Heresy?

One of the most fascinating areas of theology, at least to me, is soteriology, specifically the doctrine of Election. I was thrown head first into this doctrine about 2 years ago. The recent growth in Calvinistic Theology (aka Reformed Theology) has been astounding. Each of us depending on our church background have a preconceived idea of Calvinism or Arminianism. Just mentioning one of the words might bring up a certain image or feeling. You may find yourself automatically on the defensive, or you might identify with one and feel a sense of security (no pun intended). Either way, it's one of the dominant theological debates of our day. SBC seminaries are increasingly leaning toward the Reformed Tradition. In fact, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has been called "ground zero" for the neo-Calvinist movement. As seminary students graduate and begin to assimilating into churches, a growing percentage will bring Calvinism with them.

I consider this to be an in-house Christian issue. Both classical Arminianism and Calvinism are well within Christian orthodoxy. I echo Dr. Roger Olsin's statement that it's impossible for someone to be an Calminian (One who mixes both theology to form their own). I don't embrace extremes on either side. Both hyper- Arminianism and hyper-Calvinism are unbiblical and do damage to the Gospel.

There are a number of questions I've wrestled with. (1) If the Reformed version of election is true, and if we carry it to a logical conclusion, what does it look like for the individual in the Church? (2) Is some are chosen (the elect), doesn't that mean the rest are also chosen to be Damned? I've struggled with the notion that it is possible for one to accept predestination without double-predestination. Choosing one thing over the other is making a dicision with regard to both things, isn't it? (3) To what extent has God sent out His Grace to mankind? (4) Can the TULIP stand without all five points? (5) Is it possible to be a three point or a four point Calvinist? (6) Does free will exist or is every last thing in the universe predestined before the foundations of the earth to be a certain way?

I suppose this is an introduction to a series of writings that have been brewing on the inside of me for quite some time now. I hope to address each of these questions, and many more surrounding this subject. I would be out of place to label any of these points of view as heresy. For one, either of these points of views are NOT heresy. Second, Heresy is a BIG word and must be used sparingly, My aim here is to explore this subject and hopefully write about it soundly

--I will give you a spoiler..... I'm a Arminian--