I’ve been reading Jonathan Edwards and John Piper on the atonement lately.  Both (naturally because Piper emulates Edwards on most theological issues) highlight what has traditionally been called the “rectoral” dimension of the atonement.  That is, the atonement was primarily about preserving and demonstrating God’s moral governance of the world. Now, the irony is that this view of the atonement is traditionally associated with Arminianism.  (I have a chapter on that in my book Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities.)  In... Read more

Besides “community” there’s “love.”  I get so irritated by the ways in which the word is commonly used.  It is losing its meaning because of them. Here are a few examples from the town where I live.  Recently there’s been a trend of businesses putting up signs that say “We love our….”  A dry cleaner just two blocks from my house has a sign that says “We love our customers.”  Really?  Where’s the evidence of that?  They don’t even know... Read more

One of my pet peeves is how the media take good words and twist them out of all shape so that they are virtually meaningless.  One that comes to mind lately (as I’ll be preaching a seminary chapel sermon on it) is “community.”  We hear it every day.  It seems to be an ubiquitous ideal.  And the problem is, of course, it is a Christian ideal.  My friend and co-author Stan Grenz argued that it is “the” central unifying concept... Read more

I want to take a brief hiatus from posting so that everyone can read my essay about Arminianism is evangelical theology (immediately preceding post).  I would very much like to hear from some irenic and open-minded Calvinists (as opposed to ideologues) about it’s content and argument.  Of course, non-Calvinists responses are also welcome. Read more

  I apologize that some formatting may have been lost here–especially the blocking and indentation of lengthy quotes. Arminianism is Evangelical Theology Roger E. Olson             One of the most distressing criticisms of Arminian theology is that it is not evangelical.  One does not have to read far into modern Calvinist literature to find this either implied or explicitly stated.  One example is from influential Reformed theologian Michael Horton, editor of Modern Reformation magazine and one-time director of the Alliance... Read more

Obviously this debate between Calvinists and Arminians is never going to be resolved until heaven.  But SOME evangelical Calvinists and SOME evangelical Arminians regard the others as true evangelicals or at least true Christians (brothers and sisters in Christ). The problem is that especially Calvinists tend to misrepresent Arminian theology.  Too often they use language that is so misleading one has to wonder how they can think what they are doing has any integrity at all.  I admit that some... Read more

Several people have misinterpreted the analogy of the ship’s captain and the drowning man as if it is meant as a picture of a sinner and Jesus Christ in the event of salvation.  I suppose someone could use it that way, but that was not my intention.  Here is a common mistake when thinking about an analogy–assuming it to be an analogy to something else even when it is clearly stated what it is an analogy to. The story is... Read more

This is a follow up to my earlier response to Michael Horton’s comment about Arminianism in Christless Christianity and to his response here.  If you haven’t read those, this post may not make a lot of sense. Mike (we are on a first name basis) says in his book Christless Christianity that Arminianism holds that salvation is a cooperative effort of God and human beings (p. 44)  I objected in my last post here.  Arminianism does not hold that; no... Read more

My friend and brother in Christ Michael Horton has submitted a response to my complaint in my last post.  You should be able to read his response and my answer by looking at that post and then reading responses and my answers. Read more

For the most part I agree with Horton in Christless Christianity that American Christianity has lost the gospel.  I’m almost as discouraged as he is by what I hear and read from and about American churches and what they preach. It reminds me of something Wolfhart Pannenberg said to me and a group of people having lunch with him some years ago at Luther Theological Seminary.  He said “When I go to most churches and hear what is preached and... Read more