Are You a Calvinist, Arminian or in-between?

BibleHelp.Org ^ | 1998-2003 | Michael Bronson

[fortheDeclaration]

Are You a Calvinist, Arminian, or in-between?

Important Note

Chapter: 14.05 (Section 14: Selective Salvation)

Copyright © Michael Bronson 1998 - 2003

BibleHelp.org

In the previous chapter we looked at some of the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism. We saw that both of these positions have some extreme doctrines in which most Christians are uncomfortable. This chapter will cover this problem even further.

Although there are some Christians who adhere fully to Calvinism or Arminianism, most don’t. Most Christians have a hard time accepting all of the doctrines associated with either of these two views. If you were to ask them if they were a Calvinist or an Arminians, they would say that they are neither, but are somewhere in-between. Unfortunately, I don’t think most Christians realize what they are implying when they say this.

If you were to ask me, "What are you, a Communist or a Nazi?" I would, of course, tell you I am neither. I would also tell you I am not somewhere in-between. There are many other political positions besides the ones found between communism and Nazism.

Likewise, I am not a Calvinist, Arminian, or anywhere in-between. My theological stance is quite different. There are other theological positions apart from what lays between Calvinism and Arminianism. I think if most Christians were to carefully examine the beliefs of both of these positions, they would conclude they are not somewhere in-between. (Please do not misquote me. I am not comparing communism and Nazism with these two theological beliefs. I only mentioned them to illustrate a point.)

If you refer to my Doctrinal Statement, you will find it is consistent with most evangelical Christians. I firmly believe Jesus’ death on the cross paid the full penalty for our sins. Salvation does not come from doing good works, but from personally accepting what Jesus has done for us on the cross.

Like many "Calvinists," I believe in eternal security and the sovereignty of God. However, I believe that God (out of His sovereignty) created us with a complete free will. This free will gives us the true ability to accept or reject God. This choice is not a preprogrammed choice, but rather it is a choice made from a truly free heart.

Many people call themselves Calvinists simply because they know they are not Arminians. They figure if they are not Arminians they must be Calvinists. Many Calvinists reinforce this belief in some of their writings. Following are some of their comments:

"It must be evident that there are just two theories which can be maintained by evangelical Christians upon this important subject; that all men who have made any study of it, and who have reached any settled conclusions regarding it, must be either Calvinists or Arminians. There is no other position which a ‘Christian’ can take." (Boettner, Predestination, p. 333)

"… only these two general schemes of Christian doctrine are logically possible … in the future, as the past, all evangelical believers will belong either to one dogmatic division or the other" (W. Shedd, Calvinism: Pure and Mixed, 1986, p. 149)

Once it has been established there are only two positions, people are shown that only one position is correct. The Arminian position is shown to be completely unscriptural. At this point people would rather call themselves Calvinists than the erroneous Arminians. Listed below are some comments by Selective Salvationists contrasting the two views:

"Calvinism is the eternal truth. Arminianism has always been an inveterate lie." (R. Harbach, Calvinism the Truth, 1984, p. 3)

"It is clear that Arminianism is anti-Scriptural, but that Calvinism is completely true to the Bible." (G. Clark, Predestination, 1987, p. 144)

"The Biblical truths of Calvinism are never so clear as against the erroneous ideas of the Arminian." (Palmer, p. 26)

"Arminianism thought is … the ancient pagan learning that had just been rediscovered in the Renaissance." (McGregor Wright, No Place for Sovereignty, 1996, p. 90)

"… [Arminianism is] the last and greatest monster of the man of sin, the elixir of Anti-Christianity." (Leighton, An Antidote Against Arminianism, 1982, p. 2)

"These doctrines are a perversion of the Truth of God and the way of salvation. They have no scriptural foundation." (W. MacLean, Arminianism: Another Gospel, 1976, p. 5)

"Arminianism is the plague of the church and the scourge of sound doctrine." (Herman Hanko, God’s Everlasting Covenant of Grace, 1988, p. 16)

"We believe that what has been known in Church history as Calvinism is the purest and most consistent embodiment of the religion of Faith, while that which has been known as Arminianism has been diluted to a dangerous degree by the religion of works." (Boettner, Reformed Faith, p. 1)

