Hi SemperReformanda,

Thanks for the welcome.


> "What caused this?"

A number of reasons played a part in my decision to reject Calvinism. First, I became despondent with the attitude and behaviour of certain Christians within the Reformed circle for reasons I cannot divulge here. Suffice it to say that I felt one could so easily wrap themselves up in the "truths" of the doctrines of grace, and yet fail to demonstrate the love and mercy of Jesus Christ in their lives.

Of course, this did not "cause" me to reject Calvinism. There can be a lack of Christ-likeness in both camps (i.e. in Calvinist and Arminian Christians). But it did lead me to (1) examine my own life, and (2) re-examine Calvinian theology which I had cherished for so long.

After studying the arguments from both sides, I began to doubt my belief in the Calvinian view of God's divine decree, in which God determines human decisions, and even human sinfulness. After that I saw huge flaws in the doctrine of unconditional election, especially as it related to the justice and mercy of God and the responsibility and accountability of moral agents.


> "Why do you think you were wrong to accept 5-point Calvinism as Biblical?"

I don't think I was "wrong" to accept Calvinism. Immediately after the Lord saved me, I found myself in a Reformed Baptist church where I was told that Arminianism taught a "different gospel". I read books by Boettner and Berkhof, incl. Calvin's Institutes, etc. So I think I was rather ignorant of what Arminians really believe. And I do believe that most Calvinists have misrepresented what Classical Arminians believe. This is clear from Pilgrim's response to me in the essentials thread, where he said, "the theology of Arminianism ... denies the doctrines of Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Solus Christus". This is simply not true. And I can quote sources from Arminians, including Jacob Arminius, to prove it.


Also, I wouldn't say that Calvinism is "unbiblical". Again, to do so would be to place my Reformed brethren outside of the Body of Christ. Rather, I would say that I agree with the Arminian interpretation of predestination than the Calvinist's. I may believe that Calvinists are sincerely wrong in what they believe, but I would never say that they are believing in "heresy" or a "different gospel".


> "How would you describe your current beliefs?"


Reformed Arminianism <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yours in Christ,
MJM