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 is a question from a man named Rex followed by an Ben’s answer:
Question Part 1: Regarding freewill, I remembered a question: Why would someone choose Hell over Heaven? How should Arminians answer this one?
Answer Part 1: Not sure what you are looking for here. The most basic answer is it depends on the individual and how they exercise their free will, how they weigh their motives and how they reason on the issue. The point is that they reason freely, and there can be many reasons for the choice. Many wouldn’t see it so much as a choice between heaven and hell, but a choice between whether heaven and hell are even real. People make decisions for all kinds of reasons. Arminianism doesn’t deny this. We only assert that the reasoning process is free and not necessitated or predetermined by God. God gives us the power of self determination in that regard and allows us to decide based on whatever reasons or motives we deem best to make the final decision.
Arminians simply say that when the gospel is presented, God enables the sinner to trust in Christ and be saved. But that enablement is not irresistible. Therefore, it does not guarantee the result of faith (as in Calvinism). Therefore, though enabled to believe, the sinner can still choose not to believe and reject the gospel. The reasons for that decision can be as varying as the people making the decision.
Question Part 2: So when we say a person is “enabled” (to believe) he/she doesn’t “understand” or believe heaven or hell and eternal damnation yet?
Answer Part 2: I wouldn’t necessarily say that. Many are convinced (convicted) of such truths and enabled to believe them, but still reject them (that is why this enablement is resistible). They may simply resist the reality of heaven and hell, even though the Holy Spirit has enabled them to believe it (i.e. they “suppress the truth”, cf. Rom. 1:18-22).
Take the example of a smoker. The smoker has been give all the information he needs to quit smoking . He has been convinced that smoking is unhealthy and could kill him, cause cancer, emphysema, etc. But even though he has this knowledge and the means available to quit, he freely decides to continue smoking anyway, for whatever reasons. He might convince himself that he won’t get cancer. He might convince himself that he just doesn’t need to worry about it. He might decide that he will quit someday, but continue to indulge for awhile. There could be all kinds of reasons why he doesn’t quit. Others, given the same information, would choose to quit. It really is up to the person, and the person will decide based on whatever desires and motives the person wants to place the most weight on, or value the most (that is the God given power of free will).
The point is, just because someone is shown the truth, and even realizes the truth, doesn’t mean that person will yield to the truth or act in accordance with the truth and enablement they have received. Again, that is why the enablement is resistible, rather than irresistible.
