kevin.carroll
Puritan Board Junior
Originally posted by biblelighthouse
Obviously, I am asking for a little theological speculation here. We do not know the deep counsels of God, and we cannot see into human hearts.
Nevertheless, we read the Scriptures carefully, and we make decisions based on what the Bible says. That is why we reject Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. But what about staunch 5-point Arminians?
Let me be even more specific: If a person believes that he can lose his salvation, then is he trusting in Christ alone for his salvation? If not, then can he still be a Christian?
For this poll, I'm not going to vote for a while. I want to hear the thoughts of others, and I want to find out where everyone else stands. This question has been a struggle for me, considering how many Arminian family members I have.
As a backdrop for this poll, please consider Matt's article on Arminianism here: http://www.apuritansmind.com/Arminianism/Arminianism.htm
I agree with Matt that full-blown historic Arminianism is a heresy.
I also agree that a person does not have to be a 5-point Calvinist to be regenerate. (Thank God!)
But where should the doctrinal line be drawn? If a person is a 5-point Arminian, and even rejects eternal-security / perseverance of the saints, then is that person trusting in Christ alone for salvation?
Can a 5-point Arminian be a Christian?
Personally, I don't care for the way the poll is worded because it leaves me to choose between to options, neither of which are necessarily so. If there was a "Maybe" button, I would vote that way.
Most Arminians (I say this as one who has a lot of Arminian family members and as one who has rubbed elbows with a lot), are more guilty of fuzzy thinking (or no thinking) than serious theological reflection. They will adamantly affirm salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. They just have a very low view of grace. I don't think one can read the writings of Arminius, or John Wesley, or my grandfather for that matter (a staunch Arminian in the Weslyan tradition!) and not be convinced of the reality of their regeneration.
Dort may have gone too far in decrying the Remonstrants as heretics in 1619, but then there were other issues at stake, not the least of which was church/state relations.