Posted on 05/13/2002 10:08:33 PM PDT by drstevej
Summary Evaluation of Arminian Theology
Arminianism stresses a number of important features. The emphasis on man’s responsibility is surely a biblical factor: man must believe to be saved (John 3:16; Acts 16:31, etc.). If man refuses to believe, he is lost (John 5:40; 7:17). Arminianism’s emphasis on the universality of the atonement is also biblical (1 Tim. 4:10; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 2:2).
Several features within Arminianism should be evaluated.
(1) Arminianism denies the imputation of sin; no one is condemned eternally because of original sin. Man is condemned because of his own sins. This appears at variance with Romans 5:12–21.
(2) Though variously interpreted, Arminians generally teach that the effects of the Fall were erased through prevenient grace bestowed on all men, enabling individuals to cooperate with God in salvation. There is, however, no clear indication of this kind of prevenient grace in Scripture.
(3) Arminians teach that the Fall did not destroy man’s free will; furthermore, they teach that prevenient grace moves upon the heart of the unbeliever, enabling him to cooperate with God in salvation by an act of the will. While it is true that man must bear responsibility in responding to the gospel (John 5:40), man’s will has been affected because of the Fall (Rom. 3:11–12; Eph. 2:1); man needs God’s grace in order to be saved (Eph. 2:8; Acts 13:48; 16:14).
(4) Arminians relate predestination to God’s foreknowledge of man’s actions. They stress that God knew beforehand who would believe, and He elected those. In Arminianism, election and predestination are conditioned by faith. The word foreknowledge (Gk. prognosis), however, is basically equivalent to election (cf. Rom. 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:20). The data of God’s foreknowledge originates in advanced planning, not in advanced information.
(5) Arminianism stresses human participation and responsibility in salvation: recognition of sin, turning from sin, repentance, confession, and faith. For Arminianism, repentance involves change of actions, forsaking sins, whereas the biblical word repentance (Gk. metanoia) means “change of mind.” Although the stress on human responsibilities is significant, if it involves multiple conditions for salvation, this stress becomes a serious matter because the purity of salvation-by-grace-alone is then at stake. The sole condition of salvation stressed in scores of Scriptures is faith in Christ (John 3:16, 36; Acts 16:31; Rom. 10:9, etc.).
(6) Arminianism teaches that believers may lose their salvation because the human will remains free and so may rescind its earlier faith in Christ by choosing sin. Frequently this view is based on controversial passages like Hebrews 6:4–6 and 2 Peter 2:20–22. The clear emphasis of Scripture, however, is that the believer has eternal life as a present possession (John 3:16; 1 John 5:11–13) and is kept secure by Christ (John 10:28) because of what He has done (Rom. 5:1; 8:1).
I did not attempt to imply that all Calvinists were unhappy, but even many Calvinists reject the extreme and unbiblical positions maintained by many Dutch Calvinists.
As to the impact of foreknowledge on the free will vs. absolute predestination issue, here is the sum of it.
According to Calvinism, God says what he will do, then does it. He says, "This man will be saved" from the reaches of eternity, and that man is "elected," that is, chosen, to be one of the heirs of salvation. This is done with no condition in God's mind, but is simply done because God says so.
According to Arminianism, God bases his predestination, his election, upon a set condition, in essence saying, "I will elect as my own all those men who make positive response to my drawing, and will give them faith." Thus, election in the Arminian scheme is defined as God foreseeing who will meet his condition, and based upon the meeting of that condition, electing them. (That is the short of it, although God is definitely shortchanged in his involvement in this description--Arminianism says that God has an active role in salvation, but does not say that it is God alone; it could be said, All God, and All us, but not God alone.)
In response to this, Calvinism states that "foreknowledge," like the author of this piece here says, is almost equivalent to predestination--God pre-plans that this is so, in essence, therefore it is so. Truthfully, I'm more inclined to see this as a reworking of the definition of foreknowledge than a factual definition--then again, I also realize that I am biased, and that Calvinists believe that I, as an Arminian, have reworked the concept of predestination.
Just to clarify, by "definitely shortchanged in this description," I mean in MY description of the Arminian position. I'm not doing either view justice in that post, really, but they give you the basic differences.
