands nor out of the Father's hands (John 10:28-29). That is real security, not protection from tribulations of this world - but, His promise to keep us secure eternally, not just for the few years we have in this mortal body. That "eternal security" we claim the moment we believe and receive Him, for at that moment we are indwelled and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), never to have that seal broken nor have the Holy Spirit evicted (Ephesians 4:30). That is real Eternal Security, which no amount of accumulated wealth can buy; but which God freely gives to us the moment we are adopted into His family (Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 4:5-6, Ephesians 1:5).
"But, Bill, doesn't Calvinism and Arminianism offer that same Eternal Security?"
Glad you asked. And, the only answer can be a resounding, "Yes and No!" Confused? No need to be, for ALL Christian believers have His "eternal security" even if the theology they follow teaches otherwise.
Calvinism tells us that before God created the heavens and the earth; before God created any living humans - but, knowing that He was going to create billions upon billions of humans, all created in His own image (Genesis 1:26) - God decided that He was only going to allow a small minority of those divinely created humans into His heaven (the Elect).
And, according to the Calvinist theology, He decided, before the Creation, that the vast majority of those divinely created human souls He would condemn to eternal hell, misery, and suffering (the Reprobate) - without them having any opportunity to choose to enter His heaven. Wow, what a God!
And, I have read Calvinist writings which tell us that God also applies that Elect or Reprobate classification to all babies - aborted, pre-born who die, infants who die, young children who die before reaching the age of understanding, all young children. According to those writings, if that child: aborted, pre-born, infant, or young child - is conceived by an Elect couple - that child automatically has Eternal Security assured, that child will be in heaven.
On the other hand, if that child: aborted, pre-born, infant, or young child - is conceived by a Reprobate couple - that child automatically is condemned to eternal hell, misery, and suffering. Is that the God you worship and serve?
Arminians believe that God offers salvation and eternal life to all who will believe and receive His Son as Lord and Savior. That is good. However, then Arminians tell us that, even though we have believed and received Christ - we can still lose that salvation. They obviously ignore what Jesus taught in John 10:28-29, that no one (and that "no one" includes the believer) can snatch the believer out of His hands nor out of the Father's hands.
Yes, according to the Arminians, all Christian believers must go through life looking over their shoulders - lest they commit that one small sin, often a sin unknown to them, which will rob them of their salvation, rob them of the Eternal Security which Christ has promised to all believers. Where is Eternal Security to be found in a life where we must constantly be looking over our shoulders lest we be robbed of our salvation?
In a sense, I relate to Dr. Norman Geisler's position of being a "moderate Calvinist." But, in reality, I have a problem with any theology that is based upon the teachings of any man and given the name of that man, i.e., Calvinism, Arminianism, etc. I prefer to follow a Christian Theology, based upon His name only. So, I will often define myself as standing somewhere in the middle between the theologies created by John Calvin (1509-1564) and Jacobus Arminius (1560–1609), denying some doctrines in both camps.
Another view is found in the Calvinist leaning web site GotQuestions: http://www.gotquestions.org/Calvinism-vs-Arminianism.html
Keep in mind that if you accept the Calvinist doctrine of Predestination, you are also accepting that God has chosen before the Creation - to condemn billions of people, including babies, to eternal hell, misery, and suffering with no possibility of salvation.
And, if you chose to follow the teaching of Arminianism, that believers can lose their salvation - then you are refusing to accept the promise of Christ in John 10:28-29, "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand."
So, where do you stand - in the "Predestination For All" corner - or - in the "Lose Your Salvation" corner. OR, do you stand in the Biblical Christian center which tells us, in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world (you, me, all people) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever (you, me, all people) believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
If you choose the Calvinist corner, you must ask yourself, "Am I really sure that God chose me before the Creation to be among the Elect? How am I to know, for sure?"
And, if you choose to stand in the Arminian corner, you must ask yourself, "Why does Jesus, over and over in the Bible, promise the believer eternal life - if He is not going to keep the believer secure in that promise?"
Praise God, I KNOW, with no doubt, that I have eternal life in Christ, i.e., eternal security. And, I KNOW, with no doubt, that all believers, regardless of the fact that some follow an erroneous theology - are saved and will have eternal fellowship with Jesus Christ and all other believers. For ALL my brothers and sisters in Christ, even those I do not know in this life - I will see in heaven!
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
And, along the way I have had the terms "Calvinist" and "Fundamentalist" - and a few other names I will not mention in polite society, thrown at me from the Liberal and Legalistic theology teams.
Also, not to forget my non-believing Friends who often hold the belief that calling me a Fundamentalist is worse than calling me Satan. Although I have been called Satan a few times also. We will discuss Fundamentalism in another writing; for now we will take another look at Calvinism vs Arminianism.
