In response to my and others’ challenges to explain in what sense he and other authors of Whosoever Will are not Arminians Steve Lemke posted a message about “The Middle Way” (allegedly between Arminianism and Calvinism) at:
http://sbctoday.com/2011/06/07/the-middle-way/
You’ll have to read that to understand my response.
Basically, Lemke’s argument seems to me (unless I am missing something) to amount to me saying “I am not a Protestant because some Protestants believe in infant baptism.” Who would take that seriously?
None of the things Lemke lists are essential to Arminianism. Also, apparently he does not understand the governmental theory of the atonement which IS a substitutionary theory of the atonement. It may not be penal substitution, but the BF&M doesn’t state “penal substitution.” Anyway, not all Arminians reject penal substitution. John Wesley didn’t!
IMHO, Lemke still has not explained one point of real disagreement with classical Arminian theology. He has stated some disagreements with SOME Arminians. But Arminianism is not “what all Arminians believe about everything.” It is a certain view of soteriology. I find the views reflected in Whosoever Will thoroughly consistent with classical Arminianism. I hesitate to say this lest I sound boastful, but I ought to know.
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