Actually, I think I spoke wrongly when I said "foreknowledge vs. free will." The issue is more "conditional predestination vs. unconditional predestination." Foreknowledge plays a fairly big role in defining exactly what one believes to be the nature of predestination. If foreknowledge means "to know beforehand" that someone will, by God's grace, meet a condition, then predestination is conditional. If, on the other hand, foreknowledge means "to pre-plan," it really amounts to the same thing as predestination, which leaves itself undefined. If predestination is left undefined as either absolute or conditional, then you can either take the more modern-day Lutheran viewpoint (see for example, Bonhoeffer's Cost of Discipleship) by leaving the matter undefined, or you can infer from the lack of express condition that it is unconditional.
Does that help?
Being a 'Dutch Calvinist' I have to ask -what in the heck are you talking about! It is because of our sole dependence on God that we are even able to have joy! LOL! (Your previous take on Calvin is quite misplaced as well, I might add.)
Jean
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Agreed.
Actually, the Synod of Dordt was far more than just a 'Dutch Reformed' Synod. They had delegates from the Reformed churches all over Europe (except France -they were invited but were unable to attend). It is true only the dutch delegates were allowed to vote, however, the foreign delegates were just as active in the formulation of the Canons as were the dutch delegates. They were on the committees, voiced their opinions and helped in formulation of the actual document. They even signed the Canons.
So, it is a bit mistaken to call the Synod of Dordt simply a 'Dutch' Synod.
Jean
BTW, the pastor of the Pilgrims, John Robinson, was an ardent defender of the Calvinistic doctrines formulated at the Synod of Dort.
Keep that in mind this Thanksgiving!
I note that no where in your reply did you use the word 'happy'. Although I have nothing against the word 'joy', one would have a hard time associating the word 'joy' with many Dutch Calvinists based on their demeanor. Certainly there are exceptions to this generalization, but a 'real' Dutch Calvinist would presume that a happy person simply does not comprehend the extent of ones depravity. There use of the word joy and their actual demeanor generally cannot be reconciled.
(Your previous take on Calvin is quite misplaced as well, I might add.)
Have you read Edwin Palmer's The Five Points of Calvinism. Palmer, who is now deceased, must surely be considered to be one of the pre-eminent scholars in the area of the Dutch/Christian Reformed branch of Calvinism. Read his book and then tell me my take on at least the CRC view of Calvinism is misplaced. BTW, I was once a member of the CRC and my ex-wife grew up in the CRC. The CRC overemphsizes total depravity to the point that it professes that there is not even a small bit of goodness in any person. She also got the "one ought not to think highly of ones self"; a prescription for potentially severe emotional and self-image problems. At least one would have to ackknowledge that the CRC recognizes this problem; after all the CRC does support three psychiatric hospitals, one of which my ex was admitted to for three extended visits. BTW, she divorced me, and it wasn't because I was unfaithful. She blamed me for the lack of communication in our marriage, but after she filed for divorce, admitted she never expressed her inner feelings because "some people just prefer to keep their feelings to themselves". Her parents never told her the words "I love you" or demonstrated unconditional love towards her. Even after she filed for divorce, her parents only called her once after she left town just to see if she arrived in another city safely. Isn't that sick?
LOL! (Out of happiness, I might add!)
"Have you read Edwin Palmer's The Five Points of Calvinism. Palmer, who is now deceased, must surely be considered to be one of the pre-eminent scholars in the area of the Dutch/Christian Reformed branch of Calvinism. Read his book and then tell me my take on at least the CRC view of Calvinism is misplaced. BTW, I was once a member of the CRC and my ex-wife grew up in the CRC. The CRC overemphsizes total depravity to the point that it professes that there is not even a small bit of goodness in any person.
I, too, was born and raised CRC -your experience was far far different than mine or of any of the CRC friends I know.
"She also got the "one ought not to think highly of ones self"; a prescription for potentially severe emotional and self-image problems. At least one would have to ackknowledge that the CRC recognizes this problem; after all the CRC does support three psychiatric hospitals, one of which my ex was admitted to for three extended visits. BTW, she divorced me, and it wasn't because I was unfaithful. She blamed me for the lack of communication in our marriage, but after she filed for divorce, admitted she never expressed her inner feelings because "some people just prefer to keep their feelings to themselves". Her parents never told her the words "I love you" or demonstrated unconditional love towards her. Even after she filed for divorce, her parents only called her once after she left town just to see if she arrived in another city safely. Isn't that sick?"
