My definition of “Compatibilism” : A desperate attempt by Calvinists to exonerate God of evil doing. Calvinists believe that God has predetermined all things, that all things happen in the world — including all sin…
Recent Posts
Steve Sewell, “Does Compatibilism Make Sense?”
The Practical Implications of Free Will
In the follow-up post to “A Beginner’s Guide to ‘Free Will’,” entitled “Six Practical Reasons ‘Free Will’ Matters,” John Piper expounds upon the practicality of Free Will. After all, he states, “It is a great…
A Beginner’s Guide to Free Will
Free Will regards the ability to make choices — choices that were not necessitated and brought into reality by a proactive and eternal decree of God — choices that lead to belief systems resulting in…
Roger Olson, “Why I am an ‘Evangelical Arminian Christian’ Part 8: My Second Reason for Embracing ‘Evangelical, Arminian Christianity’: ‘Evangelical'”
*First read my first six posts in this series. They set forth my fundamental “principles” for living and thinking. *Now continues a second part of this series; this series is about my reasons for being…
Book Notice and Reviews: Jerry Walls, Does God Love Everyone?: The Heart of What’s Wrong with Calvinism
Jerry Walls has published Does God Love Everyone?: The Heart of What’s Wrong with Calvinism (Eugene: Cascade Books, 2016). Here is the book’s description at its page on Amazon: Does God truly love all persons? Most…
Arminian Theology Superior to Calvinism Regarding God’s Decrees
[Editor’s note: While SEA vigorously opposes supralapsarianism, it does not question whether supralapsarian Calvinists worship the God of the Bible as the author seems to. We generally accept both supralapsarian and infralapsarian Calvinists as brothers…
Are We Justified By Faith Alone?
Are we justified (made right with God) by faith alone? Or are we saved by faith, plus something else? Like maybe baptism, worshipping on a certain day, not doing certain things and/or being sure to…
Causal vs Social Centered Part V: Grace
The fourth point immediately follows from the doctrine of depravity. If we are born depraved, separated from God, and incapable of coming to Christ on our own, then God is the one that needs to…
Roger Olson, “Why I am an ‘Evangelical Arminian Christian’ Part 7: My First Reason for Embracing “Evangelical, Arminian Christianity”: Christianity”
*First read my first six posts in this series. They set forth my fundamental “principles” for living and thinking. *Now begins a second part of this series; this series is about my reasons for being…
God and Foresight
Bombastic Calvinist James White thinks that the deterministic-Calvinistic view of the sovereignty of God is “the single issue that separates the supernatural religion of Christianity from the man-centered religions that surround us.”1 James White, who…
Steve Sewell, “Rebuttal to Maverick Victor Witlouw” [Prevenient Grace vs. Irresistible Grace]
Maverick Victor Witlouw, of Sovereign Grace Messianic Blog, wrote a response to my article, “Why Irresistible Grace Doesn’t Work, and Why Prevenient Grace Does” [Responding to Steve Sewell’s Presentation of Prevenient Grace]. He happened to…
Roger Olson, “Why I am an ‘Evangelical Arminian Christian’ Part 6: My Sixth Principle: Receiving Answers to Life’s Ultimate Questions Involves Faith (But Faith Should Be Supported by Reasons)”
*First read my first five posts in this series. This essay continues a series on why I am an “evangelical Arminian Christian.” 6) My Sixth Principle: Receiving Answers to Life’s Ultimate Questions Involves Faith (But…
Causal vs Social Centered Part IV: Depravity
The differences in Depravity between Calvinists and Arminians are perhaps the most interesting for our topic since both Calvinists and Arminians agree on the basic concept. However, I do think we think about Total Depravity…
Roger Olson, “Why I am an ‘Evangelical Arminian Christian’ Part 5: My Fifth Principle: Answers to Life’s Ultimate Questions Must Be Revealed (And Received)”
*First read my first four posts in this series. This essay continues a series about why I am an “evangelical Arminian Christian.” 5) My Fifth Principle: Answers to Life’s Ultimate Questions Must Be Revealed (And…
The Loss of Arminius to the Remonstrants
One of the most frustrating aspects for the followers1 of Jacob Arminius’ teachings on God’s nature, character, salvation — including grace, election unto salvation, justification and conditional perseverance with an accompanying final or ultimate salvation…
Ben Witherington and Keith Stanglin, Jacob Arminius, Theologian of Grace – Part Fourteen
BEN: As we conclude this discussion, let’s talk about the practical implications of Arminius’ thought for today. It seems clear to me that Arminius, and Wesley as well, would have rejected recent ideas that have…
Roger Olson, “Why I am an ‘Evangelical Arminian Christian’ Part 4: My Fourth Principle: There Is No ‘View from Nowhere’…”
*First read my first three posts in this series. This essay continues a series of essays answering why I am an “evangelical Arminian Christian.” 4) My Fourth Principle: There Is No “View from Nowhere” (or…
Causal vs Social Centered — Part III: Atonement
The atonement debate is really interesting to me because to some degree it is a red herring. Both sides seem to think that the issue has to do with the nature of the Atonement. However…
Roger Olson, “Why I am an ‘Evangelical Arminian Christian’ Part 3: My Third Principle: Two Criteria for Deciding What Is True”
*First read my first two posts in this series. 3) My Third Principle: Two Criteria for Deciding What Is True (By Roger E. Olson) As I move on in this series of “my principles,” what…
Recap of Unconditional Election Debate between Dan Chapa and Richard Bushey
I recently debated Richard Bushey regarding the doctrine of unconditional election (Part 1) (Part 2). The debate was nearly two hours and while I hope you enjoy watching the full debate, I will attempt to…
Recent Posts
Roy Ingle, “Hermeneutical Factors Involving Theological Positions”
How Can It Be Said That God’s Desires Cannot Be Bought and That He Does Not Compel Us to Join Him When Scripture Says He Bought Us and Draws Us?
Richard Coords, “Prophecy”
Micah Currado, “Determinism (Part 2) – Scriptural Problems”
