What is the difference between Calvinism and Armenianism?

Answer 1

An Armenian is someone who is born in Armenia. A Calvinist can be born anywhere. An Arminian, however, is someone who agrees with the ideas of Jacobus Arminius (Latinized name of Jakob Hermandszoon, 1560–1609), a Dutch Protestant theologian, who rejected the Calvinist doctrine of predestination. Both Arminians and Calvinists agree that Salvation is only possible by the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. That is, they both agree that man cannot save himself. They also both believe in the necessity for the grace of God to save a sinner. Both Arminians and Calvinists believe that God gives "common grace", also referred to as "Prevenient" grace. But they disagree whether this is sufficient for the salvation of a sinner. The Arminian claims that it is, whereas the Calvinist says that special grace from God is needed for the sinner to come to salvation. Calvinists are often depicted as fatalists since they believe in Predestination. Arminians also believe in Predestination, but Arminians regard God's fore-knowledge as the basis for Predestination. The Calvinist, however regards that Predestination is based on the election and grace of God. They refer to this saving grace as "Irresistible" grace which makes God's Predestination possible. Arminians believe that people are free to choose. It is this ability that Arminian says must be exercised in order to receive Christ. But the Calvinist also says that people must choose to receive Christ but they deny that people are "free" to choose. They regard the soul of a person as captive to sin and therefore not only is a person not free to choose Christ, they need a miracle of grace to even want to make the choice. Calvinism is summed up by the acronym TULIP. These are generally known as the "Five Points of Calvinism". Arminianism also has 5 points, which counter the Five Points of Calvinism- 1.) God has decreed to save through Jesus Christ those of the fallen and sinful race who through the grace of the Holy Spirit believe in him, but leaves in sin the incorrigible and unbelieving. (In other words predestination is said to be conditioned by God’s foreknowledge of who would respond to the gospel.) 2.) Christ died for all men (not just for the elect), but no one except the believer has remission of sin. 3.) Man can neither of himself nor of his free will do anything truly good until he is born again of God, in Christ, through the Holy Spirit. (Though accused of such, Arminius and his followers were not Pelagians.) 4.) All good deeds or movements in the regenerate must be ascribed to the grace of God but his grace in not irresistible. 5.) Those who are incorporated into Christ by a true faith have power given them through the assisting grace of the Holy Spirit to persevere in the faith, but it is possible for a believer to fall from grace. Most of the 16th century Reformers were influenced by Calvin (who was in turn influenced by the 5th century theologian, Augustine). The Wesleyan revivals of the 18th century were undergirded by Arminianism. Both views have been represented by preachers who were passionate about saving souls and reforming society. John Wesley, Billy Graham and Winkie Pratney were, and are, staunchly Arminian. Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, John Piper, and Mark Driscoll were, and are, staunchly Calvinistic evangelists. Dr. Andrew Corbett

Answer 2

This is how it's looked at today within contemporary Christianity: Calvinism is the belief that the Christian does not choose to be saved by his own power of will, but that God's predestined grace works in him the ability to believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. Arminianism is the belief that the sinner can cooperate with God by choosing to repent and receive Jesus' offer of salvation. To some, these distinctions in how God's grace actually operates on the believer's heart are very important. Others see it as splitting theological hairs. In practice, Protestant denominations today lean one way or the other. Some mainline Protestant churches are Calvinistic; while most Evangelical churches lean towards Arminianism. Statements like "make a decision for Christ" or "give your life to Jesus" show an Arminian bent. Interestingly enough, both John Calvin and Jacob Arminius agreed that man was too sinful and powerless to make any movement toward faith in Christ on his own free will, but is absolutely dependent on the grace of God. Where exactly these two theologians differed is a little beyond me. Probably on predestination. I think that Arminius believed that one could lose his salvation by falling away from Christ, while Calvin believed in "once saved, always saved." These two differences in belief persist today. While historically, these two guys were closely allied in their beliefs, they have come to be seen as two opposite ends of a spectrum of salvation theology.

Answer 3

Big difference is in the view of the role that the human mind (in contrast to the involvement of God the Holy Spirit) has when someone believes in the gospel. Calvinism: in the end, it is really the Holy Spirit who compels someone to believe. Arminianism: in the end, belief is a human decision (even if the process is enabled by the Holy Spirit).