Am I an Arminian? Gee, I don’t Know
The hate mail is in and “friends” lost over my latest post (http://wp.me/pmd7S-1sp) concerning Calvin stating that Christians cannot do any good in God’s eyes, and that their best behavior is worthy of condemnation before God. TULIP is based on the premise of the “T” (total depravity), and applies to Christians as well as the unregenerate; so, obviously there is no functional difference between the two. Long story short: the belief is that we don’t get any better or any worse, but merely manifest the flesh realm or the realm that “appropriates” the obedience of Christ. If WE obey, “in our own effort,” even in sanctification, that’s trusting in our own works and not the works of Christ.
Because I demonstrated this from the Institutes, I have been called an “Arminian.” This is what Calvin did: he made the issue of fusing justification and sanctification together—the election issue. But regardless, I am not going to be like my accusers who call themselves Calvinists and don’t even know what the guy believed. If they don’t mind, I would like to study Arminianism before I call myself one. I think that also sets a good example for them. It’s interesting to watch: “Calvinists” that used to support my ministry are now slowly becoming New Calvinists as they realize more and more that the newbies believe what Calvin believed. Respectable Calvinists have been neutered over time in regard to denying the practical application of the new birth and monergistic substitutionary sanctification. What’s that? Simply, it means that salvation and sanctification both are 100% of God and our works in sanctification were substituted with the works of Christ.
Another thing that I see that is addressed in the book I am reading right now, “Blight In The Vineyard” (by John Immel) is this whole authority = truth equation. In my own brawl with a New Calvinist church that ended up splitting my marriage of 24 years, I could never figure out why the pleadings from myself and other pastors in regard to Scripture fell on deaf ears. Well, now I know. Throughout the ordeal, they continually insinuated that interpretation wasn’t the issue, their authority was the issue. Consider the accusation someone leveled at me on Facebook regarding the article: “You aren’t willing to be under authority.” Elders hold the keys to the kingdom and whatever they bind on Earth will be bound in heaven. They are not ruled by “the dead letter of the law,” but rather the “higher law of love” dictated by the situation as they see it. So, the results are that truth is truth because Mark Dever says so, or John Piper etc. From there, you can add the dead guys like Spurgeon et al.
Hence, if I’m not a Calvinist, I’m an Arminian, because CJ Mahaney says so. And I doubt they know what one of those are either. Oh and by the way, as stated by some of them (and I’m not kidding), I’m going to hell because I’m not a Calvinist.
After all, because John Piper says so, and he’s a Calvinist.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Well, I’m a Christian because my Bible says so. Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me So-yes, Jesus loves me.
When I went to a Reformed church for 2 years, I started to notice many little things that did not seem right.
One was not to pray about anything concerning your life -career, choosing of a spouse, college, etc. (except of course suffering- this the number one thing a Christian could pray for is to suffer) because in Gods eyes these “simple” things were minor items not worthy of Gods attention, plus it was predestined anyhow so why “worry” about it- 1 Samuel 1:9-11- Hanna prayed to God for a male child; Philippians 4:6- let your requests be made known to God. Another problem was when we studied a Puritan book on contentment; it was 300 pages long. I asked myself “how come the Bible has a few verses on contentment and -I can get the gist of what the Bible says, but now I am expected to read this book on contentment that obviously has MORE for me to know about it other then Scripture”?
That is a major issue with Calvinism- we have more knowledge to impart to the commoner Christian, other then what is given in Scripture. This leads to legalism. There were many more issues ( such as spiritual formation) that required our removal, but the one that put the nail in the coffin was when our small group leader informed us that Jesus was not our friend- he was Sovereign and needed to be looked as such at all times. I remembered the wonderful hymn of “What a. Friend we have in Jesus” and said to myself this is not what my Bible says- James 2:23.
This is where I noticed that they were adding their own exegesis instead of sticking with the simple truths of Scripture.
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The other the malady I would like to interject is that for those two years I was there I suffered with agonizing doubts about my salvation, when I knew I was saved. Yes, I see clearly now that Calvinism
Places a continual guilt position/depravity upon the saints that parallels that of RC.
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T4H,
Yes, the key to assurance is 2Peter chapter 1: participating in our sanctification by adding things like virtue to the FOUNDATION of our faith. But of course, to the New Calvinists, that’s works salvation because justification and sanctification are one and the same. Scripture that teaches us in regard to God’s empowerment for sanctification isn’t a warning not to strive in “our own efforts,” but rather, “you don’t have an excuse, you have the same power that raised Jesus from the grave, so go for it.” To the contrary, NC teach that the answer to assurance is to trust in not only the finished work of Christ for justification, but the supposed finished work of Christ for sanctification as well. Meditate on the gospel, it’s not about anything that you do. But James clearly said that the blessings are “IN [a preposition] the DOING.”
