I find the Foundations book by Tom Holladay and Kay Warren to be very helpful and insightful when it comes to basic Christian doctrine. It a very easy-to-read layout with simple and direct explanations of doctrines. In all sincerity, I recommend it to anyone who wants to better understand what orthodox Christians believe.
However, on page 116 in the Salvation: Part 1 section, there is a short appendix regarding the doctrine of election and predestination. It gives a very short explanation about what Calvanism and Arminianism hold to be true. It says this:
"There are two main streams of thought concerning election: Calvinism and Arminianism. Calvinism (named after John Calvin), a sixteenth-century theologian), emphasizes words like elect, chosen, or predestine. Calvinists typically believe that only certain people are chosen to be saved, and that God passes over the non-elect. They base their views on verses like 1 Peter 1:1-2:
To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.'
"Arminianism (named after James Arminius, another sixteenth century theologian) emphasizes words like 'whosoever" and 'not willing that any should perish.' It bases its views on verses like John 3:16 and 2 Peter 3:9. Arminians typically believe in free will and that God in his foreknowledge sees who will respond with faith in Christ and then elects them based on that foreknowledge.
'The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.' (2 Peter 3:9)'
"We believe that Scripture teaches both truths, and to exclue one set of verses or emphasize one over the other is unbalanced..."
I won't get into Calvanism since I've already said my 2cents on that. But I really want to address the verses they used to support Arminianism. Honestly, and I sincerely mean this, I have tried to be open to Arminianism. I tried to understand if the Bible really teaches that man can choose God or if man has the free will to choose God. Cause the reality of it all is that it seems that I was the one who said I was sorry; it seems that I was the one who accepted Christ into my life; it seems that I choose God. But if the Bible says that God chose me first, this is something that I have to deal with and understand, and ultimately find that God's way truly is/was/and always will be the best way. His choosing me is not a matter of coercion but a matter of grace and mercy. But anyway, I digress. My point is that I have looked at those verses that Arminians many times use as to support their position on predestination and carefully studied the Bible to see if it indeed supports their view. The sad thing is, in the end, the very scripture they use in fact undermines it.
John 3:16 is probably the most memorized and familiar verse throughout all of world. And just in case you forgot it:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
The problem with the usage of this verse as to support Arminianism is the fact that it doesn't even support it. It only shows the condition in which man can go to heaven. It's stating that if you believe, you will not die but have eternal life. It's showing the condition in which one will be saved. Yes there is a choice in whether or not one will choose God. However, it does not say that man chooses God based upon his own desires or will.
I think many people also use this verse to explain that God loves everyone. Does He really love everyone? "Well, yes, it says that 'For God so loved the world." And if you read JUST this verse, it is logical and even right to say that the Bible teaches that God loves the world. But look at the rest of the passage:
"17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."
Verse 17 says that God did not send His Son into the world condemn but to save it through Him. If world meant "world" in the sense that it's everyone, then that would mean that God saves everyone. But we know clearly that God does not save everyone. If He did save everyone, there is absolutely no need for the Gospel or even church because we could do whatever we want. I'm sure you have met numerous people in your school, work, or even family who reject God vehemently. So what does "world" mean? "World" is not referring to everyone in a quantative sense but in a qualitative sense. The Bible is not saying that God loves everyone or that God will save everyone but in fact that those who repent of their sins and believes will be saved.
I once heard of a story where a Christian tried to evangelize a stranger by telling them that God loved them. In response, the stranger said, "Oh, whew. That's a relief." and went away. Point being, if God loves everyone, then there's no need to be afraid that you'll go to hell since he loves you. Why would God send someone He loves to hell? What? Because that person rejected him in the end? So then what? God hate him now when he's in hell? God first loved and then hated? How can He do that? God cannot change His mind. There is no need for Him to change His mind. If God loves you, He has always loved you, even before the day of your birth. Even before you were formed in your mother's womb, God loved you! And if He loves you now, He'll love you forever! (more on assurance of salvation later)
Whether or not God hates some people is another topic... and I don't think I can really dwelve into that yet...
Anywho, the other verse that was used to support Arminianism is 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Again, this does not support Arminianism. The key to understand this verse is context. When the Apostle Peter wrote this letter, he did not write it to us; he wrote it to the original recipients of his letter. Though the book does not clearly explain who the recipients are, due to the inferences to Christian living and growing, it most likely is for believers. And that's the point that we need to understand. The verse when he says that the Lord does not anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance, he is not saying that God doesn't want anyone in the whole world to perish. The key to this verse is to understand "anyone." Who is anyone? We know that this letter was written to believers. So when he talks about anyone, he is talking about anyone in that church or in that body of believers. Yes, of course God does not want any of his elect to perish. Of course He wants everyone of his elect to come to repentance. And we know that whatever God wants, He gets. In fact, this verse is more Calvanistic than Arminian if you get down to the nitty gritty.
I think the biggest thing that bothered me about what the Foundations book said was when they say: "We believe that Scripture teaches both truths, and to exclue one set of verses or emphasize one over the other is unbalanced..."
The Bible can't teach both because Arminianism and Calvanism contradict each other. Where Arminianism focuses on man, Calvanism focuses on God. Where you can lose our salvation with Arminianism, your salvation is sealed in Calvanism. Where salvation is dependent on what you do even after you become Christian in Arminianism, your salvation is dependent upon God even after you become Christian. God is not only the one who saves but He is the one who keeps you safe. To know that God is in control is an infinitely greater peace than knowing that your salvation is relying upon your own works and temperaments.
That's all for today. I'll get on another soap box another day.
<copied from allegr0 vivace's xanga>