"[Arminianism] appears as the gospel, but in reality is ‘another gospel.’ " (MacLean, Arminianism: Another Gospel, p. 5)

"Arminianism is that rejected error which has become the most insidiously devised heresy ever to lay claim to Biblical support." (Harbach, Calvinism the Truth, p. 3)

If you look at the doctrinal statements of strong Reformed churches and colleges, you will find most of them list certain documents in their doctrinal statements. The four most common documents are: Canons of Dort (1618), Belgic Confession (1561), Westminster Confession (1646-48), and Heidelberg Catechism (1563). Most of these were written about 400 years ago and were written to clarify their doctrinal stance.

The doctrine of selective salvation became popular about 400 years ago during the Reformation. Since this new doctrine was confusing to many people back then, many "errors" and "heresies" started to arise. The documents referenced above were written to address these heresies. Links to these documents can be found at the end of this chapter if you are interested in reading them.

Of all of these documents, the Cannons of Dort deals with selective salvation the most. I strongly recommend you read the first few pages of the Cannons of Dort; this will give you a very solid understanding of the teachings of Calvinism. (Throughout this section I will reference various parts of the Canons of Dort. For your convenience, I have listed the referenced items separately in the following chapter.)

For ease of viewing, I have each of these documents listed on my website. Click on the name below to view the documents:

Canons of Dort

Belgic Confession

Westminster Confession

Heidelberg Catechism http://www.biblehelp.org/dort.htm

http://www.biblehelp.org/belgic.htm

http://www.biblehelp.org/west.htm

http://www.biblehelp.org/heidel.htm

[As you well know...]

I think the "once saved always saved" position of some Christians is unbiblical.Matt 10:22 And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake: but he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved. (0bviously some will not persevere - even ones thinking they are Just and saved).

Ezechiel 3:20 Moreover if the just man shall turn away from his justice, and shall commit iniquity: I will lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die, because thou hast not given him warning: he shall die in his sin, and his justices which he hath done, shall not be remembered: but I will require his blood at thy hand. (If the Just man can turn away, what about those telling me "I am saved?")

[fishtank]

This is the first chapter from Jody Dillow's book, "The Reign of the Servant Kings".

In the book and in this chapter, Dillow presents a middle view between Calvinism and Arminianism.


http://www.inthebeginning.org/schoettle/bookpreviews/dillow/preview.htm

http://www.inthebeginning.org/kingdom/dillow/chapter1.pdf

[LiteKeeper]

I think the "once saved always saved" position of some Christians is unbiblical.Matt 10:22

John 3:16 - What is the definition of eternal? It means without end.

Additionally, since salvation is totally an act of God, to say that it is my perseverance which determines my salvation, takes it out of His hands and puts it in mine. That is unscriptural.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Amen:)

Becky

[LiteKeeper]

Please review this article. Perseverance of the Saints

[LiteKeeper]

See posting #6!

[fishtank]

bump for later reading since Dillow does not agree with MacArthur on this.

[LiteKeeper]

I have known John MacArthur for almost 30 years. He is a very careful Bible scholar and teacher. This is an area where he has done a lot of study and teaching.

Visit Bible Bulletin Board for a large number of his sermons, study guides, and Q&A entries. Many are arranged topically...it is a gold mine of information.

[fishtank]

Will look later.

I respect JM, and I used to agree with him when I was at a church that disagreed with him.

Now I'm at a church that agrees with him and have just started to disagree with JM in the last year.

[fishtank]

I just looked at your FR page again.

Have you seen Sire's book on worldviews?

[fishtank]

"The Universe Next Door"

[LiteKeeper]

Have you seen Sire's book on worldviews?

Yes, but it is a bit dated, and not as much depth as I would like for study. For the person new to worldview studies, it is a great overview, and I often recommend it. Also, his breakdown is not quite I need when teaching the cadets.

