Arminianism

[Tellyontellyon]

I came across this word, but I'm getting confused...
Arminianism believes I'm free will, but Calvinists don't?

 

[Amittai]

The real truth is in between, and parts of both. The solution appears when Holy Spirit maturing of individuals is allowed.

 

[YouAreAwesome]

I came across this word, but I'm getting confused...
Arminianism believes I'm free will, but Calvinists don't?

Yep.

Calvinism usually emphasizes the sovereignty of God whereas Arminianism emphasizes the free will God has given to humanity. These two things can be contradictory. Is God in control of us or do we have a responsibility to make choices? Arminianism still holds that God is sovereign and in control of everything but believes we have a free will component. Which kind of doesn't make any sense, but they're okay with that because God is outside of our human capacity to understand etc.

Calvinism usually holds to a position called "absolute sovereignty" which says God is in control over every little event that occurs, including us turning to God for salvation. Arminianism says we can make the choice to turn to God on our own.

 

[Rescued One]

 

[Dave L]

I came across this word, but I'm getting confused...
Arminianism believes I'm free will, but Calvinists don't?

Calvinism VS Arminianism Comparison Chart by L. Boettner

 

[Mountainmanbob]

I came across this word, but I'm getting confused...
Arminianism believes I'm free will, but Calvinists don't?

Who got you saved?

You yourself?

Or God?

Roman's chapter 8 + 9 explains it well.

M-Bob

 

[YouAreAwesome]

Thanks for posting. I just watched the whole video.

How do you explain 24:35,

"We know that God drowned millions of people. Personally. Took responsibility for that..."

then 30 seconds later at 25:04,

"He is Holy. He cannot do evil... But He is content to leave the responsibility for evils existence and even its actions with Himself."

John's (Calvinistic) view is:

1. God cannot do evil
2. God takes responsibility for evil (and personally drowned millions of people)
3. God wills evil

How do you reconcile this contradiction?

 

[Dave L]

Yep.

Calvinism usually emphasizes the sovereignty of God whereas Arminianism emphasizes the free will God has given to humanity. These two things can be contradictory. Is God in control of us or do we have a responsibility to make choices? Arminianism still holds that God is sovereign and in control of everything but believes we have a free will component. Which kind of doesn't make any sense, but they're okay with that because God is outside of our human capacity to understand etc.

Calvinism usually holds to a position called "absolute sovereignty" which says God is in control over every little event that occurs, including us turning to God for salvation. Arminianism says we can make the choice to turn to God on our own.

Every choice you make is a reaction to a reason God used to produce your free choices. You freely choose what you want most, based on the reason he provided for you to base your choice on.

 

[YouAreAwesome]

Every choice you make is a reaction to a reason God used to produce your free choices. You freely choose what you want most, based on the reason he provided for you to base your choice on.

Can you unpack this a bit? I don't follow sorry.

 

[Dave L]

Can you unpack this a bit? I don't follow sorry.

We always base our choices on reasons.No body chooses anything without having a reason for choosing. Paul says God works all things after his will. Including our choices. He works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure. So he controls our free choices, which are based on what we want to do most, because of the reasons and situations he places before us to base our choices on.

 

[YouAreAwesome]

he controls our free choices

Sorry, can you explain how these opposing ideas can be meshed together? Seems overtly contradictory.

No body chooses anything without having a reason for choosing.

How about choosing lottery numbers by shutting ones eyes and pointing randomly at a list of numbers? The numbers are random, no reason behind the choice of number.

 

[Dave L]

Sorry, can you explain how these opposing ideas can be meshed together? Seems overtly contradictory.



How about choosing lottery numbers by shutting ones eyes and pointing randomly at a list of numbers? The numbers are random, no reason behind the choice of number.

There is always a reason for doing what you do. God controls you through it.

 

[Tellyontellyon]

My own experience of free will is that it's not really that free...
It's more like different parts of me are pulling me in different directions and I have a 'bit' of influence about which one I'm going to go with.
That 'bit' of influence sometimes feels like more and sometimes less.
In other words, sometimes I feel like I've got more free will than others... or it takes more effort to go against the tide.
If we have no free at all, then God is a monster.

 

[Dave L]

My own experience of free will is that it's not really that free...
It's more like different parts of me are pulling me in different directions and I have a 'bit' of influence about which one I'm going to go with.
That 'bit' of influence sometimes feels like more and sometimes less.
In other words, sometimes I feel like I've got more free will than others... or it takes more effort to go against the tide.
If we have no free at all, then God is a monster.

Be careful. Even God does not have free will.

 

[Tellyontellyon]

Be careful. Even God does not have free will.

I thought he was omnipotent

 

[Dave L]

I thought he was impotent?

You mean Omnipotent.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Roman's 7:15
English Standard Version
For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

 

[Mountainmanbob]

Be careful. Even God does not have free will.

That caught me in the headlights?
Can you elaborate a little Dave?
M-Bob

 

[Dave L]

That caught me in the headlights?
Can you elaborate a little Dave?
M-Bob

God is perfect including his decree. He is not free to change it as that would result in imperfection.

 

[Tellyontellyon]

You mean Omnipotent.

Yes, spellcheck is from the dark side.