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 are some questions from a man named Leon followed by Ben’s answers:
Questions:
While reading through some resources [you pointed me to] . . . , I had this thought: What causes some to make good on the prevenient grace given to them, and others not?
Clearly, we deny unconditional election and irresistible grace. Furthermore, the Calvinist argument that regeneration precedes faith is false. Yet they continue to press that to “contribute” at all to ones salvation is to work for it. However, as I have seen the Scriptures are clear that faith is not a work. For all purposes faith is set against works in the Scriptures. Therefore, it cannot be a “work” as the Calvinist so intelligently argues.
Of course this does not deter the Calvinist with whom I speak. They often ask: “What is to keep you from boasting from your decision?” If I am correct But if I am correct, no Arminian will say that the “decisive factor” unto salvation is your decision, or should I say mere acceptance of it? Even still, boasting is excluded because of faith, which leads to the argument above.
So what is it that “causes” one to make good on the prevenient grace given to them, while another remains in sin? If there is any really “argument” here for Arminians to present. If in fact we are given the same measure of prevenient grace. I have also seen that some Arminians believe God’s prevenient grace is not universally (Episcopius, for example) who differs from Wesley (it is universal).
This leads to my last question: Where does faith come from? Again, if I am correct some Arminians believe that faith is a gift (though they understand it differently from the Calvinist). But surely it is not within us already. I have heard some Arminians argue from Romans 12:3, but the context does not seem to fit in regards to salvation.
Some insights into these two questions as well would be extremely helpful for myself and conversations with my Calvinist brothers. I really am encouraged and informed by your site. Thank you!
PS: Perhaps I should note I am a former Calvinist, though it was for a brief time. I fear I might be wrong on some of these statements because of my other previous misunderstandings of Arminianism, which is why I embraced Calvinism for sometime. It simply “made sense.” I am becoming more and more convinced the reason many have misconceptions about Arminianism is because it simply means different things to different people. Therefore, it is “easier” to accept Calvinism for its systematic and detailed theology. (which seemed to be my case)
Answers:
To ask what causes one person to make good on prevenient grace is question begging. The Arminian position is that nothing outside the will causes that choice, at least not irresistibly so. People receive Christ and yield to the Spirit’s working for a variety of reasons, but it is the will that ultimately makes the choice based on whatever reasons it sees fit to value over other reasons, motives, etc.
As for boasting, that is really a lame argument. People can boast in all sorts of things, for either legitimate or illegitimate reasons. But the reason one cannot boast in salvation is because it is a gift freely received (by faith). It is not something earned or worked for. It is not something we deserve. That someone else rejects it while you or I receive it does not give legitimate grounds for boasting according to Scripture. Faith is simple trust in another to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. Works denies the need to trust in Christ and assumes it can merit or earn salvation without Him. That is the Biblical contrast. That is why this Calvinist argument is nowhere presented in Scripture. It is alien to Scripture and to the whole concept of faith vs. works that the Biblical writers presented.
Indeed, Calvinists can likewise boast that God chose them and not the other guy from eternity. They can say there is no legitimate reason for boasting in God’s choice of them, but one can boast all the same. The Jews in Jesus time sure boasted, though they also believed that they were born God’s chosen people. It would seem that it might be pretty hard for a Calvinist not to boast in the fact that God in His infinite wisdom decided that he or she was the “right choice” for salvation while that person’s neighbor was the “wrong choice.” Again, it is a matter of legitimate grounds for boasting, and the Arminian has no legitimate grounds for boasting, because he has received a free and undeserved gift from God, a gift that could never be earned. That is wholly Biblical, where the Calvinist argument is wholly contrived.
And of course, receiving a free gift cannot be rightly called “contributing” to the gift received. That is absurd. Imagine someone patting himself on the back or claiming that he “contributed” to the gift received simply because he did not choose to reject the gift instead. Imagine further if he actually tried to claim that he gave the gift to himself simply because he did not choose to reject it. All such actions are plainly absurd, and that is exactly what the Calvinist claim amounts to, though they present it in a way that can seem convincing.
Here are a bunch of posts that will give you more detail on this issue. Let me know if you still have questions.
https://arminianperspectives.wordpress.com/2009/01/06/synergism-as-a-model-for-gods-glory/
https://arminianperspectives.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/sanctification-by-works/
https://arminianperspectives.wordpress.com/2007/07/26/the-nature-of-saving-faith/
https://arminianperspectives.wordpress.com/2007/07/25/is-arminian-theology-synergistic/
Hope that helps. I know it seems like a lot, but most of these posts are pretty short.
