Do Arminians believe in the sovereignty of God? If one has only ever read Calvinistic books, the answer would seem to be a no-brainer, for according to most Calvinists, an Arminian is by definition someone who denies God’s sovereignty. For example, notable Calvinist exponent Edwin H. Palmer (1922 – 1980) explicitly declared that “the Arminian denies the sovereignty of God”.1
Funny though it may seem, there are even those who reject the tenets of Calvinism, yet try and take a middle road between Calvinism and Arminianism. These so-called ‘non-Calvinists’ are usually known by the maxim, “I am neither a Calvinist nor an Arminian, but simply a Bible-believer.’ I should know; I used to be one.
Anyhow, these non-Calvinists (who for the most part seem to be nothing more than un-informed Arminians) will sometimes fall into the belief that Arminianism, by definition, entails the denial of God’s sovereignty. Even the ‘Twentieth-Century Prophet,’ A. W. Tozer fell into this error, saying:
“ANOTHER real problem created by the doctrine of the divine sovereignty has to do with the will of man. If God rules His universe by His sovereign decrees, how is it possible for man to exercise free choice? And if he cannot exercise freedom of choice, how can he be held responsible for his conduct? Is he not a mere puppet whose actions are determined by a behind-the-scenes God who pulls the strings as it pleases Him?
The attempt to answer these questions has divided the Christian church neatly into two camps which have borne the names of two distinguished theologians, Jacobus Arminius and John Calvin. Most Christians are content to get into one camp or the other and deny either sovereignty to God or free will to man.” (Bold emphasis added) 2
The implications are clear: Tozer is saying, among other things, that Arminians deny the sovereignty of God.
Is it, however, accurate to say that Arminians deny the sovereignty of God? It is my contention that there are only two types of people who could make such a claim: those who have no idea about the issue, and those who are dishonest about the issue.
Contrary to the charges, Arminian theology strongly affirms the sovereignty of God in all things. Arminian scholar Roger Olson3 writes,
“CLASSICAL Arminianism goes far beyond belief in general providence to include affirmation of God’s intimate and direct involvement in every event of nature and history. The only thing the Arminian view of God’s sovereignty necessarily excludes is God’s authorship of sin and evil. Faithful followers of Arminius have always believed that God governs the entire universe and all of history. Nothing at all can happen without God’s permission, and many things are specifically and directly controlled and caused by God. Even sin and evil do not escape God’s providential governance in classical Arminian theology. God permits and limits them without willing or causing them.” 4
The point of difference between Calvinism and Arminianism is the definition of sovereignty. On the Calvinistic view, sovereignty means meticulous control (i.e., theological determinism),5 while on the Arminian view, God’s sovereignty necessarily means His complete freedom and authority (or right) to act any way He so wills. On this view, God certainly has the freedom and authority to exercise meticulous control over every minute detail (though the Arminian can’t see how this doesn’t necessitate God’s authorship of sin), but He also has the freedom and authority to not exercise meticulous control. For the Arminian, if God chooses to not exercise meticulous control, that decision is itself a sovereign decision. As (Arminian) apologist J. P. Holding writes,
“SOME Calvinist commentators point to various passages of specific events such as the selling of Joseph into slavery (Gen. 45-50), the crucifixion of Christ (Acts 2:23), and the military actions of the Assyrians (Is. 10). And they are not wrong to do so. Yet one cannot falsely generalize from these particulars and assume that God chooses to exercise His right of sovereignty in the same way for things like the moving of a finger. Perhaps He does, but perhaps He does not; perhaps He does at some times, but not at others.
