WHAT CALVINISTS AND ARMINIANS SHARE IN COMMON
Samuel Ling
Background: There is concern among some Chinese Christian leaders that the
increasing interest in Calvinism may be harmful to the unity of the church.
I wrote this memorandum to a Chinese church leader stressing the many points on which Calvinists and Arminians agree on, and share in common.
Friends, we have a lot in common, Calvinists and Arminians – those of us who
truly believe in the utmost inspiration and infallibility of the Bible, and in
the person and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. I would like to
bring the following thoughts to your attention, to stress our unity as we
discuss some of our differences.
We need to be honest as well as thorough in our statement of our commonalities,
as well as of our differences.
There are many, many points on which the majority of Calvinists and Arminians
agree on, or share in common.
Let me list thirteen which I am aware of:
1. WHOSOEVER WILL:
GENUINE CALL AND FREE OFFER OF THE GOSPEL
We agree that the gospel is God's call, invitation, command, and earnest appeal
to sinners to repent of his/her sin and to trust in the finished work of Jesus
Christ (his blood shed on the cross and his resurrection) for salvation.
To any who repent and believe, God genuinely offers salvation and eternal
life.
We may disagree about man's ability to respond to this gospel. But we agree that there is a genuine,
good-faith invitation in the gospel. All
of us should preach John 3:16 with no reservation.
2. JESUS THE ONLY SAVIOR
We agree that trusting in the substitutionary death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ is the only way through which sinners, dead in our sins, receive the
justification, sanctification and eternal life.
3. HOLY SPIRIT WORKS ON SINNERS
We agree that the Holy Spirit moves and illumines the sinner's heart and mind
with his power, working with the gospel of truth to convict sinners of truth.
We may disagree whether this work of the Holy Spirit can be resisted by the
free will (or moral agency) of man, or whether there is a total, radical
transformation in the sinner's life as a result of this work of the Holy
Spirit. But we do agree that we depend on the power of the Holy Spirit
for salvation.
4. CONVERSION HAS A BEGINNING
We agree that there is a beginning point of the new life in Christ (variously
called "conversion", "regeneration", "calling" or
"quickening", etc.), followed by a life time of growth in
sanctification, which is completed at death.
We may disagree whether we call this beginning point "regeneration,"
followed by faith; or we call the whole process "salvation" or
"union with Christ." But we do agree that we depend on the Holy
Spirit, and that there is some beginning point in our salvation/conversion.
5. REPENTANCE IS NECESSARY
We agree that sinners must repent of our sin for justification and
sanctification.
Some of us disagree as to when repentance should take place; whether it is
simultaneous with faith, prior to faith, or after faith. But we do agree that God calls sin sin
because he wants to forgive the sins of men and women who truly repent and
trust in Christ.
6. FREE CHOICES ARE REAL
We agree that man and woman make real, genuine choices from the will of man
every day. Augustine, Calvin as well as Arminius, Wesley all agree on
this.
Although we disagree on whether man can choose to do good after the Fall, we do
agree that the will of man is real, and does not diminish or disappear, after
the Fall, and as man considers and responds to the free offer of the gospel.
7. EVANGELISM IS A MUST
We agree that evangelism and missions, understood as the proclamation of the
truths of the gospel accompanied with deeds of mercy, are imperatives, not
options, in God's calling and plan for the church.
8. PRAYER: WE UTTERLY DEPEND ON GOD;
WORK: WE GIVE OUT UTMOST FOR GOD
We agree on the importance of prayer and total dependence on God for everything
we do, and we agree that Christians need to make choices and decisions and take
great initiative (gan jing) in ministry and outreach.
We may disagree on how to formulate this total dependence and initiative in
theological terms, and disagree on the relationship between the sovereignty of
God and the free will of man, but we do kneel down to pray, and get up and live
for Jesus with all our strength and enthusiasm!
9. WE PRAY FOR AND REJOICE OVER REVIVAL
We agree that the church sometimes experiences a special work and visitation of
the Holy Spirit which is commonly called "revival." We pray
for, and rejoice over these special moments in the life of the church.
We may disagree on exactly what a revival is; whether men can plan a revival;
what it is preceded by, and what follows it. But we all rejoice when the
Holy Spirit works to convert sinners and renew Christians by his power.
Whether we are Calvinists or Arminians, we Chinese Christians are the spiritual
descendants of several revival movements: the Reformation, Puritanism, Dutch
Pietism, GermanPietism, the Great Awakening (Wesley, Edwards, Whitefield), 2nd
Great Awakening, the revivals of Charles Finney and Dwight L. Moody, the
student missionary movement, the Welsh revival, and 20th century revival and
renewal movements.
10. HOLINESS
We agree that holiness is an imperative for all Christians, and that Christian
should struggle with his sin and make progress in sanctification.
We may disagree on what we call this: holiness, godliness, piety, etc., and may
disagree on what an ideal Christian state looks like. We use different
labels to describe the mature conditions of sanctification. But we agree that to love Christ, to totally
devote and consecrate ourselves to him, and to forsake sin, the devil and the
world are not options, but God's will for all Christians, all our lives.
11. GOD CHOSE US IN CHRIST
We all agree that God chose us in Christ.
We disagree as to whether this election is unconditional, whether this election is of individuals or of groups of people. But we do agree that election is a truth taught clearly in the Bible.
12. BIBLE THE FOUNDATION AND JUDGE OF DOCTRINE
All doctrinal formulations and debates must appeal to the Bible, and to
exposition of the Bible, as the supreme and final judge. We agree that
our understanding of the Bible is limited and open to revision and correction,
but have the hope of continually making progress as we search the whole counsel
of God revealed in His Word.
Surely there are many differences which we cannot ignore, and I am sure this is
why the committee is being formed. I thought this might be a gentle
reminder that this is an "in house" discussion. We are family,
not enemies. The real enemies are those who disagree
with any of the above, especially those who compromise on the authority of the
Bible as God's Word.
13. UNITY OF THE CHURCH
We agree that Christ prays for the unity of the church.
We disagree over how churches and denominations should be organized, whether
creeds are required of our pastors and teachers, and what are those doctrines
which all must agree upon in our churches and denominations. But we do
agree that all who trust and love Jesus and submit to the full authority of
Scripture are brothers and sisters
in Christ.
Samuel Ling
"We preach Christ crucified ... the power of God and the wisdom of God."
Redondo Beach, California
January 24, 2008