Opposition

I see a couple of problems with this challenge. First, with very, very, few exceptions, the average Baptististic person who is not a Calvinist does not hold to an Arminian soteriology. He is either Pelagian or semi-Pelagian in that regard, so are you looking for actual Arminian views on soteriology or what the average evangelical really believed about this matter? Second, I have discussed this subject in online forums and in person many hundreds of times, but I have never found a non-Calvinist who can represent the Calvinist position accurately. It's always a strawman argument.

 

I've never met an Arminian. I'm sure there are a few out there, but when most non-Calvinists are allowed enough time to freely express their thoughts, those thoughts are semi-Pelagian, at best. This may be just my experience, but my experience is vast in this area.

 

The Five Arminian Articles. A.D. 1610

Article I. [Conditional Election, rebuked by Unconditional Election]

That God, by an eternal, unchangeable purpose in Jesus Christ his Son, before the foundation of the world, hath determined, out of the fallen, sinful race of men, to save in Christ, for Christ’s sake, and through Christ, those who, through the grace of the Holy Ghost, shall believe on this his Son Jesus, and shall persevere in this faith and obedience of faith, through this grace, even to the end; and, on the other hand, to leave the incorrigible and unbelieving in sin and under wrath, and to condemn them as alienate from Christ, according to the word of the gospel in John 3:36: ‘He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,’ and according to other passages of Scripture also.

Article II. [General Atonement, rebuked by Limited Atonement]

That, agreeably thereto, Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, died for all men and for every man, so that he has obtained for them all, by his death on the cross, redemption and the forgiveness of sins; yet that no one actually enjoys this forgiveness of sins except the believer, according to the word of the Gospel of John 3:16: ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ And in the First Epistle of John 2:2: ‘And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.’

Article III. [Free Will, rebuked by Total Depravity]
[note: This Article seems to support total depravity, however, when considered with article IV, it is clear the Arminian doctrine is opposed to total depravity. For this reason, The Canons of Dordt rebuked articles III and IV together.]

That man has not saving grace of himself, nor of the energy of his free will, inasmuch as he, in the state of apostasy and sin, can of and by himself neither think, will, nor do any thing that is truly good (such as saving Faith eminently is); but that it is needful that he be born again of God in Christ, through his Holy Spirit, and renewed in understanding, inclination, or will, and all his powers, in order that he may rightly understand, think, will, and effect what is truly good, according to the Word of Christ, John 15:5: ‘Without me ye can do nothing.’

Article IV. [Resistible Grace, rebuked by Irresistible Grace]

That this grace of God is the beginning, continuance, and accomplishment of all good, even to this extent, that the regenerate man himself, without prevenient or assisting, awakening, following and cooperative grace, can neither think, will, nor do good, nor withstand any temptations to evil; so that all good deeds or movements, that can be conceived, must be ascribed to the grace of God in Christ. But as respects the mode of the operation of this grace, it is not irresistible, inasmuch as it is written concerning many, that they have resisted the Holy Ghost. Acts 7, and elsewhere in many places.

Article V. [Falling from Grace, rebuked by Perseverance of the Saints]

That those who are incorporated into Christ by a true faith, and have thereby become partakers of his life-giving Spirit, have thereby full power to strive against Satan, sin, the world, and their own flesh, and to win the victory; it being well understood that it is ever through the assisting grace of the Holy Ghost; and that Jesus Christ assists them through his Spirit in all temptations, extends to them his hand, and if only they are ready for the conflict, and desire his help, and are not inactive, keeps them from falling, so that they, by no craft or power of Satan, can be misled nor plucked out of Christ’s hands, according to the Word of Christ, John 10:28: ‘Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.’ But whether they are capable, through negligence, of forsaking again the first beginnings of their life in Christ, of again returning to this present evil world, of turning away from the holy doctrine which was delivered them, of losing a good conscience, of becoming devoid of grace, that must be more particularly determined out of the Holy Scripture, before we ourselves can teach it with the full persuasion of our minds.

SOURCE: Philip Schaff, The Creeds of Christendom 3 Vols. 4th Ed. n.p.: David S. Schaff, 1919. 3:545-549. [Subtitles and note added]

 

Agreed, which is why I said that I never met an Arminian. The default position regarding soteriology of the average American Evangelicalism is Pelagian (or semi). Their favorite verse is, "Choose this day whom you will serve. . ." followed by, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. . .".

I've never heard anyone, other than a Roman Catholic, use the term, "prevenient grace", and prevenient grace is a huge part of what separates Arminians from Pelagians.

The average churchgoer thinks that men are absolutely free to either accept or reject Christ's gospel. They never speak of God's enabling men to believe in Christ.

Roger Olsen is the only actual Arminian I've ever heard of.

 

I haven't joined in any of the CvA threads but our preaching/arguments must be directly Scriptural rather than derived from our theology.

The Calvinist shouldn't preach - "you are helpless lost sinners totally dependent on God's regenerating grace. Jesus died only for the elect chosen by God. God commands you to repent & turn from your sins to Jesus, but even that will be insincere unless you repent because of a real movement of the Holy Spirit in your soul."

And the Armininian shouldn't preach - "Jesus died for everyone, and you are free to come & claim that salvation. And free to turn away again & lose your salvation. Say this 'salvation prayer' with me & you will be saved - for the present. And don't believe the OSAS preachers who insist that 'when you've made your decision to follow Christ, you are safe for eternity, regardless of whether you continue in the faith or lead a sinful life.'"

And the Reformed shouldn't preach - "We are all Reformed Christians now, baptised as babies into the holy catholic church (Reformed as distinct from the Roman Catholic Church.) Come to church & keep your lives clean. God will sort our at the judgment those who are his. But whatever you do, don't let the Anabaptists persuade you because they are not in the true church." [Adapt that for the RCs.]

Peter got it right -

Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”​

That wasn't a quick dip & go on your way, but a complete change of heart & life, as recorded in the following verses.

Look at the end of v. 38 - as many as the Lord our God will call - Peter was a Calvinist! But surely we can see that God is calling lost sinners through the preaching of his word. The Gospel call is a command to all - repent!"

 

The gospel is news. It is not a command. One can certainly make a command in light of the gospel, but being as clear as possible, the gospel is not the same thing as the command to repent.

Also, Calvinists don't preach, "you are helpless lost sinners totally dependent on God's regenerating grace. Jesus died only for the elect chosen by God. God commands you to repent & turn from your sins to Jesus, but even that will be insincere unless you repent because of a real movement of the Holy Spirit in your soul."

True Calvinists understand man's responsibility as well as God's sovereignty. We speak to all men as if they are accountable for their actions, which indeed they are. God has commanded us to proclaim the gospel to all men, just as in the parable of the sower, we proclaim the gospel everywhere promiscuously. , not trying to do the work of the Holy Spirit, we proclaim, and He makes new.

 

That is because they are not honest about their own doctrine.

 

My misrepresentations are a deliberate caricature of the sort of arguments used against whatever position people argue against.

Notice that I didn't say - "the Calvinist preaches ,,,,," but - "the Calvinist shouldn't preach ....." etc,

Those caricatures arise out of years of discussions & arguments.