At longshot’s inquiry, I’ll take a stab at explaining why I feel the way I do…
Most of us are familiar with Calvinism. You remember TULIP, right? Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irrestible Grace, and Perserverance of the Saints.
Because most of my formative and adult years I was surrounded by Calvinists ,(parents, pastors, professors, etc), even those who didn’t express themselves as such, I always assumed that the ‘ol TULIP was right–even before I knew it was labeled as such.
As I have searched the scriptures and examined my own journey, I’m finding out that I’m a little bit Calvinist AND Arminian. (Why is Donnie and Marie’s “She’s a Little Bit Country And He’s A Little Bit Rock-N-Roll” bouncing in my head?)
I’ll explain.
Total Depravity agrues that the entire process of salvation (election, redemption, regeneration) is the work of God and is by grace alone. Thus God, not man, determines who will be the recipients of the gift of salvation. Arminianism suggests that man plays a role in ‘choosing’ to accept this grace and somewhat ‘cooperate’ with God in the process. God has provided salvation to everyone, but man makes his provision effective by choosing according to the free will God grants him. Man takes more of a decisive role.
As far as the Free Will vs. Predestination/Election issue goes, I see it like walking thru a doorway. On this side, the side above it reads ‘Whosever Will May Come’. Once we are on the other side, you look back and it reads ‘Those He Foreknew He Also Predestined to Become Sons of God’. Calvinism would argue that God bestows faith on those whom He elected before the foundation of the world, regardless of any forseen reaction to obedience (like winning the lottery). Arminianism agrues that election is based on God’s sovreign knowledge of what man would do in response to his grace.
Limited Atonement (Calvinism) states that Christ’s death secured salvation only for the elect. Arminism agrues that it secured salvation for anyone, but that it will be the elect who respond.
One caveat: Arminism also argues that the elect can lose their salavation by falling from Grace. Calvinism supports the idea that all who are chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end. Having experienced an incredible amount of unfathomable grace in the past few years, my spirit resonates much more loudly with this point of Calvinism.
Of course, I some incredible, godly friends who are hardcore 5-point Calvinists (Hi, Jimmie!). We are brothers in the truest sense.
I could be wrong in my belief system, but this is where the journey has led me today. And if, when I see Him face to face, He says, “Dude…you were so off…”, I’m okay with that.