Yet to suggest such a thing hardly removes any sovereignty from God, for a simple reason that I have yet to see dealt with by a Calvinist commentator (though I may see it in the future): The decision to do nothing is itself a sovereign decision.” 6
Thus, the Arminian concludes that even if God decides to do nothing in a given scenario, that decision is an exercise of, rather than an abdication of, His sovereignty. Arminian theologians Jerry Walls and Joseph Dongell write,
“NOTE that God is no less sovereign in a world where he chooses to grant his creatures libertarian freedom than he is in a world where he determines everything. Sovereignty cannot simply be equated with meticulous control. Rather, sovereignty is the freedom to choose as one will and to accomplish one’s purposes. If God chooses to create people who are free and to accomplish his purposes through their undetermined choices, it is his sovereign right to do so. Less control is not the same as less sovereignty if God chooses to have less control. A perfectly good and wise God will exercise just the amount of control appropriate for the sort of world he chooses to create.” 7
This view is described in terms of ‘divine self-limitation’:
“THE main alternative to this [i.e., Calvinism’s determinism] strong doctrine of God’s sovereignty is divine self-limitation. First, let it be clearly understood that those who appeal to divine self-limitation and passive permission as the explanation for sin and evil in the omnipotent, creator God’s world do not say God never manipulates historical circumstances to bring about his will. What God never does is cause evil. God may and no doubt sometimes does bring about some event by placing people in circumstances where he knows what they will freely do because he needs them to do that for his plan to be fulfilled. Such seemed to be the case with Jesus’ crucifixion.” 8
Thus, the Arminian contends that God “could exercise deterministic control, but he has chosen not to do so.”9 He limits Himself.
Olson further writes,
“DOES God govern by meticulously determining the entire course of every life, including moral choices and actions? Or does God allow humans a realm of freedom of choices and then responds by drawing them into his perfect plan for history’s consummation? Calvinists (and some other Christians) believe God’s control over human history is always already de facto – fully accomplished in a detailed and deterministic sense; that is, nothing can ever thwart the will of God. Arminians (and some other Christians) believe God’s control over human history is always already de jure – by right and power if not already completely exercised – but at present only partially de facto. God can and does exercise control, but not to the exclusion of human liberty and not in such a way as to make him the author of sin and evil. After all, Jesus taught his disciples to pray ‘Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven’ (Mt 6:10 RSV). If God’s sovereignty were already completely exercised de facto, why would anyone need to pray for God’s will to be done on earth? In that case, it would always already be done on earth. The distinction between God’s sovereignty de facto and de jure is required by the Lord’s Prayer.” 10
Olson further elaborates on the concept of sovereignty de facto and sovereignty de jure:
“EVANGELICAL theologian Stanley Grenz (1950 – 2005) offered a helpful distinction in God’s providence… It is the distinction between ‘sovereignty de facto’ and sovereignty de jure.’ According to Grenz, with whom I agree, due to God’s voluntary self-limitation he is now sovereign de jure (by right) but not yet sovereign de facto (in actuality). His sovereignty de facto is future. This reflects the biblical narrative in which Satan is the ‘god of this age’ (2 Cor. 4:4) (where ‘world’ clearly means ‘this present evil age’), and God will defeat him in the coming age to become ‘all in all’ (1 Cor. 15:28). The entirety of 1 Corinthians 15 can be interpreted in no other way; it assumes the distinction between God’s sovereign rule de jure now and de facto in the future. This is not to say, of course, that God is not actually sovereign now at all; it only says that God is allowing his sovereignty to be challenged and his will to be partially thwarted until then.” 11
In reading Dr. Olson’s chapter on Arminianism and the sovereignty of God in Arminian Theology, only one conclusion can be drawn: Arminians (that is, true Arminians, as opposed to semi-Pelagians) strongly affirm God’s sovereignty. In fact, their affirmation of, and beliefs about, God’s sovereignty are so strong so as to be scarcely weaker than that of Calvinists. The one exception is the issue of sin and evil, for Arminians believe that if God were to exercise meticulous control and cause everything, then He would be the author of sin (a Biblically untenable position). It is on this basis (and also on the basis that Arminians believe it is everywhere assumed in Scripture) that the Arminian posits the concept of divine self-limitation.
