Myth #6 in Roger Olson\u2019s book, Arminian Theology<\/em>, is another oft-repeated accusation against Arminians: that Arminian theology is a human-centered theology with an optimistic anthropology. In fact, Olson argues, Arminian theology is every bit as God-intoxicated as Calvinist theology when it comes to the centrality of God\u2019s work in redemption. Myth #6 in Roger Olson\u2019s book, Arminian Theology, is another oft-repeated accusation against Arminians: that Arminian theology is a human-centered theology with an optimistic anthropology. In fact, Olson argues, Arminian theology is every bit as God-intoxicated as Calvinist theology when it comes to the centrality of God\u2019s work in redemption.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[476,1643,337],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-calvinism","category-theology"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nThe basic accusation, filtered through some inconsistent Arminians, revolves around two themes: (1) that humans are only \u201cdamaged goods\u201d rather than totally depraved [what I call comprehensive crackedness] and (2) the cross and gift of the Spirit renders all humans capable \u2014 but only as a result of grace, prevenient grace \u2014 of responding (or not rejecting) God\u2019s grace.
\nI hope you can dip into his quotations from Arminius: thorough view of depravity and the absolute need of grace. \u201cNo man believes in Christ except him who has been previously disposed and prepared by preventing or preceding grace\u201d (145).
\nHe raises the issue of Wesley\u2019s preference (at times) for \u201cdeprivation\u201d rather than \u201cdepravity,\u201d but he also has some quotations that make it very clear that Wesley didn\u2019t have a human-centered theology, but a theology rooted in grace.
\nHuman beings, then, in Arminian theology are simultaneously sinful and totally depraved and given, as a result of God\u2019s grace, prevenient grace in order to respond.
\nOlson contends Arminians believe that \u201cin redemption and creation, human beings are wholly dependent on God\u2019s sustaining and renewing power for anything good, including an exercise of good will toward God and acceptance of God\u2019s offer of salvation\u201d (141).
\nOlson contends that, because of God\u2019s prevenient grace, Arminians don\u2019t really believe in \u201cfree\u201d will but in a \u201cfreed\u201d will \u2014 that is a will that has been set free by grace (through cross, resurrection, Pentecost) so that it can respond.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"