Are Arminians predestined to turn one of the most complicated topics in all of theology into a series of one-liners, do they freely choose to do so but in a way constrained by their natures, or do they use one-liners to avoid hard questions in a purely libertarian way?
Believe it or not, this is not far from a traditional Calvinist understanding of predestination. Most would talk about man’s will as being free within the boundaries of God’s will. They would deny that man has any capacity for truly libertarian free will, and would contend in favor of a more causal determinism based on man’s nature and desires, but within those boundaries most would acknowledge that man makes free choices.
I’m sure you have heard crazy people say crazy things about a lot of topics. As with any other system of belief, it is best evaluated on the basis of the statements made by serious theologians rather than randos. I wouldn’t want anyone evaluating Pentecostalism on the basis of some nutty statement made by a random charismatic who thinks Todd Bentley is a prophet.
And I’m saying you won’t find that in any systematic not is it at all reflective of actual reformed theology. Views vary, but at their most extreme Calvinists would say their fate depends on God’s sovereign election. The notion of God choosing based on anything someone did or didn’t do or would or wouldn’t do, or ANYTHING other than His own soverign choice, is completely alien to the reformed view of the doctrine of election.The reformed understanding of election is by definition completely divorced from anything someone might or might not do. God looking down the corridors of time to see what someone might do is more akin to the Arminian concept of prevenient grace. If you say God choosing based on… and end that sentence with anything other than His sovereign choice then you’re not talking about the reformed view of election, even if you went to RTS.
Ask Uncle Calvin when he is hyper________________
Joking aside, I think it’s an interesting question on this topic.
My saying:
Were you predestined to make that post? Was I predestined to make this one?My head just exploded________________
Are Arminians predestined to turn one of the most complicated topics in all of theology into a series of one-liners, do they freely choose to do so but in a way constrained by their natures, or do they use one-liners to avoid hard questions in a purely libertarian way?
I can do both.
Believe it or not, this is not far from a traditional Calvinist understanding of predestination. Most would talk about man’s will as being free within the boundaries of God’s will. They would deny that man has any capacity for truly libertarian free will, and would contend in favor of a more causal determinism based on man’s nature and desires, but within those boundaries most would acknowledge that man makes free choices.
I’m sure you have heard crazy people say crazy things about a lot of topics. As with any other system of belief, it is best evaluated on the basis of the statements made by serious theologians rather than randos. I wouldn’t want anyone evaluating Pentecostalism on the basis of some nutty statement made by a random charismatic who thinks Todd Bentley is a prophet.
And I’m saying you won’t find that in any systematic not is it at all reflective of actual reformed theology. Views vary, but at their most extreme Calvinists would say their fate depends on God’s sovereign election. The notion of God choosing based on anything someone did or didn’t do or would or wouldn’t do, or ANYTHING other than His own soverign choice, is completely alien to the reformed view of the doctrine of election.The reformed understanding of election is by definition completely divorced from anything someone might or might not do. God looking down the corridors of time to see what someone might do is more akin to the Arminian concept of prevenient grace. If you say God choosing based on… and end that sentence with anything other than His sovereign choice then you’re not talking about the reformed view of election, even if you went to RTS.
Ok….I think I am misreprenting myself.
Okay, that sounds more like it. That’s