Quoting notable Arminians such as Arminius, Episcopius, Limborch, Wesley, Pope, et al., Olson is able to conclude that,
“FROM Arminius on, Arminians of the heart, as opposed to those Arminians who veered into deism or later liberal theology, heartily embraced and promoted the concurrence and governance of God, even in the details of history. But they sought to develop a concept of God’s sovereignty that would avoid making God the author of sin and evil, something they believed Calvinism could not do. This necessarily involved the idea of God’s voluntary self-limitation in relation to creation for the sake of human liberty. They believed that this does not detract from God’s sovereign oversight of human decisions and actions; thus God is able to make everything work together for the good in his plan and purpose. Above all, these Arminians affirmed that nothing can happen apart from God’s permission. God is sufficiently powerful to stop anything from happening, but he does not always exercise that power, because to do so would be to rob his free and rational creatures, created in his image, of their distinct reality and liberty… Every classical Arminian shares with every classical Calvinist the belief that God is in charge of and governs the entire creation, and will powerfully and perhaps unilaterally bring about the consummation of his plan.” 12
To sum up, I think it would be accurate to say that the Arminian view of God’s sovereignty is just as strong as the Calvinist view, with the one exception being the denial of meticulous determinism, for on the Arminian view, this would seem to necessitate God’s authorship of sin and evil. The Arminian thus sees God’s reputation and character as being at stake. In order to rescue God’s character, the Arminian, while holding to a strong view of sovereignty, will posit that God sovereignly limits Himself (He is thus exercising, and not abdicating, His sovereignty). This is seen in the distinction between sovereignty de facto and sovereignty de jure, where, as Olson says, at the present time, God is allowing His sovereignty to be challenged, and His will to be partially thwarted.
Notes
1 Palmer, Edwin The Five Points of Calvinism (2009: 27th Printing, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, MI), p. 85
2 Tozer, ‘The Sovereignty of God,’ in The Knowledge of the Holy
3 Dr. Olson is, in my opinion, one of the more articulate representatives of Arminianism in our day.
4 Olson, Roger Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities (2006: InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL), p. 116
5 Granted, there are some individual Calvinists who do not necessarily believe in divine determinism, but determinism appears to be the traditional view among Calvinists, being especially affirmed by John Calvin himself. See also Are Calvinists Determinists?
6 Holding, J. P., ‘On Unconditional Election’ (<http://www.tektonics.org/tulip/ulip.html>)
7 Walls, Jerry and Dongell, Joseph, Why I Am Not A Calvinist (2004: InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL), p. 145
8 Olson, Roger Against Calvinism (2011: Grand Rapids, MI), p. 99
9 Ibid., p. 101
10 Olson, Arminian Theology, pp. 117-118
11 Olson, Against Calvinism, p. 100
12 Olson, Arminian Theology, pp. 132, 135
ARMINIAN THEOLOGY 
Good stuff! Thanks for summarizing well the view that sovereignty does not require determinism. Nor does the Arminian view require that God never act in such a way that some things are determined.
I particularly think this captures it well: “Less control is not the same as less sovereignty if God chooses to have less control.”
I find that many in the “neither camp” don’t like the Arminian label because of its association with the “losing your salvation” doctrine despite the fact that Arminianism is a camp wide enough to allow people to accept this view as well as the “perseverance of the saints” view that entails eternal security.
You aired some opinions but where is the Scriptural support? Do Arminians accept full authority of the Bible and therefore only valid foundation of absolute truth? He sustains all things (Heb. 1:3) and in Him all things hold together (Col. 1:17) that is always and at all times. You cannot imagine IF He would ever let things go on their own accord in the universe much less expel anything from the domain of His power, there is no life outside of Him or order outside of His control.
The purpose of this post was not so much to defend the Arminian view of divine sovereignty as it was to correct the oft-repeated charge that Arminians deny the sovereignty of God.
