On his website, Arminian Perspectives, Ben Henshaw has a questions page where he answers questions about Arminianism and Calvinism that visitors to his site pose in the comment section of the page. Here is further interaction from that page on a question we have already highlighted in this series (What Causes Some to Make Good on the Prevenient Grace Given to Them?):
“Now Dimly” (the screen name of one of the discussion participants):
Leon,
You said, “So what is it that “causes” one to make good on the prevenient grace given to them, while another remains in sin?”
To Leon and Ben: I thought I read somewhere that this question is not much different than when asked about the Fall. Adam had no sin, so what “caused” him to sin? If we put any one of all the people who ever lived in Adam’s place, we might have as many different reasons why one would disobey God. We just don’t know why Adam sinned, and it really has no bearing on reality. But suddenly Calvinists find it a compelling question in regards to salvation. Suddenly one has robbed God of his glory if we are not unconditionally elected and regenerated (prior to faith).
“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).”
This sounds exactly as if I had written it.
Ben Henshaw:
I thought I read somewhere that this question is not much different than when asked about the Fall. Adam had no sin, so what “caused” him to sin?
Very true. Adam’s sin is an impossible problem for Calvinists. They can’t say that he chose according to his nature, since God declared his nature “good”, and therefore, according to their logic, only good choices could possibly result. The only way to explain this is to posit that God irresistibly caused Adam to sin against his nature, which creates tremendous theological absurdities and unacceptable and unbiblical implications with regards to God’s holy nature and character as revealed in Scripture.
The answer is that God created genuine free moral agents and holds them accountable for the choices they make. That was His sovereign right and God acted in sovereign freedom in making that decision with regards to the nature of His creations. So when we choose freely, we are actually choosing in accordance with our natures, since our natures include alternative power in the will. That is how God created us. Calvinists actually limit God’s sovereign freedom in denying that God could possibly create free moral agents and hold them accountable for their free choices. Apparently God is free to do anything, except that.
Of course, with regards to trusting in Christ, that “choice” is no longer available due to our sinful nature which naturally turns away from God, but God’s gracious intervention restores that previously impossible option (of trusting in Christ) and gives us a choice again, where we had no choice.
The bottom line is that our wills are a complete and adequate cause. God created us that way. So it is senseless to ask what caused the cause to cause, or what caused the cause to cause the cause, or whatever. The will is all the cause needed. We are the cause of our choices. We have the God given power and capacity to weigh our options and choose accordingly, and nothing outside of that power causes us to choose a certain way. That God given power is the cause, and that cause is sufficient. This accounts for why Adam sinned. He weighed his options and chose to disobey in the freedom that God gave Him, a freedom to obey or disobey, and that choice was the result of the God given power and capacity of the human will that He freely created Adam with.