I have many Christian Friends who know nothing about either of these opposing theologies, preferring to just concentrate on loving and following Christ in their own fellowship and leaving all other discussions alone. That is not a bad thing. But, It is much like folks who grow up in a protected environment, not realizing or noticing many of the things happening in our secular society. Many of those folks will also accept the secular version of "separation of church and state" - declaring, "Let the politicians do their thing and I will do my Christian thing." Oh, if it were only that simple.
"So, Bill, why is it so important to recognize and understand the difference between Calvinism, Arminianism, and those other theologies which teach neither?"
A person would have to be blind to not recognize that we live in a fallen world, a world where evil abounds and where a person must be constantly aware, lest someone steal his property, defame him, cheat him, harm him and his family, even to the point of killing them. Where does one find peace and security in such a world? Some find it in accumulating wealth, often paying armed guards to protect them and their families. Often they find security in knowing that with their accumulated wealth, they can buy themselves out of problems and harm. But, is that really security?
Jesus Christ offers us "eternal security" - promising that once we have, by grace through faith, chosen to follow Him as Lord and Savior - NO ONE can snatch us out of His hands nor out of the Father's hands (John 10:28-29). That is real security, not protection from tribulations of this world - but, His promise to keep us secure eternally, not just for the few years we have in this mortal body. That "eternal security" we claim the moment we believe and receive Him, for at that moment we are indwelled and sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13), never to have that seal broken nor have the Holy Spirit evicted (Ephesians 4:30). That is real Eternal Security, which no amount of accumulated wealth can buy; but which God freely gives to us the moment we are adopted into His family (Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 4:5-6, Ephesians 1:5).
"But, Bill, doesn't Calvinism and Arminianism offer that same Eternal Security?"
Glad you asked. And, the only answer can be a resounding, "Yes and No!" Confused? No need to be, for ALL Christian believers have His "eternal security" even if the theology they follow teaches otherwise.
Calvinism tells us that before God created the heavens and the earth; before God created any living humans - but, knowing that He was going to create billions upon billions of humans, all created in His own image (Genesis 1:26) - God decided that He was only going to allow a small minority of those divinely created humans into His heaven (the Elect).
And, according to the Calvinist theology, He decided, before the Creation, that the vast majority of those divinely created human souls He would condemn to eternal hell, misery, and suffering (the Reprobate) - without them having any opportunity to choose to enter His heaven. Wow, what a God!
And, I have read Calvinist writings which tell us that God also applies that Elect or Reprobate classification to all babies - aborted, pre-born who die, infants who die, young children who die before reaching the age of understanding, all young children. According to those writings, if that child: aborted, pre-born, infant, or young child - is conceived by an Elect couple - that child automatically has Eternal Security assured, that child will be in heaven.
On the other hand, if that child: aborted, pre-born, infant, or young child - is conceived by a Reprobate couple - that child automatically is condemned to eternal hell, misery, and suffering. Is that the God you worship and serve?
Arminians believe that God offers salvation and eternal life to all who will believe and receive His Son as Lord and Savior. That is good. However, then Arminians tell us that, even though we have believed and received Christ - we can still lose that salvation. They obviously ignore what Jesus taught in John 10:28-29, that no one (and that "no one" includes the believer) can snatch the believer out of His hands nor out of the Father's hands.
Yes, according to the Arminians, all Christian believers must go through life looking over their shoulders - lest they commit that one small sin, often a sin unknown to them, which will rob them of their salvation, rob them of the Eternal Security which Christ has promised to all believers. Where is Eternal Security to be found in a life where we must constantly be looking over our shoulders lest we be robbed of our salvation?
In a sense, I relate to Dr. Norman Geisler's position of being a "moderate Calvinist." But, in reality, I have a problem with any theology that is based upon the teachings of any man and given the name of that man, i.e., Calvinism, Arminianism, etc. I prefer to follow a Christian Theology, based upon His name only. So, I will often define myself as standing somewhere in the middle between the theologies created by John Calvin (1509-1564) and Jacobus Arminius (1560–1609), denying some doctrines in both camps.
Norman Geisler
http://www.theopedia.com/norman-geisler
Theology: Geisler maintains that he is a "moderate Calvinist," as outlined in his book Chosen But Free (1999).
He is widely considered a conservative evangelical, in spite of the misgivings that both Arminian and Calvinist polemicists have with his "moderate Calvinism." He rejects the classical Calvinist tenets of unconditional election, limited atonement, and irresistible grace - yet retains modified versions of total depravity and perseverance of the saints. In response to this James R. White, a Calvinist pastor and apologist, wrote The Potter's Freedom (2000). One of White's contentions is that Geisler's "moderate Calvinism" appears to be an "inconsistent" Arminianism, in opposition to the more robust views espoused by John Calvin.
Dr. Geisler has also been an outspoken critic of "open theism," especially it's doctrine of "limited foreknowledge" - which he maintains is a deeply flawed subversion of "classical theism." . . .