There is a difference between posting a brief overview showing that Arminianism affirms divine sovereignty and actually providing a full exposition and defense of same.
Regards,
As a Calvanist I would have to disagree with your statement, “On the Calvinistic view, sovereignty means meticulous control (i.e., theological determinism)”. Sure there are determinists in the camp, but its a false accudation to say all Calvanist are. Like Ando stated, the article has a gross misrepresentation of Calvanist in total.
See https://arminiantheologyblog.wordpress.com/2012/08/12/are-calvinists-determinists/
Interesting article! I need to get Olson’s systematic theology. Indeed, Arminians affirm the Sovereignty of God. As a Calvinist I feel that a robust Arminian perspective with a strong sense of God’s sovereignty may indeed be superior to some of the overly deterministic teachings presented by some adherents of reformed theology. Their is a distinction, however, is the Calvinist and Arminian perspectives on God’s Sovereignty.
I think the Calvinist view of sovereignty is a bit misrepresented in this article. The author states that Calvinist is deterministic. If he means by this that Calvinist believes God determines who to elect and who not to elect, he is correct. If he means that God has everything under his ultimate control, he is still correct. If he means, however, that human beings have no freedom given to them, he is going to far. A healthy understanding of Calvinism will affirm that human actions indeed are important and have real value.
The question of evil is an notoriously hard one to answer for Christians to answer, and particularly for Calvinists. This article, however, seems to leave Arminianism exposed to the same problem. If God is able to stop all things from happening yet doesn’t do so out of respect for human freedom (as the article suggests), then why doesn’t God stop evil actions which destroy human freedom?
Hi Ando,
You said:
I disagree. The view of universal, Divine causal determinism is quite a commonly held belief among Calvinists, and as such, it is not a misrepresentation to say that the Calvinistic view of sovereignty is meticulous determinism. In Footnote #5, I did acknowledge that there are some individual Calvinists that do not necessarily subscribe to determinism, but it (determinism) is hardly a ‘fringe view’ among Calvinists, as it is affirmed by some of the major players of Calvinism, i.e., Calvin, Warfield, Boettner, Palmer, Sproul Jr., Helseth, etc. See also Are Calvinists Determinists?
Indeed, the view of meticulous determinism is even seen as a necessary doctrine by high-profile Calvinists (such as Calvin, Feinberg, Boettner, White, etc.), as they see this as the only way that God can have infallible foreknowledge (i.e., foreknowledge implies determinism).
Again, I must say, if by deterministic you mean God is the one who elects, you are correct. If you mean God has everything under his control, you are still correct. If, however, you mean we have no freedom, you have misrepresented the Calvinist (Biblical) view.
And again I will refer you to Are Calvinist’s Determinists? which documents the Calvinistic view.
You misrepresent the Calvinist view over and over again. I’ve been on this blog for a few months now and you consistently cherry pick the most controversial and divisive statements. Today’s post from the OPC is a good example, as was your last post about 6 point Calvinists burning heretics. This is hurtful and destructive behavior.
All I ask is that you actually demonstrate these alleged misrepresentations, rather than simply assert that they exist. If I have indeed made them “over and over again”, this shouldn’t be hard.
Re: the quote from the OPC. As you will see, I offered no commentary on this quote, so it’s hard to see where the misrepresentation lies.
Re: the ‘Six-Point Calvinist’ post. Did you read the part where I said, “Just a little light-hearted humour”? The post obviously is not meant to be taken seriously. By the way, I originally got the image from a Calvinist who could obviously see the funny side.
“Anyhow, these non-Calvinists (who for the most part seem to be nothing more than un-informed Arminians)”
To an Arminian, everything looks like a hammer. To a Calvinist, everything looks like a nail. There is a wide spectrum of other theologies out there. Don’t pigeon hole Christians into two camps.
