It’s the St. Paul of Constantinople’s Day edition of the Friday Files, our weekly article about other articles in previous weeks. Sound recursive? Well maybe a little.
The views expressed in these articles aren’t always those of SEA… particularly when they’re by Calvinists. Members’ names are in blue. Posts are from the first week of June…
Last year! (2018)
- Evan Minton, “All Wiggled Out?: A Second Response To Tony Lee Ross Jr.” Minton’s been facing off with critics of his post, “5 Biblical Texts That Calvinists Can’t Wiggle Out Of.” This is his response to Ross’s “More Amygdala Than Cerebral: A Response to Evan Minton.”
- Evan Minton, “Another Failed Wiggle Attempt: A Second Response to Kevin Courter.” Plus Minton’s follow-up to Courter’s response to Minton’s response to Courter’s first response to Minton’s original article.
- “An Assemblies of God Response to Reformed Theology.” A position paper of the Assemblies of God USA, adopted by the General Presbytery in 2015. Bonus: Its brief explanation why Calvinists write more theology books:
Reformed thinkers have produced a greater volume of writing, particularly in theology. This results from what might be called the Reformed “construct.” Arminian, or Wesleyan theology, does not demand a complex philosophical argument, as it seems to more naturally fit a straightforward reading of the Bible and real life. That is, human experience and our understanding of God and Scripture agree to the point that the Arminian stance does not require the creation of a complex theological system to justify an evangelistic appeal to all persons. Reformed thinking, by contrast, starts with a theological approach to what God is like (particularly His sovereignty contrasted with man’s inability) and then constructs a system around that idea.
- Vic Reasoner, “The Trinity.” Part of the FWS Podcast, in two parts. Reasoner talks about trinitarian doctrine.
Five years ago! (2014)
- Mike Barlotta, Tertullian on the Problem of Evil and Free Will.” Marcion of Pontus figured since God is sovereign yet permits evil, he must be evil. Tertullian’s counter: God is sovereign, yet grants humans free will.
- Ron F. Hale, “Calvin’s ‘Temporary Faith’ for the Reprobate.” Calvin’s solution to the problem of apostasy considering once-saved-always-saved: Apostates only look saved… because Christ Jesus himself gave them a “fading faith” that “afterwards proves evanescent.” So they, and we, thought them saved. Psych!
- Kevin Jackson, “Musings on the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant and its Relation to the Atonement.” God requires we ask him for forgiveness—and forgive others likewise.
- Evan Minton, “Does Ezekiel 36:26 Support Calvinism?” Because God offers to swap the Israelis’ stony heart for one of flesh, it sounds like prevenient grace… but you realize Calvinists will spin it to look like irresistible grace.
Ten years ago! (2009)
- Dan Chapa, “The Unevangelized: Owen’s Argument 2 against Unlimited Atonement.” Continuing through John Owen’s Death of Death in the Death of Christ, Owen claims not everyone is invited to repent and trust God for salvation; Chapa points out the scriptures teach no such thing. In fact just the opposite.
- Richard Coords, “Reformed.” Calvinists are fond of saying they used to believe otherwise, but now they’re enlightened. The label “Reformed” is one of many examples of this.
- Martin Glynn, 1 John 5:21: A Devotional.” The last verse of John‘s first letter, and why it’s an appropriate conclusion.
- A.M. Mallett, “A Word or Two to Consider.” When we redefine sovereignty to exclude human free will, we cheapen the word.
Today: Our links.
There’s a lot of stuff in the Christian blogosphere of Arminian interest. Feel free to browse our links. Our members write a lot, so between their articles and SEA’s archives, there’s no shortage of material.
