by
James M. Leonard
arminianbaptist.blogspot.com

[Editor's note: Please remember that individual posts do not necessarily represent SEA's official position, but represent the views of the individual author of the post. With regard to this excellent and informative post, please note that the author was careful to qualify many of his comments about Welseyanism as applying to "some" Wesleyans (rather than all).]

INTRODUCTION

For those well acquainted with the Calvinist-Arminian debate, Reformation Arminianism (or Classic Arminianism) is a theological system which emphasizes universal atonement within a framework of Calvinistic total depravity and the penal satisfaction view of the atonement (explained in the paragraphs below).

by James M. Leonard
Arminian Baptist

Roger Olson has written a helpful volume entitled, Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities. Basically, he sets the record straight on a number of issues where Calvinist polemic has falsely depicted Arminian theology. He does this in a consistent and systematic way, first by detailing the false and extreme allegations made by mainstream Calvinists, and then refuting them by examining the theological trajectory on the given topic beginning with Arminius and passing through his earliest followers, then Wesley, and then the 19th century Wesleyan theologians, and then concluding with contemporary Arminian theologians.*

The subject of God's knowledge has been a seed bed of debate lately. Modern day Molinists believe that their system offers a middle-ground approach to theology, avoiding both Calvinism and Arminianism. One of my professors at SEBTS is somewhat convinced that Arminius was a Molinist.

The Calvinist theologian Richard A. Muller noted that Arminius had studied from the likes of Luis de Molina, as well as others, but Arminius never declared himself to be a follower of Molina's systematic thought concerning God's knowledge. However, there are traces of Molina's thought in the writings of Arminius (see Muller, God, Creation, and Providence in the Thought of Jacob Arminius, Baker Books, pp. 159-161).

I'm sure you have heard it before: "I used to be an Arminian, so recognize that I know what I'm talking about."

The conversion argument is actually a common argument among all forms of debate, especially religon. It is the argument of personal experience and a claim to understand both sides. I've used it myself before, since I have changed my mind on several topics.

It is worthy to note that we are not dealing with a logical fallacy here. First of all, one cannot refute personal experience. I cannot argue with you about whether or not you truly experienced something: I wasn't there. Secondly, if one was fully committed to one point of view, and understood it, and then changed sides, then there is probably a truly powerful reason for it. Finally, given the same two conditions of the second point, the person would understand both conditions.

Well, since so many Calvinists have in fact converted from an Arminian position, shouldn't this argument bear a lot of wieght? Well, in this case, no. Why?

Dennis M. Rokser is the pastor of Duluth Bible Church in Duluth, Minnesota, and has authored a publication entitled: “Seven Reasons NOT to ask Jesus into your heart.” Here is a link to his article, and I will provide a response:

http://duluthbible.org/widgets/download.aspx?file=%2ffiles%2fResources%2fPublications%2fBooklet_PDF_Files%2fSeven_Reason_3rdEdition.pdf

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. - Genesis 1:27 AV

What does it mean for us to have been made in the image of a Holy Lord God? There have been some who contend it is a past state, lost to the fall of man in the garden. Others have suggested it is an image reserved for those redeemed souls who abide in Christ. Others still have staked a claim in promoting an image formed only in the elect of God from before the foundations of the world. Most of Christianity seems to accept the idea that all of mankind was formed in the image of God and scripture appears to bear this out. When establishing the covenant with Noah, the LORD provided an injunction against murder and its penalty with the following:

People are often tempted to believe that there is some mediate option which will allow them to avoid the Calvinist/Arminian debate. This inclination comes from a commendable impulse -- to hold fast to Scriptural truth without imposing a man-made system, and avoid being sidetracked in the work of the Gospel by endless doctrinal controversy. These impulses lead people to declare that they are "Biblicist" or that they are both Arminian and Calvinist.

Now, within Calvinist and Arminian frameworks there are many different issues and nuances of dispute. There are systematizers and systemic implications, but there is really only one basic issue: Does God unconditionally choose who will be saved, and who will not? If you believe this you are a Calvinist, if you do not, you are, in the general sense an Arminian. It really is as simple as that.

http://www.gospeltruth.net/foster_on_cal/otc_index.htm

This link will take you off site. Please come back here for more reources on soteriology.

Moore, Bob. "Calvinism -- Ten Little Caveats"

This link will take you off site. Please remember to come back here for more resources on soteriolgy.

The following essay first appeared in Clark H. Pinnock (ed.), The Grace of God and the Will of Man (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1989) pp. 15-29. This version does not include the endnotes from the original. Please take note that Pinnock advocates open theism in this article, which is a position that SEA rejects and is at odds with classic Arminianism (our statement of faith, which every member muts affirm, precludes open theism). There may be other points of disagreement as well. We make the article availabe because it still makes a number of good points about the issue of soteriology in support of a more Arminian view. Please remember that articles included on the site do not necessarily represent SEA's official position.

This article was taken from http://revivaltheology.gharvest.com/1_cal_arm/pilgrim.html

From Augustine to Arminius: A Pilgrimage in Theology

by Clark H. Pinnock

Estep, William R. On Calvinism and Baptists

The following notice about the article and its author appears on the web page on which the article may be found:

Dr. William R. Estep is professor of church history, emeritus, at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth. His article is reprinted with permission from the Texas Baptist Standard, 26 March 1997. Dr. Estep kindly sent the Founders Journal a slightly revised version of this article in which he added "a few bibliographical references and corrected a couple of dates." It should be noted that he originally entitled the article, "Calvinizing Southern Baptists." The editors of the Baptist Standard are responsible for the title which appeared in that publication. Because it is the one which has been widely distributed, the original version of his article which appeared in the Standard is the one which follows.

Arminianism; Book Reviews; General

Pinson, J. Matthew. "Review of *Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities* by Roger E. Olson" published in the Dec. 2006 issue of *JETS*.

Arminianism; Calvinism; General

Picirilli, Robert E. "Calvinism Versus Arminianism"

Picirilli, Robert E. "Calvinism Versus Arminianism"

If you have tried to search for Arminian audio, you know that resources are quite difficult to find. Here are some helpful links. Not all of the speakers listed would accept the label "Arminian", some prefer to be called Non-Calvinist or even Moderate-Calvinist. Regardless of the label, they all have in common a rejection of 5 point Calvinism, particularly the ULI in TULIP.

Independent Methodist Arminian Resource Center: IMARC has some great audio links, including: John Wesley (sermons read by Rev. D. Crossman), Dr. Vic Reasoner (editor of The Arminian Magazine), and others. "Calvinism and the Wesleyan Message" by Jerry Walls (co-author of "Why I'm not a Calvinist") is a must listen.

Calvinism; General; Book Reviews

Please click on the attachment to view Vance, Laurence M. "A CRITIQUE OF THE POTTER’S FREEDOM BY JAMES WHITE" (published in the Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society [Spring 2003])