Bill Gray Note: Open Theism denies the full foreknowledge of God, thus denying His omniscience.
Norman L. Geisler is an evangelical scholar, Christian apologist, and the author/coauthor of over fifty Christian books defending the Christian faith by means of logic, evidence, and philosophy. He has also authored many scholarly articles on a wide range of theological and philosophical topics. Dr. Geisler has taught at the university and graduate level for over forty years. Geisler's work Baker Encyclopedia of Christan Apologetics has been well received and is considered a systematic and comprehensive work of Christian apologetics.
Another view is found in the Calvinist leaning web site GotQuestions: http://www.gotquestions.org/Calvinism-vs-Arminianism.html
Question: "Calvinism vs. Arminianism - which view is correct?"
Answer: Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility in the matter of salvation. Calvinism is named for John Calvin, a French theologian who lived from 1509-1564. Arminianism is named for Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch theologian who lived from 1560-1609.
Both systems can be summarized with five points.
T - Calvinism holds to the total depravity of man while Arminianism holds to partial depravity. Calvinism’s doctrine of total depravity states that every aspect of humanity is corrupted by sin; therefore, human beings are unable to come to God on their own accord. Partial depravity states that every aspect of humanity is tainted by sin, but not to the extent that human beings are unable to place faith in God of their own accord. . .
U - Calvinism includes the belief that election is unconditional, while Arminianism believes in conditional election. Unconditional election is the view that God elects individuals to salvation based entirely on His will, not on anything inherently worthy in the individual. Conditional election states that God elects individuals to salvation based on His foreknowledge of who will believe in Christ unto salvation, thereby on the condition that the individual chooses God.
L - Calvinism sees the atonement as limited, while Arminianism sees it as unlimited. This is the most controversial of the five points. Limited atonement is the belief that Jesus only died for the elect. Unlimited atonement is the belief that Jesus died for all, but that His death is not effectual until a person receives Him by faith.
I - Calvinism includes the belief that God’s grace is irresistible, while Arminianism says that an individual can resist the grace of God. Irresistible grace argues that when God calls a person to salvation, that person will inevitably come to salvation. Resistible grace states that God calls all to salvation, but that many people resist and reject this call.
P - Calvinism holds to perseverance of the saints while Arminianism holds to conditional salvation. Perseverance of the saints refers to the concept that a person who is elected by God will persevere in faith and will not permanently deny Christ or turn away from Him. Conditional salvation is the view that a believer in Christ can, of his/her own free will, turn away from Christ and thereby lose salvation. . .
So, in the Calvinism vs Arminianism debate, who is correct? It is interesting to note that in the diversity of the body of Christ, there are all sorts of mixtures of Calvinism and Arminianism. There are five-point Calvinists and five-point Arminians, and at the same time three-point Calvinists and two-point Arminians. Many believers arrive at some sort of mixture of the two views. Ultimately, it is our view that both systems fail in that they attempt to explain the unexplainable.
Human beings are incapable of fully grasping a concept such as this. Yes, God is absolutely sovereign and knows all. Yes, human beings are called to make a genuine decision to place faith in Christ unto salvation. These two facts seem contradictory to us, but in the mind of God they make perfect sense.
Recommended Resources:
Debating Calvinism: Five Points, Two Views, by Hunt & White
Chosen But Free, revised edition: A Balanced View of God's Sovereignty and Free Will, by Norm Geisler
The Potter's Freedom, by James White
Why I Am Not a Calvinist, by Walls & Dongell
Why I Am Not an Arminian, by Peterson & Williams
Bill Gray Note: The underline, bold, and cap TULIP letters were added by me.
Keep in mind that if you accept the Calvinist doctrine of Predestination, you are also accepting that God has chosen before the Creation - to condemn billions of people, including babies, to eternal hell, misery, and suffering with no possibility of salvation.
And, if you chose to follow the teaching of Arminianism, that believers can lose their salvation - then you are refusing to accept the promise of Christ in John 10:28-29, "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand."
So, where do you stand - in the "Predestination For All" corner - or - in the "Lose Your Salvation" corner. OR, do you stand in the Biblical Christian center which tells us, in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world (you, me, all people) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever (you, me, all people) believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
If you choose the Calvinist corner, you must ask yourself, "Am I really sure that God chose me before the Creation to be among the Elect? How am I to know, for sure?"
And, if you choose to stand in the Arminian corner, you must ask yourself, "Why does Jesus, over and over in the Bible, promise the believer eternal life - if He is not going to keep the believer secure in that promise?"
Praise God, I KNOW, with no doubt, that I have eternal life in Christ, i.e., eternal security. And, I KNOW, with no doubt, that all believers, regardless of the fact that some follow an erroneous theology - are saved and will have eternal fellowship with Jesus Christ and all other believers. For ALL my brothers and sisters in Christ, even those I do not know in this life - I will see in heaven!
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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