Monergism & providence

Glenn January 12, 2014, 8:17 PM“Isn’t this what Jesus does in Luke 10:13?”No I don’t see that happening, Blair. In Luke 10:13 Jesus didn’t say “everyone who did not get the opportunity would have rejected the opportunity anyway.” In fact he seems to be saying the opposite: That some people who didn’t get a chance to hear are actually people who would have accepted the opportunity, and repented. So if we think about grace and our response to it in Arminian terms (as Bill does), it would appear that the contention that everyone who would have repented gets the chance to do before they die is not a biblical contention.“Sounds to me like the Calvanist would say, “well, that’s just the way it is”, where as the Arminian would as you point out, look for another opportunity for a response to grace.”Some Arminians would do that, yes. Jerry, for example, does. But most Arminians do not believe in Jerry’s purgatory, so they don’t have that resource. Some Arminians might take Bill Craig’s stance and claim that the fact that some people never got the chance is acceptable – since they would not have repented anyway. But as for the remaining Arminians, I’m all ears.I think this is a problem text for Bill’s position and also a very curious text from a monergist (Calvinist / Augustinian) position as well. From a monergist point of view, the only thing that really makes a person repent is the work of the Holy Spirit working efficaciously to bring repentance about. So it’s strange to see Jesus say that these people would have repented under different circumstances. 

http://www.rightreason.org/2014/jerry-walls-and-the-unequable-distribution-of-grace/

I largely agree with Glenn's statement. However, I disagree with the last part. He's confusing Calvinism with fatalism. In Calvinism, favorable or unfavorable circumstances can be a differential factor. The quality of evidence available to us can make a difference between faith and disbelief. Evidence alone doesn't convert anyone. Circumstances alone are insufficient to induce faith. But as a rule, monergistic regeneration is coordinated with favorable circumstances. We don't just repent in a vacuum or believe in a vacuum. God places the elect in a situation providentially favorable to conversion.