Arminian Contradictions
"If salvation depends upon free will, what do you mean by praying that God will have mercy upon all men, and save them with an everlasting salvation, and then tell the congregation that God has done all He can to save them, and the matter now rests with them, whether they will be saved or not? Surely, such vain jangling can never be acceptable to God, however it may feed the carnal mind of man; for if God has done all He can, why pray for him to do more? And if He has not done all He can, why tell the people He has? Strange as such contradictions may seem to a sensible mind, they are frequently produced in the course of one hour by an Arminian preacher." --From a letter by Willian Gadsby (1773-1844) to Edward Smyth.
-Appearing on p. 91 of the April 2006 edition of the Primitive Baptist publication "Advocate and Messenger."
6 comments:
Hi Rhett - I linked here from Calvinist Gadfly. I had to comment - my very first boyfriend, in 6th grade many, MANY years ago, was named Rhett. Ya don't see that name very much. :)
Anyway, I really liked this first post I read. Without even realizing it, I think, free-will folks pray like Calvinists. I'm not sure how they would explain it if they were actually called on it.
I know God certainly opened my eyes in the area of prayer when He revealed His soveriegnty to me two years ago, and I came to believe reformed doctrine.
Great site!
Gayla, you should read "Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God." All people pray like Calvinist. "Lord open their eyes Lord, draw them to yourself, save them Lord?" On your knees, you can not escape the sovereignty of God.
That's what I mean, Joshua. They do pray like Calvinists, but if you were to call them on that, to really pin them down on how they pray, I don't think they could really explain themselves!
I know that's how I used to be - giving lip service to the sovereignty of God, but in my heart and true thinking, holding to a very man-centered theology.
I'm so thankful God changed my core thinking!
sorry, but my theology is Wesleyan-Arminian. I wonder why, as Calvinists, you pray at all? I mean if you believe that God has it all figured out and will drag the faithful into the Kingdom with irresistable grace, then why pray? Why witness? Why try at all?
No offense intended, but I think a lot of Calvinists pray like 'free-will' folks...that's why there are altars in Baptist churches:)
"in essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things love"
God Bless,
JP
JP,
No offense taken. I was Arminian about 4 years ago. I once asked the same questions you are now.
First of all, we do all those things because we are commanded to do so! (no better reason than that, eh?) ;)
God decrees the ends as well as the means. He has chosen to bring forth His plan using us.
At first glance, you might think our theology leads to fatalism (that was one of my concerns as well), but it really does not.
A good site to visit is www.monergism.com. They cover just about EVERYTHING!
Thanks for you input. :)
On the contrary, JP! When we (reformed) pray, what are we doing? We're asking God to intervene. We're beseeching Him to do the work, whatever that might be.
Tell me - Does not a 'free will-er' pray the same? Do you not ask God to INTERVENE and CHANGE someone's heart, or heal, or whatever? Or do you merely pray that God works only up to the point of, but not including, interfering with someone's 'free will?'
You said, "I mean if you believe that God has it all figured out and will drag the faithful into the Kingdom with irresistable grace, then why pray? Why witness? Why try at all?
I do not mean to be offensive, but these questions demonstrate that you do not have an adequate understanding of reformed theology. Like Rhett, I asked them same questions in the past. God opened my eyes and led me to embrace His sovereignty a little over two years ago. In pouring over the Scriptures, since then, I have come to discover these couldn't be further from the truth.
First off, it's not a matter of 'believing that God has it all figured out,' He in fact does; he in fact ordained all things into being. Secondly, there is no Scriptural support for anyone being 'dragged into the Kingdom.' God draws men to Himself, and changes hearts. Why pray and witness? Because God commands us to do so. He has graciously chosen human beings to proclaim His gospel.
There are many, many texts to support all of this, but I gotta run - we're leaving the house now. If you're interested in a discussion, I'd be honored to engage in one.
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