Some Calvinists (and perhaps others) argue that, in a world ruled by God, the God of the Bible, a single creaturely act can be both determined (pre-programmed by God) and free. And they claim that…
Recent Posts
Roger Olson, “Can a Single Act Be Both Determined and Free?”
Murray Vasser, “Jonathan Edwards vs. John Piper: A Critique of *Does God Desire All to Be Saved*”
According to a recent article from the Huffington Post, former evangelical pastor Rob Bell gave the following answer when asked if he was a universalist: “I have no idea what people mean. That just seems…
God’s Exploitation of the Devil’s “Thorns”
God’s sovereignty should never be seen as unilaterally determining or decreeing the evil actions or intentions of free agents (human or demonic) before the foundation of the world. Rather God’s sovereignty is best understood as…
Calvinism vs. Arminianism: Should We Tell Unbelievers That God Loves Them?
Last week on the way to my small group Bible study at church, I had an interesting conversation with a pastor friend who’s a Calvinist. I said something about hoping my son would get saved…
H. Orton Wiley on Prevenient Grace
H. Orton Wiley on Prevenient Grace Extended quotation provided by SEA member Roy Ingle PREVENIENT GRACE Before taking up the discussion of prevenient grace, it may be well to call attention to the fact that…
God’s Sovereign Choice
“You Arminians deny the sovereignty of God and you want all the credit for your salvation. You want man to play his part so that God doesn’t get all the glory.” These are common arguments…
Child Evangelism and Calvinism
This post taken from SBC Today addresses the need to help children of Calvinists who are confused about The Gospel. For example, it shares: “A tween who had renounced her former profession of faith was…
Roger Olson, “When I Say ‘Calvinism'”
Whenever I write about Calvinism, someone who considers himself a Calvinist accuses me of setting up and striking down a “strawman.” And others claim what I say about Calvinism does not apply to them. What…
The Gospel’s Freedom – Colossians 1:13-14
The apostle’s prayer in verses 9-12 is followed by a statement about the Gospel’s effect on his readers’ lives. They have been: rescued from the power of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of God’s…
Justin Taylor, “A 20th Century Classic: ‘The Master Plan of Evangelism'”
Please click on the link to view Justin Taylor, “A 20th Century Classic: ‘The Master Plan of Evangelism’”. This is a postive book review. In addition to drawing attention to an important work by an Arminian…
Do Arminians Hate the Sovereignty of God?
The question “Why do Arminians hate the sovereignty of God?” was asked recently by a Calvinist named Avery who assumes as much about Arminians. But we could, in turn, ask: “Why do Calvinists presume that…
Degrees of Union with God’s Will
There are different degrees of union with the Divine Will, some of which it may be proper to notice and discriminate. 1. Union With God in Submission The first degree may be described as union…
Limited Atonement and the Divine Command to Believe Falsehood
When Christians who aren’t from a Calvinist tradition hear about limited atonement, something usually seems entirely wrong about the idea. Indeed, in the face of having no clear biblical data to support such an idea,…
Eric Geiger, “THE FAITH OF A SERVANT OR A SON?”
Please click on the link to view Eric Geiger, “THE FAITH OF A SERVANT OR A SON?”
J.D. Walt, “Two Takes on the Sovereignty of God: Divine Puppeteer or Sovereign Stage Director?”
Acts 9:10-19 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight…
Roger Olson, “Follow Up to My Post about the False Gospel of ‘Christian’ Moralism”
My immediately preceding post about how the “gospel” of Christian moralism has largely replaced the true gospel and where Calvinism and Arminianism agree provoked some questions and disagreements. Let me reiterate here my firm belief…
A Thanksgiving Prayer
Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you’ve done for us. We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.…
Roger Olson, “Where Calvinists and Arminians Agree: Everything Good Is Gift”
I swear this is the truth: If it weren’t for an avalanche of unfair attacks on and misrepresentations of Arminian theology by Calvinists during the 1990s I would never have set out on my crusade…
Roger Olson, “What Did Charles Hodge Say about ‘The Decrees of God?’ (Part 2)”
In Part 1 of this series on the theology of Charles Hodge I claimed that Hodge remains the “gold standard” for Reformed theology for most American Calvinist evangelical theologians. Again, as I said there, that…
Roger Olson, “What Did Charles Hodge Say about ‘The Decrees of God?'”
First of all, who cares what Charles Hodge said about anything? Well, many conservative evangelicals care—whether they know it or not. Charles Hodge was and remains such an influential 19th century theologian that I included…
