Scot
Puritan Board Sophomore
This is a post from another forum:
I agree that Arminianism is logically flawed. It is logically extreme to the point that it is self-contradictory.
One depends on God's decision to impute them with righteousness by grace alone (ref. Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:1-5, 23-24, James 2:23, Philippians 3:9). And grace cannot be mixed with works, otherwise grace ceases to be grace (Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2:8-9). However, Arminianism violates this by saying that the demerits of our works can nullify the unmerited favor (grace) of God, which is paradoxical.
However, Calvinistic Predestination is also logically flawed. This is because it is logically extreme to the point that it is self-contradictory as well.
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Calvinists assert: "God´s will is the absolute control of and the sole cause an of anything and everything. God predestines the free and voluntary choices of all beings (while the subject may not be able to sense it and feel in control) thereby making all beings deserving of their predestination, whatever it may be. This is not a contradiction, but a mysterious truth beyond human logic."
This issue is a key foundational premise that Calvinistic Predestination is based upon. This is because the premise of free and voluntary choice of any being under the predestination of God is used as the "catch all" against anti-Calvinist arguments. If one was to disprove the idea of "predestined free and voluntary choice," then Calvinism would make God directly responsible for causing the fall of Lucifer and his angels, the fall of man, the birth of sin and death, the arbitrary salvation/damnation of people, etc.
Paradox #1: The One-option Choice
According to Merriam-Webster´s Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition:
1Choice: (1): the act of choosing: SELECTION (2): the power of choosing: OPTION (3): (a): the best part: CREAM (b): a person or thing chosen (4): a sufficient number and variety to choose among (5): care in selecting
By definition, a choice requires a minimum of two or more options that can be acted upon. If there is only one option that can be acted upon, then it ceases to be a choice and the one option becomes the default and unalterable plan of action.
In the context of Calvinism, God´s will is in absolute control and is therefore the only option which can be acted upon. The mere use of the word "choice," by definition, implicitly declares that there is another option to God´s will that can be acted upon, which clearly contradicts absolute control by God.
Paradox #2: Two Causes?
"Free and voluntary choice" means God´s created beings themselves cause their choice.
According to Merriam-Webster´s Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition:
1Voluntary: (1): proceeding from the will or from one´s own choice or consent (2): unconstrained by interference: SELF-DETERMINING (3): done by design or intention: INTENTIONAL (4): of, relating to, subject to, or regulated by the will (5): having power of free choice
"God´s will is in absolute control" means that God is the sole cause of choice in created beings.
God and his created beings cannot both be the cause of choice within the created beings. One must be primary (in control) and one must be secondary (not in control).
The cause itself must have an ultimate point of origination. God existed first and predetermined everything, therefore the cause must have ultimately originated with God. To assert that a choice originates with a created being implies that God did not predetermine everything.
Paradox #3: Illogical Logic
When this critical paradox in Calvinism is pointed out to Calvinists, there are generally two responses:
-There is no contradiction.
(and/or)
-This is a mysterious truth beyond human logic.
Contrary to the Calvinist assumption that these responses are convenient "escapes" from the logical paradox of their doctrine, they actually self-annihilate their own doctrine. They attempt to discredit human logic (specifically the logic of non-Calvinists) while attempting to defend and validate their own assertions.
However, the discredit of human logic means that all logic and reasoning used by all humans is discredited. Therefore, in saying human logic and reasoning doesn´t matter, Calvinists (which are humans that use human logic and reasoning) also unintentionally declare that their own logic and reasoning doesn´t matter as well.
This results in yet another paradox: Calvinists use human logic and reasoning to defend and support their own doctrine that is supposedly not based on and beyond human logic and reasoning.
- - - - - - - - - -
Thus, because Arminianism and Calvinistic Predestination are both self-contradictory, I advocate the position that free will and predestination work in a harmonious balance. God permits the existence of a certain realm of free will choice, which is surrounded and permeated by a framework of rules and fixed realities. For instance, God considers certain choices as being more binding than others.
I agree that Arminianism is logically flawed. It is logically extreme to the point that it is self-contradictory.
