Ancient Christian Witness

Eventhough alot of modern Arminians (what some might call popular Arminianism) don't believe in what is called "Total inability". Classical Arminians and Weslyian Arminians do, and this is what alot of Calvinists don't know when they talk about Arminianism. Many of them assume that Arminianism in general rejects "Total inability".





In this audio, the conservative Methodist scholar and associate pastor Dr. Vic Reasoner talks a little bit about the history of Arminianism (what some might call classical Arminianism) and it's close cousin "Weslyian Arminianism". He also lectures on the points where Weslyian Arminianism agree and disagree with Calvinism.
In the audio, you will hear him distance Arminianism from both Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism. In the western christian World, "Semi-Pelagianism" is seen as a bad thing, because of the local second council of Orange, (Eventhough it's not an Eucemenical Council) and this is one of the reasons why you will hear some Arminians talk against it. The other reason is because Calvinists will try to associate Arminianism with Pelagius or Semi-Pelagianism, and since "Semi-Pelagianism" is seen as the boogieman, there is a guilt by association. To be honest, it would be more accurate to call Arminianism "Semi-Augustinianism" for they embrace the free will views of Augustine's early years, but they also embrace the Total inability of Augustine's Later years.
Calvinism only embraces Augustine's later teachings.

So don't be offended when you hear "some" Arminians say bad things about Semi-Pelagianism. Protestantism in general comes from Roman Catholicism so it carries some of the same attitude and mood as Rome (on certain issues).



Play Part 1

Play Part 2




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