Hi Mike,
I’m well aware that there is a wide spectrum of beliefs. All I mean when I say that ‘non-Calvinists’ are for the most part un-informed Arminians is that their beliefs (more often than not) tend to be perfectly aligned with Arminianism. There’s no attempt to pigeon-hole Christians into only two camps.
GO BACK AND READ TOZER’S QUOTE AGAIN. YOU HAVE SPUN IT TO SUIT YOUR OWN NOTION. I HAVE READ TOZER FOR 50 YEARS AND YOUR TAKE IS REALLY DISTORTED,
Well if you’ve been reading Tozer for 50 years, it shouldn’t be difficult for you to see that my “take” isn’t distorted at all.
Tozer is comparing two theological systems. I’ll even spell it out for you: the theological camp that has borne Arminius’ name is Arminianism, and the one that has borne Calvin’s name is Calvinism. According to Tozer (as quoted), the theological camp that has borne Arminius’ name (Arminianism) denies sovereignty to God.
It is therefore perfectly valid to use Tozer’s quote.
“Funny though it may seem, there are even those who reject the tenets of Calvinism, yet try and take a middle road between Calvinism and Arminianism. These so-called ‘non-Calvinists’ are usually known by the maxim, “I am neither a Calvinist nor an Arminian, but simply a Bible-believer.’ I should know; I used to be one.
Anyhow, these non-Calvinists (who for the most part seem to be nothing more than un-informed Arminians) will sometimes fall into the belief that Arminianism, by definition, entails the denial of God’s sovereignty”
The idea of the statement above is a lie, period. To say that as a Christian who has no clue of those two men have to be in one of there camps as if the Holy Spirit only worked in those two is offensive and unBiblical. A Bible believer who only adheres to the Holy Scripture interpretation will believe that God is in control and at the same time we have a choice. Both are taught in the Bible and to say you have to take one position over the other is ridicules. No wonder I avoid those two men’s theology like a plague, all it does is divide the body of Christ and they are paying for that division as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:11-12. And those who continue to bring divisions will answer to Jesus Christ at His coming, that you better be sure about.
I also find it offensive and unbiblical to choose between two foolish camps. These are mere human men’s ideas and they are not God’s because it is causing division. God is not the author or confusion (1 Cor 14:33). Are they mentioned in Scriptures that we are to choose Calvinist or Arminian? Paul or Apollos? How it must grieve God’s heart. We are wasting our time which such arguments while the lost in the world are dying.
I recently come across this teaching between the two in my Theology study. Let me tell you that I am grieved in my heart because I was made known that God predestined those who are saved and those who would not be saved. I was horrified and am still horrified and upset about it because of all those years of loving God with all my heart and trying to live and do according to His Will are now a dark cloud of confusion is covering me.
I am in a mode now where I want God to tell me now whether I am in that group of predestined people of his choice or not. I want to know now if I am, I will continue my love and keep my relationship with Him. But if he has not predestined me, then what shall I do? Why should I bother? I don’t think I should waste my time, should I? Can you see the DANGER that this view has done to my head? I am offended by this (Matt 18:6). Do I have a choice? Yes, this is a free will choice that I chose Christ, but if predestined is the answer, why did He ask me to choose Him, to take up my cross and follow Him?
I reach out and try and obey “The Great Commission” to make disciples, to bring the lost, to evangelize, to tell others the Gospel, but do you think I should tell them that, “Oh wait, I am not sure if God has predestined you or not?” Or, just talk about salvation and don’t encourage people to repent and be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit etc… for fear that God has not predestined them? Does this make any sense? or am I becoming nonsense?
I am not that well academically, but I find the Word of God is enough go by than adopting some mere men’s ideas. At the end of it all, Calvin or Arminian will not stand before God to answer for me on that Judgement Day, or is God going to use these two theories to determine my right standing with Him? Is so then why should I bother to read the Bible then?
Sorry if this doesn’t make sense or offend anybody.
Blessings!
