One of the most polarizing topics among Christians is the dichotomy between Calvinism and Arminianism. Is there middle ground for compromise? There has been more than a little controversy generated by theologians when debating the pros and cons of each view and more often than not there is extreme inflexibility in appreciation of each. In order to determine the merits of each perspective, let’s examine some foundations of their respective beliefs and the basis in scripture that would compel one to advocate a particular viewpoint.
The scope of this article will cover three tenets that are considered as crucial in supporting each doctrine and the points of contention for each. Three more would be atonement, regeneration and the sovereignty of God (which both sides agree on}. The three tenets we will examine are:
- Depravity – the notion that humans are in a rebellious state concerning God’s morality and in need of salvation.
- Predestination – which can imply election or forbearance.
- Perseverance – specifically the impetus for an enduring faith and the comprehension of apostasy.
DEPRAVITY
Regarding depravity, Calvinists assert that people are depraved and in a default position of rebellion therefore they will not come to Christ under their own power. They believe that unless God reveals the gospel to them and changes their hearts, they will never be saved. Conversely, Arminianism contends that while people are depraved and corrupt by nature, they ultimately decide on whether they believe or reject the gospel.
When it boils down to the ultimate causation of faith, Calvinists attribute it to God’s will while the Arminian perspective cites free will. This is referred to as prevenient grace – the intervention of the Holy Spirit who empowers sinners to accept God’s offer of grace freely. Both perspectives agree that the sinner cannot initiate the process and that all merit in salvation belongs to God since we are saved by His grace.
Each group interprets John 6:44 differently. Jesus said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father draws them, and I will raise them up on the last day.” Calvinists interpret this passage to mean unconditional election and irresistible grace; that it is God that changes one’s heart to embrace belief. On the other hand, an Arminian comprehension would be that God extends grace to all people but it is resistible.
The Bible documents many choices made by people and the resulting impact they had upon history:
In Deuteronomy 30:15-20, the nation of Israel is given insight into the outcome of following God’s decrees. In verse 19, God declares, ‘This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”.
Joshua 24 records the twelve tribes of Israel being petitioned by Joshua to be faithful to God, forsaking all others. Verse 15 records the proclamation, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Jesus also offered the freedom of choice to those who heard Him speak. “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25).
And in Revelation 3:20 Jesus proclaims, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” Additionally, the apostle Paul illustrates our freedom of choice in Galatians 5:16, where he advises, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
PREDESTINATION
Predestination is a biblical concept that is well documented in the New Testament as the following verses attest:
Romans 8:29: “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.”
1 Peter 1:1-2: “To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”
1 Peter 1:20: “He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”
Ephesians 1:4-6: “For he chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves.”
Acts 2:23: “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
Calvinists perceive these scriptures to convey that God chooses unconditionally whom He will save and whom He will allow to remain in rebellion to Him. They also cite Romans 9:15 in support, “For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’” Does this mean that humans do not have the freedom to choose to believe? Are people simply pawns or robots that are pre-programmed to accept or reject Jesus according to God’s whimsical idiosyncrasies?
The Arminian understanding would be that God predestines people to come to Christ based upon His foreknowledge of who would freely choose to believe in Him. The Greek word proginōskō (foreknow) is comprehended as God’s ability to see through time who will believe and who will not. In essence predestination is viewed as foreseen faith.
PERSEVERANCE
Finally, with respect to perseverance, the Calvinist perspective argues that God preserves us in faith and that no one is ever lost who is truly saved. Romans 8:39 is used to support this claim (nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ) along with John 10:28-29 (no one can snatch them out of My hand). Anyone who chooses to walk away from the faith is deemed to never have been a true believer in the first place based upon 1 John 2:19, which states they never really belonged.
This theology becomes problematic in light of Hebrews 6:4-6 which states that it is impossible for someone who has shared in the Holy Spirit and fallen away to be brought back to repentance because to their loss they would be crucifying Christ all over again. Furthermore, in 1 Timothy 4:1 Paul states that in the last days some people “will depart from the faith.” This would be impossible if they were never in the faith to begin with.
Consider the long list of prominent former Christians that have renounced their belief in Christianity. Personalities like Bart Ehrman, Dan Barker, Paul Maxwell, Bart Campolo and others who once preached the gospel are now Christian dissidents. To claim they were never believers would be an embellishment and to posit they are still saved would be nonsensical hyperbole.
Arminianism believes that while God strengthens our faith, it is we who must stand firm until the end (Matthew 24:13). Because of free will, a believer can turn away from the faith and forfeit their salvation (apostacy). If people are saved by their free will to choose Christ, they do not lose their free will after and they retain the freedom to stop following Christ. There would be no logic in saving people into eternal life in heaven with God if they didn’t really want to be there in the first place.
Paul’s remarks in Colossians 1:21-22 that believers are reconciled to God through Christ, “without blemish and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith,” and in Romans 11:20-22 that Israel was broken off due to unbelief and God will not spare Gentiles either if they do not continue in faith, “otherwise you also will be cut off.” These proclamations demonstrate that salvation is contingent upon belief. Paul asserts that it is possible to shipwreck your faith (1 Timothy 1:18-20) and Jesus warns in John 15:6, ”If you do not remain in Me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
Both Calvinist and Arminian perspectives have biblical roots and being cognizant of the discrepancies and similarities between these two doctrines can clarify misconceptions of the theologies of Calvin and Arminius. Does any middle ground exist between these ideologies? Ultimately God’s sovereignty, His omniscience and omnipotence enable Him the unique ability to predetermine our destiny without contravening our freedom of will.
