The Middle Ground: Living Between The Extremes

The Middle Ground

Living Between The Extremes

Arminianism, Calvinism, and the Truth.

Introduction

The issue of God's sovereignty is one of the foundational principles of the Christian life. Furthermore your view of salvation, redemption, sanctification, and God's sovereignty and grace will shape your view of every area of life and theology. It is in light of this stark reality that I have chosen to study and pen my thoughts on these issues. I have had countless people in my church and those I have met ask me my thoughts on Calvinism and Arminianism. I will never forget one phone call I received from a dear friend and church member. I was preparing for a youth service and he called and asked if I had a minuet, he had a “quick” question. He then proceeded to ask about my thoughts on Calvinism. After a quick chuckle I gave the most brief run through of my position.

After that call and few other casual conversations it became apparent to me that this should become one of my next writings. The answer to these questions is not a short one by any stretch of the imagination. It is hard for me to gravitate toward one extreme or another. As one of my mentors and former pastor told me that it is not either one or the other rather it is a both and situation. I tend to agree with certain points in both schools of thought, and I tend to disagree with about as many.

I realize because of the nature of my more moderate view, I will draw criticism from both sides of the issue. Nonetheless, I feel it important to set the record straight on my standpoint. Some say they are students of Calvin other of Arminius. I am neither a Calvinist nor am I an Armenian, I am a Christ follower. We live in a world of extremities. When a man runs of one side of a cliff his opponents will run off the other to prove a point. Which lives those of us who don't seek to take that deathly plunge with a choice to make. Are we going to follow suit or stay the course set before us. It is my desire to go back to scripture and find the truth. There is no need to reinvent a wheel that already has been working for centuries. 

I invite you to join me on my long journey as we look at the study of soteriology, theology dealing with salvation especially as effected by Jesus Christ. Let's think critically of both Calvinism and Arminianism and find where in the middle is the middle ground, the solid ground. Because I for one don't want to dive of a cliff. I seek to live in moderation in all aspects of my life, faith, and theology. Just as Paul told the church in Philippians 4:5 “let your moderation be know of all men” (KJV). Thank you for joining me as we discover the middle ground in or faith. May God bless you as you read and study with me.