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Friday, February 03, 2012

The first rule of Arminian ethics: ethics don't apply to Arminians


Remember now, Hays is the one who just complained about all the Arminians who are always posting against Calvinists and Calvinism. Yet, in typical hypocritical fashion, he cannot keep from responding against Arminians and Arminianism. Oh, the irony!)


i) Once again, Birch is fibbing. He’s a chronic fibber. I didn’t object to Arminians posting against Calvinism and Calvinists. Rather, I pointed out that Arminians like Birch have a serious moral and spiritual problem when they shirk their ethical obligation to be truthful. And how does Birch respond when I document the fact that he’s untruthful? He responds untruthfully!

ii) Now, if Birch were an isolated case, we could let it slide. But in my experience, this is characteristic. It’s symptomatic of a larger pattern.

iii) Finally, my objection wasn’t a “complaint.” When Arminians are unethical, that’s not a problem for Calvinism–that’s a problem for Arminians.

If they can’t use honest arguments against Calvinism, then that exposes the intellectual weakness of their own position.  It’s getting to the point where Arminian ethics resembles exobiology: a science without a subject. 

4 comments:

  1. "...And how does Birch respond when I document the fact that he’s untruthful? He responds untruthfully!"

    Ha!

    And just how does one explain that? Truthfully? :)

    I know of one example and it cost Him: Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
    Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
    Isa 53:8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people?
    Isa 53:9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
    Isa 53:10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.


    I, for one, am so thankful for that Truth! Without Him I would remain a liar at my death!

    Mercy mercy anyone?

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  3. Steve, I think the problem with many (obviously not all) Arminians is not so much that they are liars/dishonest or hypocritical, but that they aren't as intellectually able to remember and keep up with both their own arguments and behavior as well as those of Calvinists. So, they end up looking like they are dishonest and hypocritical when in reality they're only forgetful and unable to think deeply enough to see the inconsistency in their argumentation and behavior.

    I'm saying this as someone who thinks those same Arminians are often smarter than myself.

    Because of God's grace, dumb people like me can and do become Calvinists. So I'm not claiming high intelligence is a prerequisite for becoming a Calvinist.

    Nevertheless, I suspect (and get the sense) that Christians of higher than average intelligence tend to become Calvinists precisely because they can see the Biblical, theological, logical and philosophical problems with Arminian-like theologies.

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  4. Steve, I think the problem with many (obviously not all) Arminians is not so much that they are liars/dishonest or hypocritical, but that they aren't as intellectually able to remember and keep up with both their own arguments and behavior as well as those of Calvinists.

    Assuming your assessment is accurate, all that proves is that arminians have an awful lack of humility in admitting when they've screwed up. One way or the other, they have an ethical problem.

    Nevertheless, I suspect (and get the sense) that Christians of higher than average intelligence tend to become Calvinists precisely because they can see the Biblical, theological, logical and philosophical problems with Arminian-like theologies.

    Again, assuming this is true, it would still be incumbent upon arminians to recognize your suggested lower IQs in engaging this subject rather than running for the cover of double standards.

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