What It's Like to Argue Calvinism vs. Arminianism

• published: 08 Sep 2014
• views: 36

I do not own this video! Common Objection to Calvinism: "I would say I am neither Arminian [nor] Calvinist, I am only a sinner saved by grace..." True Response: To reject both Arminianism and Calvinism is to reject core scriptures. Are you a "fence-rider" of the middle ground on this issue? Here's why it's important to take a "side." [Notice the quotes.] Basic elements like "Elect" or "predestination" are intrinsic to the Bible, so it's impossible to not take a side on whether you're Arminian or Calvinist since one is the diametric opposite of the other and there has to be a way that you resolve these scriptures. Remember that -- the Bible talks about predestination; the real question is, how do we interpret that? To not "take a side" is to not be informed of the issue, or it's to ignore key verses in the Bible altogether. To say that you're just a Christian and neither of the two is not being theologically sound. I think it's clearer in this example: are you a Trinitarian, Modalist, Nestorian, or Eutychian? To say, "I'm just a sinner saved by grace" is to ignore the fact that the Bible clearly teaches Trinitarianism and not the other areas (which are known heresies). Even though Trinitarianism is essential to the Christian faith, it's the same with the doctrines of grace -- either Arminianism or Calvinism is biblically true. The five points go together as one interpretative system. To reject both is to the reject core scripture. Why? Because the Bible clearly teaches one of the two systems. You don't want to be a fence-rider -- the devil puts the fence there. Why cling to a middle ground/none if the Bible so clearly teaches one of these theological systems and not the other? To be a Biblical Christian is to believe the Bible specifically. When one studies the issue the system that correctly encompasses all that we see in the Bible is the theology of Calvinism. This isn't really a "side" if it's what the Bible teaches -- it's only a "side" when it comes to debating what's considered a controversy behind the scriptures that concern this issue. The side everyone should take is the one actually taught by the scriptures when rightly divided. There really is no controversy and only one "side" to take if it's a matter of rightly dividing the scriptures. I hope that helps those riding the fence. I hope the Holy Spirit guides your study of scripture and leads you to the truth.