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Paul,
There is so much to learn. Thank you for your examination of Calvinism. I now have my Institutes under my bible, next to my rocking chair so I can study… It’s been a few years since I read some of the Institutes and still had my bookmark at the third book, chapter 18, section 1: “Hence it appears, that working is not at all opposed to grace, but refers to pursuit, and, therefore, it follows not that believers are the authors of their own salavation, or that it is the result of their works. What then? The moment they are admitted to fellowship with Christ, by the knowledge of the Gospel, and the illumination of the Holy Spirit, their eternal life is begun, and then he which has begun a good work in them ‘will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ’ (Phil. 1:6). And it is performed when in righteousness and holiness they bear a resemblance to their heavenly Father, and prove that they are not degenerate sons.”
God bless you and your family!
Jess
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Jess,
Good to hear from you. Will be posting a proposed theses for my next book in about 2 hours, though it will not be titled as such. You have been along for the long journey and it has taken another turn. Brinsmead was right, what the Forum wrote accurately represented Reformation theology. I never disputed that outright; as you know, my focus was primarily to trace New Calvinism back to the Forum. But I did suspect that they were misrepresenting Calvin and Luther. Then I had lunch with a church historian/author who informed me that this is what Luther and the gang really believed. I then started reading the Calvin Institutes. It has been a real eye-opener for Susan and I. What is really cool is that you can go to the Forum archives and google their research. They have done the heavy lifting for everybody.
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Right, the blessings and REWARDS are in the doing. Oh does this mean we are rewarded? Does this actually mean there is something to be gained by our WANTING to do works of obedience for the Lord?
Psalm 18:20
The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
Oh but I thought from the Calvinist point of view we could not do righteous things?
Proverbs 11:18
The wicked man does deceptive work, But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
Matthew 16:27
For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
Mark 9:41
For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
Luke 6:35
But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
1 Corinthians 3:8
Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Now of course the rewards have nothing to do with our standing with the Lord, but with the blessings in this life and the rewards given to us in heaven.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
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Every time I come across or get involved with the, “I’m a calvinist therefore I know what I am talking about and you don’t” conversation this verse comes to mind: ”
For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
(1Co 1:11-17)
Christ didn’t call us to be cheerleaders for each other or do P.R. work for someone’s book, He called us to make disciples, that is what we always forget!
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Really good post and I enjoyed reading the comments. I love this line here: Every time I come across or get involved with the, “I’m a calvinist therefore I know what I am talking about and you don’t” conversation this verse comes to mind: ”…. If I had a nickle every time I have had one of those conversations…..
This one though was my favorite: “Hence, if I’m not a Calvinist, I’m an Arminian, because CJ Mahaney says so. And I doubt they know what one of those are either. Oh and by the way, as stated by some of them (and I’m not kidding), I’m going to hell because I’m not a Calvinist.
After all, because John Piper says so, and he’s a Calvinist.”
LOL That is just classic, welcome to my world.
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If one is not a Calvinist he or she is a non-Calvinist in the negative but not necessarily an Arminian in the positive, that remains to be determined by their theology. To be a non-Calvinist might tempt the controversial mind of the Calvinist to label all its theological opponents as one thing so as to curry favor with the mental prejudices of such a mind, but in fact, there are many proprietary views which removes one from either school and makes them quite independent. I would say you are “independent”.
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Alex,
I agree.
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-With the New Calvinist you are either for or against them- there is no other option.
What strikes me, is the outright disregard of what Scripture actually says
about our standing with Christ. There is no reconciliation between God and man really; in fact,
Why pray at all about your intimacy with Christ if Christ is someone outside
of you? This is why the Puritans were such joyless and legalistic people – there
was no incentive to maintain (not for salvation, but for sanctification)
a living and breathing relationship with Christ; no experiencing the love
of Christ and the fruits of the Spirit. You could only rely on the words
Of the elders or pastor and how they interpreted Scripture. Suffering, was also looked at as
having redeeming qualities between you and God- the more one suffered the more Christ was
“glorified”. Suffering was not looked at as something that increases our
trust and close relationship with the Lord.
Paul, I have seen a lot on the doctrine of suffering lately- how is this connected
With the platonic/gnostic/Calvinist beliefs?
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