Are you an Arminian?

James:

What does your post have to do with this thread?

 

Thank you I'm not Arminian and was never associated with a church that was!... Brother Glen

 

chris:
Excuse me!!! The thread is under the calvinism/arminianism debate. The only time you respond to me is when you have something really critical to say. Remove my name, sign on, password, etc. from the board.
James2

[ April 24, 2002, 05:24 PM: Message edited by: JAMES2 ]

 

I find it interesting that the second answer (to "Christ died for every man, although only believers are saved") is close (8 yes, 9 no), while the other 4 questions show a greater percentage of difference.

 

I suspect that may be a function of the way the question was worded. I believe the atonement is "sufficient for all, efficient only for the elect" so, to me, the question did seem able to be understood somewhat ambiguously. I believe Christ's death is sufficient for every person on earth to be saved, but will be efficient only for those who believe. That is not universal atonement, nor is it unlimited atonement. I believe in limited atonement, but the wording of the question seemed a bit ambiguous. However, I did answer it as being "false."

 

I read the poll and realized, again, that I am not Calvinist/Reformed OR Arminian. I have referred to myself as a Biblical Christian for a long time now and I guess that is what I will keep on doing.

For the record, the first two I would definitely mark true. Number 3 makes it sound like man can do something to save himself, and he can't. The choice a man has is not whether or not he will 'savingly believe' the Gospel, but whether He will accept God's call or reject it. When I recall my own moment of turning with God, I remember that my desperation would only allow me to say "If you still want me, please take me." Is that 'saving faith'? I doubt that VERY much! On the other hand, I was allowed to choose whether to change masters or not!

Number 4 I had the same sort of problem with, and maybe it is just semantic. I know God's call can be resisted: many are called but few are chosen; His desire for Jerusalem, but Jerusalem refused Him. Is this the same as His saving grace? I was called, and I eventually responded positively. His saving grace was given to me after I gave up trying to run my own life and asked Him to take over. It certainly was not given before, or I would not have felt so desperate! From what I can see in the Bible, saving grace is God's gift to the person who says yes to Him, so of course it cannot be 'resisted' as it is a gift to the person who has already quit resisting!

Number 5 has a wording I have objected to every time I have read TULIP. I don't believe true salvation can ever be lost, but neither do I believe it is because the believers persevere in their faith! I believe it is because Jesus Christ Himself perseveres as the Good Shepherd and goes out after those of us who wander off, bringing us back home again. In the same way I did nothing to earn or achieve my own salvation, I can do nothing to maintain it - even my perseverance (my strength to keep on keepin' on) is a gift from God.

 

James:

No, this "thread" is called "are you an Arminian". Your venting should have at least been posted as a new thread.

Sorry you feel the way you do, but your recent tirade may prove that the problem is with your own immaturity, and not that of your well-educated pastor.

 

Chris Temple:
I apologize for letting a very frustrating week and a very frustrating event about a very good friend get to me and lose my cool. It doesn't happen to often and when I'm on a board like this I expect to get into some heated debates, which I enjoy. Forgive my tirade, as you put it.
As for the poll: The correct answers to ALL 5 questions, according to the Bible should have been answered --- FALSE!!!! in my humble opinion.
James2

[ April 25, 2002, 01:41 PM: Message edited by: JAMES2 ]

 

I prefer to call myself a non-calvinist. I am close to Arminianism but not in exact agreement.

The only other theological system that I disagree with as much as Calvinism is Roman Catholicism.

 

Hi Michael:
It seems to me that the main point between the two is this:
Either God, with NO HELP FROM MAN WHATSOEVER, saves who he pleases, when he pleases, because he pleases, and how he pleases.

OR:

God CANNOT save man, UNLESS MAN somehow HELPS, accepts, chooses, does good, decides to LET God save him. So in effect, man SAVES HIMSELF by his CHOICE.

I'm not sure there is an in between. It seems, at least to me, an either or situation.
James2

 

No problem. Forget it. Its happened to the best of us.