Part 5: Taking the Mystery Out of Mr. Patton’s Strange Arguments
Patton: These two issues, human freedom and sovereign election, are not contradictory when put together, but they are a mystery.
This is the same claim Mr. Patton made in his first post called “Why Calvinism is the Least Rational Option.” We have already begun to highlight the problems with this claim.
Part 4: Returning the Favor (Reversing the Argument) Patton: To the Calvinists, man is fully responsible for his choice, yet God’s election is unconditional. This creates a problem. It creates great tension. I agree that…
Part 3: False Assumptions and Question Begging
Patton: Therefore, [according to Arminianism] God’s predestination of people is “fair” and makes sense. After all, there are too many questions left unanswered when one says that God chooses who will be saved and who will not. Why did he choose some and not others? Did God make people to go to hell? Is God fair? “Why does he still find fault, for who resists his will?”
The Arminian chooses this position because, for them, it is the only way to reconcile human freedom and God’s election.
Here is where Mr. Patton really missteps.
Part 2: Theological Imprecision and Misrepresentations
Patton: However, I think we need take a step back and see that while the shoe fits when it comes to some particular issues in Calvinism these accusations are far from forming the bedrock of the primary issues in Calvinism. You see, one of the many reasons I am a Calvinist has to do with the tension that is allowed within the Calvinistic system that is not allowed in other systems.
The central core of Calvinism primarily centers on one doctrine: predestination. While the sovereignty of God has its place, it does not ultimately determine where one lands.
This is highly debatable among Calvinists. This may be Mr. Patton’s opinion, but I think that he is probably in the minority.
C.Michael Patton is the President of Credo House. He has now written two separate and similar posts defending the “irrationality” of Calvinism as actually being a strength of the system, specifically over and above Arminianism.…
Christians Seeking to Evangelize Other Christians written by SEA member, Roy Ingle I have been a disciple of Jesus for over 20 years by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). I know that my salvation is based…
Arminius on the Decrees of God Concerning Salvation of Sinful Men submitted by SEA member, Roy Ingle XV. ON THE DECREES OF GOD WHICH CONCERN THE SALVATION OF SINFUL MEN, ACCORDING TO HIS OWN SENSE…
Arminius and Junius Show Us How To Debate submitted by SEA member, Roy Ingle I was struck by how graceful both Arminius and Francis Junius were toward one another in their correspondence over the issue…
Romans 9 is possibly the most cited passage in the whole Biblical corpus, used to enunciate the Calvinistic doctrine of unconditional election. Often though, the exegesis seems sloppy and the extrapolations hasty. I have put…
Arminius on Christ Being Head of the Church submitted by SEA member, Roy Ingle DISPUTATION LIII ON THE HEAD AND THE MARKS OF THE CHURCH I. Though the head and the body be of one…
Click on the link: James M. Leonard, “Review of F. Leroy Forlines, Classical Arminianism“, Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry, Vol. 8, No. 1 (Spring 2011) 108-12.
Alvin Plantinga, “Bait and Switch: Sam Harris on Free Will” — http://www.booksandculture.com/articles/2013/janfeb/bait-and-switch.html?paging=off [Editor’s note: The author expresses doubt that Calvin held to determinism, but he certainly did. See e.g., Calvin’s Institutes, I.xvi.8; I.xviii; and his…
Another Calvinist Misrepresentation of Arminianism written by Roger E Olson, PhD As anyone knows who comes here regularly, I am a self-appointed defender of the truth about classical Arminianism. That often brings me into conflict…
If what many Christians believe about God is true, then the West, Texas disaster (like every disaster) was actually good–”designed, ordained and governed by God” necessarily means “good” in a Christian worldview. Something God designs,…
Here is the debate between Arminian and SEA member Dr. Michael L. Brown and Calvinist Dr. James White at Southern Evangelical Seminary, February 14, 2013. You can also order the debate on high-quality DVD here.…
Notes on Dr. David Allen’s Lecture, “Does Regeneration Precede Faith?” at the 2013 John 3:16 Conference: http://sbctoday.com/dr-david-allen-the-john-316-conference/.
Click on the link: “For Whose Sins Did Jesus Die?”: A Summary of Dr. Jerry Vines’ 2013 John 3:16 Conference Message
The following interviews with speakers at the 2013 John 3:16 Conference were conducted in anticipation of the event: Interview about the 2013 John 3:16 Conference: Dr. Jerry Vines (Assigned Topic: “For Whose Sins Did Jesus…
A summary of the 2013 John 3:16 Conference: Aaron Earls, “John 3:16 Conference Addresses Calvinism”
After much tinkering, our website is finally mostly back in order. All of our former material has been transferred from the old platform to the new one, though unfortunately the dates of many (but not all or…