There are several newer books that are more up-to-date. I am partial to Dr David Noebel's book, Understanding the Times. He breaks down the Biblical, secular humanist, and Marxist worldviews into ten disciplines which correspond well with the different courses the cadets are taking:

• Theology
• Philosophy
• Biology
• Psychology
• Ethics
• Sociology
• Politics
• Law
• Economics
• History

There is a chapter for each discipline and for each worldview...30 chapters altogether. There is also an appendix on the "New Age" worldview, which is called the Cosmic Worldview.

There is good additional inormation at their web site.

[WhatNot]

Additionally, since salvation is totally an act of God, to say that it is my perseverance which determines my salvation, takes it out of His hands and puts it in mine. That is unscriptural.

I hear people say this, but then I think, if it's all in His hands, and I have no responsibilities at all, then why, would God bother with the great white throne judgment, I mean if people are little more than pre-programmed "borg", why have any of them stand before you, would'nt judging them be completely unnecessary?

Revelation 20:12-15
12; And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13; The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. 14; Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15; If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

[jboot]

15; If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

But when were the names written in the book?

Rev. 17:8

"The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come."

That doesn't leave much room for us to "write our own entries".

[Revelation 911]

For a little perspective - from a Calv Chapel site:
______________________________________________

The "Five Points of Arminianism" included the following:

1. FREE WILL
Arminius believed that the fall of man was not total, maintaining that there was enough good
left in man for him to will to accept Jesus Christ unto salvation.

2. CONDITIONAL ELECTION
Arminius believed that election was based on the foreknowledge of God as to who would
believe. Man's "act of faith" was seen as the "condition" or his being elected to eternal life,
since God foresaw him exercising his "free will" in response to Jesus Christ.

3. UNIVERSAL ATONEMENT
Arminius held that redemption was based on the fact that God loves everybody, that Christ
died for everyone, and that the Father is not willing that any should perish. The death of
Christ provided the grounds for God to save all men, but each must exercise his own "free
will" in order to be saved.

4. OBSTRUCTABLE GRACE
Arminius believed that since God wanted all men to be saved, He sent the Holy Spirit to
"woo" all men to Christ, but since man has absolute "free will," he is able to resist God's will
for his life. He believed that God's will to save all men can be frustrated by the finite will of
man. He also taught that man exercises his own will first, and then is born again.

5. FALLING FROM GRACE
If man cannot be saved by God unless it is man's will to be saved, then man cannot
continue in salvation unless he continues to will to be saved.

The Five Points of Calvinism.

1. "T" = TOTAL DEPRAVITY - The Calvinists believed that man is in absolute bondage to
sin and Satan, unable to exercise his own will to trust in Jesus Christ without the help of
God.

2. "U" = UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION - The Calvinists believed that foreknowledge is
based upon the plan and purpose of God, and that election is not based upon the decision
of man, but the "free will" of the Creator alone.

3. "L" = LIMITED ATONEMENT - The Calvinists believed that Jesus Christ died to save those who were given to Him by the Father in eternity past. In their view, all for whom Jesus
died (the elect) will be saved, and all for whom He did not die (the non elect) will be lost.

4. "I" = IRRESISTIBLE GRACE - The Calvinists believed that the Lord possesses
irresistible grace that cannot be obstructed. They taught that the free will of man is so far
removed from salvation, that the elect are regenerated (made spiritually alive) by God even
before expressing faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. If a totally depraved person wasn't
made alive by the Holy Spirit, such a calling on God would be impossible.

5. "P" = PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS - The Calvinists believed that salvation is
entirely the work of the Lord, and that man has absolutely nothing to do with the process.
The saints will persevere because God will see to it that He will finish the work He has
begun.


Calvary Chapel

1. DEPRAVITY
We believe that all are sinners (Romans 3:23) and unable by human performance to earn,
deserve, or merit salvation (Titus 3:5). We believe that the wages of sin is death (Romans
6:23), and that apart from God's grace, no one can be saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). We believe
that none are righteous, or capable of doing good (Romans 3:10-12), and that apart from
the conviction and regeneration of the Holy Spirit, none can be saved (John 1:12-13; 16:8-
11; I Peter 1:23-25). Mankind is clearly fallen and lost in sin.

