COGNITIVE DISSONANCE Cognitive dissonance occurs among Calvinists when they try to distance themselves from the inevitable conclusions drawn by the logical implications of their own systematic. One example is that Calvinists insist that God ordains…
Posts By Martin Glynn
Richard Coords, “Doctrines of Grace”
The term “Doctrines of Grace” is a title Calvinists often use to identify their distinctive doctrines under the acronym for TULIP, such as signifying their belief in Elective Grace, Atoning Grace, Irresistible Grace and Persevering…
Friday Files: Arminian Heritage
History is an important part of theology. It is easy sometimes to think that we have been given the Scripture, and little has happened between then and now. However, the Spirit has not been inactive.…
Friday Files: Calvinist Polemics
This week we are looking at arguments that Calvinists have levied against Arminianism. Can these critiques themselves bear scrutiny? J. C. Thibodaux, Answering Greg Elmquist’s “Four Unanswerable Questions” Martin Glynn, The Funniest Anti-Arminian Post I…
Richard Coords, “Determinism”
It is common for Calvinists to accuse non-Calvinists of misrepresenting Calvinism whenever we speak of it as “too deterministic.” For instance, Calvinistic apologist Matt Slick, stated in an online debate with Leighton Flowers that he…
Richard Coords, “Decree”
What has God decreed? Does God decree many things, or has God decreed absolutely everything that comes to pass, as per Calvinism? The belief that God has decreed whatsoever comes to pass is what is…
Richards Coords, “Deadness”
One of the most influential concepts of Calvinism is spiritual deadness.97 Whereas non-Calvinists speak of humanity as being lost and in need of a Savior, Calvinists speak of humanity as being dead and in need…
Richard Coords, “Compatibilism”
Compatibilism is a Calvinist doctrine which attempts to harmonize divine determinism and human free-will. Calvinists often use this term to claim that they, too, believe in free-will, that is, “compatibilistic free-will.” Unfortunately, though, it is…
Friday Files: Romans 9
One of the more things about the Arminianism/Calvinism debate is how both sides are devoted to the Scriptures and both sides ground their understanding of their theology in the Scriptures. Which means that any proof-text…
Richard Coords, “Church Splits”
Church Splits occur when a significant portion of a church leaves to form a separate church. Calvinism is a common cause of such splits. It usually occurs when a new pastor is hired and conceals…
Friday Files: Arminius
Born Yacob Harmen, Jacob or James Arminius was the great champion of Semi-Augustinianism in early Protestantism. His articulation of Biblical soteriology was so powerful that Protestant Semi-Augustinianism bears his name: Arminianism. We follow the doctrines…
Richard Coords, “Choice Principles”
If there was a decree by which every thought, word and deed for all humanity was predetermined, then all of our choices would not be independently our own, and without independent choices, you could have…
Richard Coords, “Causation”
Causation (first and second causes) If your question to Calvinists includes, “Did God decree (insert real situation)”, then the answer is “Yes,” but which Calvinists wish for you to consider from the perspective of First…
Richard Coords, “Calvinism”
The term “Calvinism” is based upon the systematic soteriology of a man named John Calvin. (1509-1564) Ironically, though, he attributes his theology from another man named Augustine. (354-430) John Calvin: “Further, Augustine is so much…
Friday Files: Agent Causation
One of the mistakes that many make is the belief that the Calvinism/Arminianism debate is about free will vs determinism. In reality, the two positions are soteriologies, and the debate is really about the process…
Richard Coords, “Calling”
The Bible refers to “the called of Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:6) and “the chosen of God” (Titus 1:1), perhaps to emphasize that, as Christians, we each have a divine purpose, relative to our unique gift…
Richard Coords, “Cage Stage”
There is a certain amount of pride in theology, in terms of a personal interest in getting things correct. Sometimes, this has resulted in a phenomena whereby new converts to Calvinism become aggressive toward non-Calvinist…
Richard Coords, “Born Again”
This is one of the most famous terms in all of the Bible. Preachers often echo this divine imperative during evangelism: “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. You must…
Friday Files: The Character of God
The heart of the Arminian critique of Calvinism is of course the character to God. While we also put tremendous emphasis on God’s sovereignty, it is His character that determines what it is He ordains.…
Friday Files: Possibility of Apostasy
On Friday, we like to review a lot of the material we have in our archives. Our goal has always been providing resources for people to use defending the Biblical teaching of salvation. The issue…
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How Does Arminianism Respond to Calvinism’s Deterministic Claims and Its Appeal to Texts that Seem to Suggest God Ordains Evil?
Steve Lemke on How Jesus’ Encounter with the Rich Young Ruler Implies Grace Is Resistible
Three Brief Book Reviews by Roy Ingle
William Burt Pope on Prevenient Grace and Free Will
