Quick report on Calvinst-Arminian dialogues

Last updated on: January 31, 2012 at 2:04 pm by Roger E. Olson

Quick report on Calvinst-Arminian dialogues 2012-01-31T14:04:36-05:00 Roger E. Olson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This past weekend (Saturday, January 28) I engaged in another public dialogue with my favorite Calvinist Michael Horton. While I strongly disagree with some of his characterizations of Arminianism (e.g, “man-centered theology”) he is a gentleman and a scholar who never stoops to using ridicule or insults and always strives to be fair in his descriptions of theologies with which he disagrees. And he never makes it a personal issue; he can express very strong disagreement while remaining friendly. That’s rare in today’s theological climate among evangelicals. I won’t even bother to read or engage in conversation with people who use ridicule to demean those with whom they disagree theologically. But I will go out of my way (for example to Orange County, CA and Miami, FL) to engage in friendly, vigorous conversation about theological differences. And I have done that many times.

This past weekend Mike and I spoke and engaged in conversation about our theological differences before an audience of mostly Calvinists. No one was hostile or aggressive or uncivil. Nobody made jokes at others’ expense to humiliate or ridicule them. No one misrepresented others’ views. (There were many questions from the audience and everyone was extremely polite.) I didn’t feel like Daniel in the lions’ den at all. Many members of the audience bought my book Against Calvinism and asked me to sign it for them. (A couple even had me sign’s Mike’s book For Calvinism!)

And yet, in spite of all the niceness, Mike and some of the audience members asked hard questions and pressed for biblical and reasonable answers. I did my best to provide them from an Arminian viewpoint. I pressed Mike for Calvinist answers and he always responded helpfully.

I told the audience and I repeat here that I have no problem with Calvinism in confessionally Reformed churches. My problem is when Calvinism becomes popular in contexts where it is not historically the norm and then is promoted as THE only truly biblical view. In such non-confessional contexts (e.g., many Baptist churches) Calvinism should be held as opinion and not elevated to status confessionis. What is happening in many Baptist churches is the adoption of the Second London Confession of Faith as an instrument of doctrinal accountability.

And I object when many in the young, restless and Reformed movement tout Calvinism aggessively as the one and only respectable Christian theology (“the doctrines of grace” and “simply a transcript of the gospel”).

If only these disagreements could be handled everywhere and at all times as they were by us at this event in Miami.

I believe the event will be posted for viewing at the web site of The White Horse Inn (Mike Horton’s radio program) and at Zondervan’s web site. The event was co-sponsored by those organizations.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

January 29, 2012

And now...to the other side (on issues of gender)

Next Post

February 1, 2012 Where I have a problem with Calvinism

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Against Liberal Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I wanted a vineyard so badly that my wife arranged the owner's death through false witnesses. Who am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

David Ahab Jezebel Naboth