Must All Christians be Calvinist or Arminian?
Just over
a week ago, at his Pedestrian Christian blog, Brother Alexander Guggenheim posted an
article on a subject matter that I believe merits a wide reading among
Fundamental Baptists. I refer you to his
article, Must All Christians be a Calvinist or Arminian? The Infectious Assertion
by Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary’s Bill Combs or When Devotion to a
School of Theology Leads to Impoverished Reasoning. The following three paragraphs are from the article’s introduction.
“If you are uncertain of my aim, allow me to be
precise. Over at Theologically Driven, a
blog of Detroit
Baptist Theological Seminary (who are self-identified Baptist
Fundamentalists), one of the seminary professors, Bill Combs, posted an
article, Why
You Must Be a Calvinist or an Arminian (and
this did not stand alone, it actually augmented an earlier post by another
professor, Mark Snoeberger who made a related assertion). This may seem but
a blip on a radar, but then a plane crashing into a building is, too. Thus, I
want you to stop and consider the degree of concern which this warrants, if you
consider yourself a Baptist Fundamentalist, a Christian who identifies with
Calvinism via DBTS style, someone who intends on attending DBTS or simply a
Christian interested in the issue, itself.”
“I posted a response to Bill Comb’s post at Theologically Driven which was up for a while but then taken down. Nothing rude or personal was contained in the rebuttal. I do think, however, that it shed a rather embarrassing light on Comb’s assertion(s) and consequently Mr. Combs and DBTS who would endorse such an idea, thus, its removal.”
“I certainly expect binary or black/white thinking to abound in Calvinistic acolytes such as this group, [Team Pyro]. However, for a seminary professor who has demonstrated capacity for more considerate paradigms and whose profession ought to reflect it, there is a reason for real concern, especially for his students and those in his sphere of influence. Therefore, I have made this rebuttal post at my blog for all my readers and beyond because this issue is critical in how it is framed and how it affects theological discourse in the Protestant/Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian community.”
“I posted a response to Bill Comb’s post at Theologically Driven which was up for a while but then taken down. Nothing rude or personal was contained in the rebuttal. I do think, however, that it shed a rather embarrassing light on Comb’s assertion(s) and consequently Mr. Combs and DBTS who would endorse such an idea, thus, its removal.”
“I certainly expect binary or black/white thinking to abound in Calvinistic acolytes such as this group, [Team Pyro]. However, for a seminary professor who has demonstrated capacity for more considerate paradigms and whose profession ought to reflect it, there is a reason for real concern, especially for his students and those in his sphere of influence. Therefore, I have made this rebuttal post at my blog for all my readers and beyond because this issue is critical in how it is framed and how it affects theological discourse in the Protestant/Evangelical/Fundamentalist Christian community.”
I encourage all guests to read, in its entirety, Must All Christians be a Calvinist or Arminian? The Infectious Assertion by Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary’s Bill Combs or When Devotion to a School of Theology Leads to Impoverished Reasoning.
Yours faithfully,LM
*See comment #1 in the thread for Brother Guggenheim’s personal biography
The Pedestrian Christian's (Alex Guggenheim’s) Path:
ReplyDeleteI have been a believer in Christ for over 30 years and along the way my path has introduced me to some most unimaginable experiences. And from that I have come away with the greatest of all certainties; in the end where I am headed is where I came from which is Christ Jesus. So with some experience, a teaching gift and mild writing abilities my objective is to take such assets and hope to be an illuminating source for others.
I am a Protestant with baptistic and Lutheran leanings (though I reject any form of sacramental regeneration) with dispensationalistic views. I have an undergraduate degree in Biblical studies from which I have aggressively but colloquially pursued additional theological development and training.
I formerly inclined myself toward Reformed theology and Calvinism but now, through comprehensive exegetical/theological studies, reject the rationalism of Augustinian/Reformed/Calvinistic (ARC) theologies as well as certain by-products of these two centers.
However, with that said I also recognize that no one school of theology is without weaknesses and many schools offer virtuous contributions in areas where there are no contentions. Therefore, I acknowledge the augmentation of many schools and their theologians which are of other persuasions seeing that we have many things in common. So I use many sources with discretion while possibly taking issue with these on other occasions.
I generally prefer a polemic style in my arguments but do try to engage apologetically often enough to endear my writings to a broader audience. However, as you read you will find most often my theological measures being contentions with specific teachings by either a school or Teacher of Scripture.
I also participate in social and political treatments but far less often than those of theology. And as for the regulation of my contributions, I do not anticipate having time for constant contributions but those I do make I will strive to endow them with material which is satisfying, challenging and engaging.