One depends on God's decision to impute them with righteousness by grace alone (ref. Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:1-5, 23-24, James 2:23, Philippians 3:9). And grace cannot be mixed with works, otherwise grace ceases to be grace (Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2:8-9). However, Arminianism violates this by saying that the demerits of our works can nullify the unmerited favor (grace) of God, which is paradoxical.
However, Calvinistic Predestination is also logically flawed. This is because it is logically extreme to the point that it is self-contradictory as well.
- - - - - - - - - -
Calvinists assert: "God´s will is the absolute control of and the sole cause an of anything and everything. God predestines the free and voluntary choices of all beings (while the subject may not be able to sense it and feel in control) thereby making all beings deserving of their predestination, whatever it may be. This is not a contradiction, but a mysterious truth beyond human logic."
This issue is a key foundational premise that Calvinistic Predestination is based upon. This is because the premise of free and voluntary choice of any being under the predestination of God is used as the "catch all" against anti-Calvinist arguments. If one was to disprove the idea of "predestined free and voluntary choice," then Calvinism would make God directly responsible for causing the fall of Lucifer and his angels, the fall of man, the birth of sin and death, the arbitrary salvation/damnation of people, etc.
Paradox #1: The One-option Choice
According to Merriam-Webster´s Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition:
1Choice: (1): the act of choosing: SELECTION (2): the power of choosing: OPTION (3): (a): the best part: CREAM (b): a person or thing chosen (4): a sufficient number and variety to choose among (5): care in selecting
By definition, a choice requires a minimum of two or more options that can be acted upon. If there is only one option that can be acted upon, then it ceases to be a choice and the one option becomes the default and unalterable plan of action.
In the context of Calvinism, God´s will is in absolute control and is therefore the only option which can be acted upon. The mere use of the word "choice," by definition, implicitly declares that there is another option to God´s will that can be acted upon, which clearly contradicts absolute control by God.
Paradox #2: Two Causes?
"Free and voluntary choice" means God´s created beings themselves cause their choice.
According to Merriam-Webster´s Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition:
1Voluntary: (1): proceeding from the will or from one´s own choice or consent (2): unconstrained by interference: SELF-DETERMINING (3): done by design or intention: INTENTIONAL (4): of, relating to, subject to, or regulated by the will (5): having power of free choice
"God´s will is in absolute control" means that God is the sole cause of choice in created beings.
God and his created beings cannot both be the cause of choice within the created beings. One must be primary (in control) and one must be secondary (not in control).
The cause itself must have an ultimate point of origination. God existed first and predetermined everything, therefore the cause must have ultimately originated with God. To assert that a choice originates with a created being implies that God did not predetermine everything.
Paradox #3: Illogical Logic
When this critical paradox in Calvinism is pointed out to Calvinists, there are generally two responses:
-There is no contradiction.
(and/or)
-This is a mysterious truth beyond human logic.
Contrary to the Calvinist assumption that these responses are convenient "escapes" from the logical paradox of their doctrine, they actually self-annihilate their own doctrine. They attempt to discredit human logic (specifically the logic of non-Calvinists) while attempting to defend and validate their own assertions.
However, the discredit of human logic means that all logic and reasoning used by all humans is discredited. Therefore, in saying human logic and reasoning doesn´t matter, Calvinists (which are humans that use human logic and reasoning) also unintentionally declare that their own logic and reasoning doesn´t matter as well.
This results in yet another paradox: Calvinists use human logic and reasoning to defend and support their own doctrine that is supposedly not based on and beyond human logic and reasoning.
- - - - - - - - - -
Thus, because Arminianism and Calvinistic Predestination are both self-contradictory, I advocate the position that free will and predestination work in a harmonious balance. God permits the existence of a certain realm of free will choice, which is surrounded and permeated by a framework of rules and fixed realities. For instance, God considers certain choices as being more binding than others.
The Calvinist might say the Arminian systematic is illogical, but we don´t try to discredit logic. I am sure this person holds to the hypostatic union of Christ in that He is 100% man and 100% God yet He is not 200%. Now what?