Peta Ireland: “I was horrified and am still horrified and upset about it because of all those years of loving God with all my heart and trying to live and do according to His Will are now a dark cloud of confusion is covering me.”
Do not be disheartened because God chooses some and not others. His choice is based on ours. The Lord alone sees the heart and He even sees it before we are made. God knows everyone who He is going to create with their decision in regards to saying yes to Jesus or saying no to Him.
The way to know if you belong to Christ is if your life has been changed when you believed in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
1 John 3:6-8 “6 No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous. 8 The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
The reason why you no longer live a lifestyle of sin is that you are a new person, not being the same one any longer.
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!”
The evidence that you have the Holy Spirit is if you are being made into the image of Christ. Do you desire to obey the Lord Jesus and want to do His will? Do you have a desire to read the Bible and pray? If the answer is yes, it is because you do have the Holy Spirit. You see, no one seeks after God, only God’s Spirit in a person is the factor that makes us love the things of the Lord.
Romans 3:10-12 “10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
If you didn’t have the Holy Spirit, you would have abandoned the Lord a long time ago.
In Philippians 1:5-6 it says, “5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
The moment you gave your life to Jesus Christ and received the Holy Spirit, God started a work in you, to make you into the image of Jesus. God will make sure to complete the work He started in your life.
If a person abandons Jesus, that means that they were never saved in the first place. Read 1 John 2:19.
1 John 2:19 “They went out from us, but they did not belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But their departure made it clear that none of them belonged to us.”
You know something Peta, your concern for being right with God shows me that you indeed have God in your heart, or else you wouldn’t care. For example. Would a person look for his car keys if he didn’t own a car? Of course not, he wouldn’t have lost the key since he never own a car. In the same way, if you didn’t have the Holy Spirit, you wouldn’t care if He would have left you or not (even though the Holy Spirit doesn’t leave a Christian).
That is why Calvinism and Arminianism are so dangerous. Just read God’s Word without any ism and you will hear from the Lord.
I want to encourage you today to continue in your walk with the Lord and fight the good fight of the faith. If you feel down, ask the Lord for strength and He will empower your faith to move forward in accomplishing His will.
If you have any other concerns, Peta, you can visit me and ask me any questions at my blog called: Spiritualminefield.wordpress.com. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Brother SpanairdVIII,
Thank you so much for the encouragement. I totally agree and thank you for the Scriptures quoted. I love God’s Word and I totally believe I have received the gift of God’s Holy Spirit or otherwise I wouldn’t be this sensitive to the things that concerns Him too.
I just wanted people to know how issues like these can really mess up the vulnerable and the weak, even those who are struggling with the Christian life. But, thank you for the encouragement and how much you care for me and my relationship with my God.
I love Him, and I know He understands how I feel. We also need to pray for both parties because, if we really call ourselves Christian (Christ within), wouldn’t our focus be Christ. Things are getting out of hand!
Anyhow, I so appreciate your support and thank you for passing me your account too. May the dear Lord bless you and make His face shine upon you too.
Blessings.
Simply put, Calvinists do not see the love of God in His sovereignty to allow free will to receive Him or to reject Him.
Why would Jesus have preached to all believers the Great Commission to go out into the world to preach the Gospel? I’m sorry, but Arrninianism is of God; Calvinism I am afraid is of His opposition, the devil.
I left a Reformed Presbyterian Church because I could not reconcile, with God as my Counselor, the Holiness of Calvinism. Calvinism clearly is an aberration from His Holiness. I thank almighty God for helping me to see righteous His decision for me. Keep thinking and praying on this . . . uppermost with God’s counsel.
I appreciate your remarks. I used to subscribe to Calvinistic doctrines until God opened my eyes to the truth of His word. I discovered that the God of Calvinism is different from the one revealed in Scripture. The God of the Bible desires all men to be saved but the Calvinism God discriminates between men crested in God’s image!