WWWAAAAAYYYYYYYY to much informaition! This kinda stuff is on a strict 'need to know' basis, Connect.
OK, for the record, I am one of the happiest (and joyful) people you'd expect to meet -which I wholeheartedly believe is due to the reformed theology I believe.
Jean
I'm not surprised the French didn't show up. After all, the only people more arrogant than the Dutch are the French.
That the Dutch delegates were the only ones allowed to vote comes as no surprise and reminds me of an old joke. 'You can tell a Dutchman, but you can't tell him much.' BTW, it is 'Dort', not Dordt as in Dordt College, located in Suiox (sp?) Center, IA. My ex went there for one year ('71-72) and when she told them she was not going back for her Sophomore year, the administrators there called me a 'heathen' even though they had never met me, nor knew that I was a Christian.
I just read your FR home page and note that you live in the 'Holy Land'. I was in Grand Rapids once and was told that there were intersections that had CRC's on each of the four corners. I don't know if that is true, but I did see more than a few intersections where there were three. Since you live in Grand Rapids, can you tell me if there is actually any intersections with four CRCs? I gather you know of Edwin Palmer, whom I mentioned in an earlier post.
As you can see, I am quite familiar with the CRC and 'Dutch Calvinism'. I've even read Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Faith, including the part where Calvin expressed great concern about his conclusions related to predestination; something many Calvinists simply gloss over as if Calvin was absolutely sure of himself, which was hardly the case at all.
Well, I am the most optimistic and content/happy person many people know; at least that is what they have told me. It is not because of reformed theology, although I certainly believe that there are members of the CRC who are indeed happy and have no reason to doubt that you are one of those. That said, I went to a "'Mere Christianity' Worldview Weekend Conference" in which one of the presenters, obviously a Calvinist based on his statements and his 'Dutch' name (I actually confirmed this with him afterwards), stated that a Christian should not be 'happy' but should only experience 'joy'. I am happy to know that at least one reformed Calvinist agrees with me.
BTW, are you still CRC, or one of those 'apostate' Reformed Church members. LOL. There is a difference, as you must know. I know lots of Reformed Church people who are 'happy'.
Have a HAPPY day,
CTD
Actually, the French government did not allow the French delegates to attend the Synod.
"That the Dutch delegates were the only ones allowed to vote comes as no surprise..."
Is this supposed to be a bad thing? The Synod was called to deal with problems in the Dutch Reformed churches, not the entirety of Reformed churches. That the European delegates were summoned and actively participated should show the unity of the Reformed churches agains the Remonstrants -but ultimately this was a Dutch national (State church) problem, not a problem with the other European churches.
"BTW, it is 'Dort', not Dordt as in Dordt College, located in Suiox (sp?) Center, IA."
Um...no, either spelling is accepted. 'Dordt' is short for 'Dordrecht' -the city in Holland where the Synod was held. Where do you think Dordt College got its name?
"I just read your FR home page and note that you live in the 'Holy Land'. I was in Grand Rapids once and was told that there were intersections that had CRC's on each of the four corners. I don't know if that is true, but I did see more than a few intersections where there were three."
Stricly Hyperbole, although there are many CRC and RCA churches here.
"As you can see, I am quite familiar with the CRC and 'Dutch Calvinism'."
Actually, you've gotten nearly every thing wrong so far. It seems your 'understanding' of the Dutch Reformed tradition is predicated on your distaste for them.
Jean
Formerly, now URC.
Jean
The spelling in the Psalter Hymnal is 'Dort'.
As for your opinion that I do not understand the CRC position on Calvinism, please read Palmer's book and then see if I am off base. Even I was shocked at much of what he had to say.
O.K., it's been a while. I know of the CRC and RCA; what does 'U' in URC stand for and why/how was it started? Just curious.
Sorry, being a member of the culture in question, I don't think I need to read a book to 'understand' my very own culture. Perhaps someday, but this isn't a high priority of mine at the present time.
Jean
United Reformed Church. Started around 5 years ago from the break of congregations from the CRC due to the near apostate status of the CRC.
Jean
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