On his website, Arminian Perspectives, Ben Henshaw has a questions page at which he answers questions about Arminianism and Calvinism that visitors to his site pose in the comment section of the page. Here is a question from a man name Steve followed by Ben’s answer:
Question: I am a Wesleyan-Arminian and tend to accept the corporate view of election. However, there is one thing I do struggle with in regards to that view and I wonder if anyone can help me here. As I understand it, the corporate view holds that the “old ship of zion” (the church) is unconditionally guaranteed to arrive at the Heavenly Port. But an individual’s salvation is conditional upon his faith response, as well as perseverance in that faith. My question is this: the corporate body is composed of individuals. How can a corporate body, composed of CONDITIONALLY elect individuals, itself be UNCONDITIONALLY elect? If every single member is conditionally elect, doesn’t that make the entire body conditionally elect also? In order for the church to be unconditionally elect to arrive at the Heavenly Port, would that mean that God must have unconditionally guaranteed that certain persons be saved to comprise this unconditionally elect group, lest the remote possibility happen that no one end up being saved and thus resulting in no church?
Answer: You really need to read the following article. I think it will help. If you still have questions, let me know.
Brian J. Abasciano, “Clearing Up Misconceptions about Corporate Election”
