An Arminian Response to the Calvinist use of Isaiah 10:5-16 as a Proof Text for Compatibilism

[updated on 1/5/23] From an interaction with a Calvinist: Calvinist: Most Calvinists believe in a soft determinism called compatiblism [sic.]. This is clearly taught in Gen 50:20: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save …

Calvinism And The Fall: The Problem Ignored Again

Just saw this post called "Man's Will: Before And After the Fall" which opens with these words: Augustine and the Calvinistic tradition in general define the will's freedom, or lack thereof, in relation to sin. Why? Because this is how the Bible defines it. Jesus declared "everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. …

Great Quotes: Daniel Whedon on Foreknowledge and Free Will

“Whether there is any foreknowledge or not, it is certain that there will be one particular course of future events and no other.  On the most absolute doctrine of freedom there will be, as we shall soon more fully illustrate, there is one train of choices freely put forth and no other.  If by the …

Great Quotes: Thomas Ralston on Calvinist Arguments Against Free Will Based on Greatest Motive Force

Let us now contemplate these motives which are said to act upon the mind so as necessarily to influence the will. Let us look them full in the face, and ask the question, What are they? Are they intelligent beings, capable of locomotion? Are they endued with a self-moving energy? Yea, more: Are they capable …

Sin, Reprobation and Foreknowledge: The Calvinists’ Attempt to Have Their Cake and Eat it Too

The doctrine of the unconditional election of a part, necessarily implies the unconditional reprobation of the rest. I know some who hold to the former, seem to deny the latter; for they represent God as reprobating sinners, in view of their sins. When all were sinners, they say God passed by some, and elected others. …

Grace For All: The Arminian Dynamics of Salvation (Book Review)

John D. Wagner has produced  an updated and expanded version of "Grace Unlimited", originally edited by the late Clark H. Pinnock.  This updated version is called "Grace For All: The Arminian Dynamics of Salvation."  This newer version contains several new essays along with some changes and heavy editing of  a few essays that appeared in …

A Concise and Powerful Refutation of Theistic Determinism

"The Dilemma of Theistic Determinism" by Dr. Günther H. Juncker from the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry Excerpt: In the popular tradition of William James’s classic “The Dilemma of Determinism” and Sir Karl Popper’s “Indeterminism and Human Freedom,” I offer up the following sound bite as food for philosophical and theological thought. "If determinism is true …

No Real Choice in Calvinism

Here is a good post that looks at some of the major difficulties in Calvinist accounting of free will and choice (below),  It also does a good job concisely pointing out how Irresistible Grace is indeed coercive, even on some Calvinist definitions: The "C" in Calvinism? Excerpt: The Coercion Problem First, the Sproul-Edwards account of …

Dr. Brian Abasciano’s Follow-up Response to James White on Acts 13:48

Brian Abasciano, "A Reply to James White Concerning His Faulty Treatment of the Greek and Context of Acts 13:48 Excerpt: The pluperfect construction places the disposing prior to the belief of the subjects of the verbs in Acts 13:48, which means that it could have happened any time before they believed. But strikingly, White does …

Determinism and Regrets

From SEA:   Regrets are problematic in determinism as they often presuppose belief in free will (though that is not necessarily true of all regrets).  I touched on this same topic long ago in this post: Struggling With Regrets.  Another related post I hope to expound on in more detail sometime soon is Sacrifice and the …

Calvinism Still Ugly

Young, Restless, No Longer Reformed a Year Later: Calvinism Still Isn't Beautiful Excerpt: My exodus from Calvinism was set in motion when I came to believe Calvinism was not beautiful—indeed, when I realized that Calvinism (consistent Calvinism at least) was, at best, cold and brutally enigmatic (which is, perhaps, why many cannot be consistent Calvinists). …

Do Arminians Really Pray Like Calvinists?

It is often said by Calvinists that when Arminians pray, they pray like Calvinists. Typically this is expressed in such a way as to imply that while Arminians may deny the theological claims of Calvinism, they affirm Calvinism in the way that they pray. The Calvinist assumes that when Arminians pray for God to work …

Nice Short Post on Some of the Problems with Calvinism and Calvinist Use of Language

Led Zeppelin, Calvinism and Words With Multiple Meanings HT: Dale Wayman

Craig L. Adam’s on Calvinism’s Use of John 6:44

Calvinism and John 6:44 Related posts and articles: Various Thoughts on the Use of John 6 and Related Passages From John's Gospel to Support Calvinism Daniel Whedon on John 6 The Order of Faith and Election in John's Gospel: You Do Not Believe Because You Are Not My Sheep John 6:37 (Richard Coords) Does John …

Austin Fischer Responds to Kevin DeYoung’s Review of his Book

My Review of Kevin's Review

An Insightful Review of Austin Fischer’s New Book on Leaving Calvinism

Check out this reflective and insightful review of Austin Fischer's book, Young, Restless And No Longer Reformed.  John Frye (also a former Calvinist) presents a short and thought provoking summary of the problems inherent in Calvinism that Austin highlights in his book. John Frye, Review of *Young Restless and No Longer Reformed* Related Posts: Glen Shellrude, …