2. ELECTION
We believe that God chose the believer before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-
6), and based on His foreknowledge, has predestined the believer to be conformed to the
image of His Son (Romans 8:29-30). We believe that God offers salvation to all who will call
on His name. Romans 10:13 says, "For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall
be saved." We also believe that God calls to Himself those who will believe in His Son,
Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 1:9). However, the Bible also teaches that an invitation (or call) is
given to all, but that only a few will accept it. We see this balance throughout scripture.
Revelation 22:17 states, "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." I Peter
1:2 tells us we are, "elect according to the foreknowledge of God, the Father, through
sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ."
Matthew 22:14 says, "For many are called, but few are chosen (elected)." God clearly does
choose, but man must also accept God's invitation to salvation.

3. ATONEMENT
We believe that Jesus Christ died as a propitiation (a satisfaction of the righteous wrath of
God against sin) "for the whole world" (I John 2:2; 4:9-10), and that He redeems and
forgives all who will believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as their only hope
of salvation from sin, death, and hell (Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19). We believe that
eternal life is a gift of God (Romans 6:23), and that "whosoever believeth" in Jesus Christ
will not perish, but will have eternal life (John 3:16-18). I Timothy 4:10 says "we trust in the
living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe." Hebrews 2:9 states
that Jesus, "was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with
glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for every man." The
atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ was clearly sufficient to save the entire human race.

4. GRACE
We believe that God's grace is not the result of human effort or worthiness (Romans 3:24-
28; 11:6), but is the response of God's mercy and love to those who will believe in His Son
(Ephesians 2:4-10). Grace gives to us what we do not deserve nor can earn by our
performance (Romans 11:6). We believe that God's grace and mercy can be resisted by us.
Jesus said in Matthew 23:37, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and
stonest them who are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children
together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not." We are
not condemned because we have no opportunity to be saved, but a person is condemned
because he makes a choice not to believe (John 3:18). In John 5:40 we read "And ye will
not come to Me, that ye might have life." Jesus also said in John 6:37, "All that the Father
giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:40
states, "And this is the will of Him that sent Me, that everyone who seeth the Son, and
believeth on Him, may have everlasting life." In John 7:37 Jesus said "If any man thirst, let
him come unto Me, and drink." In John 11:26 He adds "whosoever liveth and believeth in
Me shall never die."
Jesus clearly acknowledges the fact of human resistance and rejection. In John 12:46-48
He said, "I am come as a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not
abide in darkness. And if any man hear My words, and believe not, I judge him not; for I
came, not to judge the world but to save the world. He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not
My words, hath One that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge
him in the last day."
In Stephen's message in Acts 7:51, he concluded by saying, "Ye stiff-necked and
uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost; as your fathers did, so
do ye." In Romans 10:21, the apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 65:2 when he speaks of God's
words to Israel, "All day long I have stretched forth My hands unto a disobedient and
gainsaying people." In one of the five warning passages of the book of Hebrews, we read in
Hebrews 10:26, "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins." Verse 29 adds, "Of how much sorer
punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son
of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, with which he was sanctified, an
unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" Clearly, God's grace can
either be resisted or received by the exercise of human free will.

