written by by Henry Knight III A common criticism of Wesley’s theology, especially from those of a more Calvinist inclination, is that it grounds salvation not on grace but human decision. This is, to put…
Recent Posts
John Wesley: Neither Pelagian nor Augustinian
Evil: Sometimes the Human Explanation is Better than the Divine Explanation
Evil: Sometimes the Human Explanation is Better than the Divine Explanation written by Ryan Ragozine “Everything happens for a reason.” How many times have you heard this short, pithy saying echoed in response to tragedy?…
Quick Overview of Lapsarianism
Quick Overview of Lapsarianism
written by SEA member Roy Ingle
In Calvinism, there are three major views regarding the divine viewpoint of the atonement of Christ and the purpose of the atonement. They describe this viewpoint by ordering a series of decrees that God supposedly made at the beginning of creation. I will present all three views below.
Seedbed’s Theological Perspective and Worldview
This is a reprint of a post written by Seedbed.com’s staff. Seedbed is a website of Asbury Seminary whose mission is similar to our own: providing on-line theological resources for the growing of the church. Finding this post encouaraging, we wished to share it with you in support of Seedbed’s mission:
God desires everyone to live forever in his Kingdom. The possibility is open to anyone, anywhere at any time.
Dr. Michael Brown vs. Pastor Bruce Bennett on Who Makes The Final Choice in Salvation…God or Man?
Here is the debate between Arminian and SEA member Dr. Michael L. Brown with Calvinist Pastor Bruce Bennett at Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Merrick, Long Island, on May 11, 2013. Note: The video contains the whole debate,…
Sermons by Arminian Pastor Myron Crockett Online
Audio files of expository sermons by Arminian pastor Myron Crockett of New Hope Community Church (Burlington, IA) are now being put online. Normally, we have a new sermon up every week. A list of links…
Did Arminius Affirm Salvation by Grace or Works?
Did Arminius Affirm Salvation by Grace or Works? written by SEA member, Roy Ingle I read a Calvinist piece in which the author showed his utter misunderstanding of Arminianism. He never cites Arminius, never cites…
Monergism: A Doctrine of Demons?
Probably not, but this is SO MUCH FUN to say with a straight face. Let’s run with it a while and see how much mileage we get from it.
First, Calvinists claim that monergism is the only view of salvation that really glorifies God. Any non-Calvinist Christian knows this a lie, and since Satan is the Father of Lies …
Second, Calvinists claim that anyone who rejects monergism is a Pelagian at worst or a semi-Pelagian at best. Arminians know this is a false accusation, and since Satan is the Accuser of the Brethren …
Third, “Calvinism makes it difficult to recognize the difference between God and the devil except that the devil wants everyone to go to hell and God wants many to go to Hell.” (Roger Olson) Calvinists might whine they’re being misrepresented here, but Calvin himself said that election necessarily entails reprobation.
“But God isn’t sending people to Hell by withholding grace; he’s merely allowing them to go,” Calvinists might reply.
From Where Did the First Evil Inclination Come? A Dialogue with a Calvinist
From Where Did the First Evil Inclination Come? A Dialogue with a Calvinist
written by Roger E. Olson, PhD
G.K. Chesterton on Calvinism
“The Calvinists took the Catholic idea of the absolute knowledge and power of God; and treated it as a rocky irreducible truism so solid that anything could be built on it, however crushing or cruel.…
Free Will Debate with Turretinfan
Turretinfan and I recently debated if the bible teaches libertarian free will. I hope that you find it useful. Here was the format we used with links to the transcript: Introduction: The Bible teach…
An Arminian Response to C. Michael Patton’s “The Irrationality of Calvinism” Part 5: Taking The Mystery Out of Mr. Patton’s Strange Arguments
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.
An Arminian Response to C. Michael Patton’s “The Irrationality of Calvinism” Part 4: Returning the Favor (Reversing the Argument)
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…
An Arminian Response to C. Michael Patton’s “The Irrationality of Calvinism” Part 3: False Assumptions and Question Begging
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.
An Arminian Response to C. Michael Patton’s “The Irrationality of Calvinism” Part 2: Theological Imprecision and Misrepresentations
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.
An Arminian Response to C. Michael Patton’s “The Irrationality of Calvinism” Part 1: The Set Up
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
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
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
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…
Questions to Ask Yourself When Analysing Romans 9 (and Arminian Resources)
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…
