Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities - 1
This is a book that I would recommend to everyone, Calvinist and Arminian alike. I believe that it clears up a lot of misconceptions. I read the book through some time ago, and noted some interesting (to me anyway) quotes.
Myth #1: Arminian theology is the opposite of Calvinist/Reformed theology
The broadest definition of Reformed theology includes everyone who claims to be Reformed and can demonstrate some historical connection with the Swiss and French wing of the Protestant Reformation. 44
Arminianism and Calvinism are both fallible attempts to interpret the gospel and Scripture. 46
“Arminius stands firmly in the tradition of Reformed theology in insisting that salvation is by grace alone and that human ability or merit must be excluded as a cause of salvation. It is faith in Christ alone that places a sinner in the company of the elect.” 49
Two areas where Arminius’s theology stayed close to Reformed theology (Calvinism) are the emphasis on God’s glory and use of covenant or federal theology. 51
“Arminius asserted that the supreme purpose of God in creation and redemption is his own glory, and that the creature’s greatest happiness lies precisely in enjoying God.” 51
Arminians and Calvinists affirm total depravity because of the fall of humanity in Adam and its inherited consequence of a corrupted nature in bondage to sin. 55
A common myth about Arminianism is that it promotes an optimistic anthropology. 56
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posted by Dan Masshardt at 12:28 PM
1 Comments:
a few quick comments:
"Arminianism and Calvinism are both fallible attempts to interpret the gospel and Scripture." - agreed, though i do think one is significantly more accurate than the other.
"Two areas where Arminius’s theology stayed close to Reformed theology (Calvinism) are the emphasis on God’s glory and use of covenant or federal theology." & “Arminius asserted that the supreme purpose of God in creation and redemption is his own glory, and that the creature’s greatest happiness lies precisely in enjoying God.” - i don't know much about the latter, but the former is an issue for me. while arminius himself may have had a high view of the glory of God, i think that many would claim a more free-will view of humanity in our times do not place nearly the amount of emphasis on God as do those who hold to a more calvinistic view (e.g. john piper, mark driscoll, c.j. mahaney). this may be only my limited experience speaking, but most arminian preaching that i've heard is a lot more about how we've got to clean our act up or about the mission to help people we're supposed to be on, than it's about our dependence upon the Holy Spirit, the worthiness of God to be worshiped and our priority of glorifying Him. then again, maybe it's not so arminian as it is semi-pelagian. anyway, that was the trust of my last post.
"Arminians and Calvinists affirm total depravity because of the fall of humanity in Adam and its inherited consequence of a corrupted nature in bondage to sin."
"A common myth about Arminianism is that it promotes an optimistic anthropology." - i have never understood quiet how the arminian perspective on total depravity works. or perhaps better stated, i don't understand the idea of "prevenient grace", nor have i seen nor been shown any positive evidence of or reference to it in Scripture. also, as with my above comment, i do think it "promotes an optomistic anthropology", as it increases confidence in man's own will and decreases dependence on the Holy Spirit to be at work in our lives. again, this may not be true of consistent, classic arminianism, but i think it is the fallout of his thinking on many of our day.
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