5. PERSEVERANCE
We believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord
(Romans 8:38-39), and that there is no condemnation to those who are in Jesus Christ
(Romans 8:1). We believe that the promise of Jesus in John 10:27-28 is clear: "My sheep
hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give unto them eternal life; and
they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." Jesus said in
John 6:37, "him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." We have this assurance in
Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that He who hath begun a good work in
you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." We believe that the Holy Spirit has sealed
us unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30).
But we also are deeply concerned over the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:21-23: "Not every
one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth
the will of my Father, who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we
not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done
many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from
Me, ye that work iniquity." Apparently there are many who claim to be believers that in fact
are not.
Jesus said in Luke 9:62, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit
for the kingdom of God." I Corinthians 6:9-10 insists that "the unrighteous shall not inherit
the kingdom of God" and warns us not to be deceived. A list is then given of various kinds of
sinful lifestyles with an ending remark that they will not inherit the kingdom of God. Similar
statements and conclusions are given in Galatians 5:19-21 and Ephesians 5:3-5.
Galatians 5:4 says "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by
the law; ye are fallen from grace." Colossians 1:22-23 says about Jesus Christ "In the body
of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His
sight, if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope
of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature that is under
heaven, of which I, Paul, am made a minister." II Timothy 2:12 says "if we deny Him, He
also will deny us." Hebrews 3:12 says, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an
evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." Can true believers ("brethren")
depart from the living God? I Timothy 4:1 says that "in the latter times, some shall depart
from the faith." II Thessalonians 2:3 speaks of "a falling away" or an apostasy. II Peter 2:20-
21 makes these remarkable statements: "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of
the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled in it, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it
had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, after they have
known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them."
It is no wonder that Peter says in I Peter 1:10, "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give
diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never
fall." We thank God for the encouragement of Jude 24 - "Now unto Him that is able to keep
you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with
exceeding joy."
Maintaining a Bible-centered balance in these difficult issues is of great importance. We do
believe in the perseverance of the saints (true believers), but are deeply concerned about
sinful lifestyles and rebellious hearts among those who call themselves "Christians." We don't have all the answers to these matters, but we desire to be faithful to the Lord and His
word. If we find ourselves basing our view of salvation on the performance and attitudes of
people we become discouraged and concerned. But when we keep our eyes on the Lord,
and trust in Him alone and in His power, we say with Peter in I Peter 1:3-9:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His
abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and
that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of
God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this ye
greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through
manifold temptations, that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than
of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and
honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen, ye
love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy
unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation
of your souls."
It is not easy to maintain the unity of the Spirit among us on these matters. It seems that the
sovereignty of God and human responsibility are like two parallel lines that do not seem to
intersect within our finite minds. God's ways are "past finding out" (Romans 11:33), and the
Bible warns us to "lean not unto thy own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). To say what God
says in the Bible - no more and no less - is not always easy, comfortable, or completely
understandable. But Scripture tells us that the wisdom from above will be loving and kind
toward all, seeking the unity of the believers, not trying to find ways to divide and separate
from one another. May God help us all to love each other, to be kind, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another as Jesus Christ has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32)! In difficult doctrinal
matters, may we have gracious attitudes and humble hearts, desiring most of all to please
Him who has called us to serve Him in the body of Christ. Discussion - YES! Disagreements
- YES! Division - NO!
Jesus said, "By their fruit ye shall know them." When a particular position on the Scriptures
causes one to become argumentative, legalistic, and divisive, I question the validity of that
position. I seek to embrace those things that tend to make me more loving and kind, more
forgiving and merciful. I know then that I am becoming more like my Lord. If you have come
to a strong personal conviction on one side of a doctrinal issue, please grant us the privilege
of first seeing how it has helped you to become more Christ-like in your nature, and then we
will judge whether we need to come to that same persuasion. Let us always be certain to
look at the fruit of the teaching.
Seek those things that produce the loving nature of Jesus in our lives. I would rather have
the wrong facts and a right attitude, than right facts and a wrong attitude. God can change
my understanding of the facts in a moment, but it often takes a lifetime to effect changes of
attitude.
Yours in love,
Chuck Smith

[fishtank]

I will retract the comment about Dillow and MacArthur until I read the JM article.

[WhatNot]

written in the book of life from the foundation of the world,

Well, God knew everyone who would be born alive, and if you don't accept His Son as Savior, you will be taken out of the book of life, but your reply doesn't answer my original question.

[azhenfud]

Also this:

Ezekiel Ch.18 Vv.20-27
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?
When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.
Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

[jam137]

I'm neither Calvinist or Arminian. I'm Lutheran. The Lutheran confessions state that

1. Jesus died for the sins of every person.
2. God does not want anyone to be condemned.
3. Salvation is 100% God's doing -- not 99% God's doing and the remaining 1% our doing through our "choosing God."
4. People are condemned because they reject God, not because God "predestined" them to condemnation.

Calvinism and Arminianism seem reasonable, while Lutheranism is paradoxical. However, I believe Lutheranism is correct in speaking as the Bible speaks and remaining silent where the Bible remains silent.