Calvinism vs. Ariminianism: Appreciating My Mentors

At different times in my Christian life and ministerial career I have been led of the Lord to sit under the teachings of two separate ministers. The first is an Englishman named Colin Urquart, who is solidly Calvinist in his theological beliefs. The second is an Englishman named David Pawson, a dyed in the wool Arminian. Both Calvinism and Arminianism have five points of doctrine, but the main and most basic difference between these two persuasions, according to John Wesley, is on the point of irresistible grace.

The Calvinists believe that God’s saving grace cannot be resisted by the human will. The Arminians believe that God’s saving grace can be resisted by the human will. Whereas I am inclined to believe the Arminian view, I hope with all of my heart that the Calvinist view is correct. In my personal experience I have discovered that both views are potentially true to one extent or another. In other words, I have found that, at times, I seem to have been capable of resisting God’s saving grace through my own rebellious human will. At other times I have discovered that I seem to have been incapable of resisting His grace through His divine intervention in my life. The source of this quandary could be a matter of semantics, or more specifically, a question of spiritual dynamics at play in my life as a Christian and in my human experience in general. Ultimately, however, neither the Calvinist view nor the Arminian view will be discovered as being accurate or inaccurate until we all stand before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ to be judged for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.

Whereas I hope that the Calvinist persuasion is correct, it would be extremely foolish on my part, and yours, dear reader, to discount the possibilities and probabilities of the Arminian persuasion being correct. The same could be said of the Calvinist persuasion, in that being under confident of our salvation in Christ could diminish our spiritual growth in the grace of God leading to spiritual discouragement and a legalistic approach to our salvation, resulting in self-righteous religion. Conversely, to be overconfident of our salvation in Christ could diminish our spiritual growth in the grace of God, leading Christian believers into a license to sin through unrighteous rebellion. I have found in my employment experience that both under-confidence and overconfidence have, at times, lead to humiliating and embarrassing errors. For me to be successful in my work as a professional television camera operator, it has been necessary to achieve a balance in my attitude between the two. In reality, a confident assurance of my abilities and a humble assessment of my potential for failure, has proven the best course of action for me to take.

At one time, I was given a vision from the Lord of a swinging pendulum. On one side of the pendulum was unrighteous rebellion leading to a license to sin, and on the other side was self-righteous religion leading to legalism in an attempt to deter sin. In the center, where the pendulum was beginning to totter and come to rest, was righteousness and deliverance from sin through a relationship and fellowship with Jesus Christ, the living Lord.

To be a disciple of Christ and a sheep of His pasture, given to Him by God and therefore incapable of being snatched out of His Father’s hands, requires three significant tell-tail signs. The first and foremost requirement is to be known by the Good Shepherd and to also know Him. The second and third requirements are to hear His voice and follow His lead. If this has been, is, and continues to be the pattern of our lives, then we can rest assured of our salvation in Christ. If however, this is not the pattern of our lives, then we must examine ourselves to see if we are still in faith. If we discover that we are not in faith, we must repent of our sin, have faith towards God, and be restored, renewed, and revived.

Regarding salvation, I have heard it said by a Calvinist preacher encouraging the concept of the “eternal security” of the Christian believer, “Born once, die twice, born twice die once.” This implies that all that is required to experience salvation in Christ is to have come to a place of faith in Christ at some point in one’s life, resulting in one’s rebirth in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is accomplished through believing in the name of Jesus and receiving Him as Savior and Lord.

“He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13

It must be noted however, that the word, “received” means, “to settle down into and be not removed from Christ.” Concerning our rebirth in Christ, Peter speaks of a present continuing process, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever.” (1 Peter 1:23). And Paul speaks of a future salvation. “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Romans 13:11

All of these scriptures point to the Arminian view of salvation in Christ, namely, that our salvation in Christ requires a beginning in Christ through faith, a continuing in Christ through faith, and a finishing in Christ through faith. Of course we must also understand and come to believe that, in keeping with the Calvinist view of sanctification, “Faithful is He that calls you who will also do it.” He will do it in us, to us, and through us, but not without our cooperation. Thus Paul’s exhortation, in keeping with the Arminian view, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who is working in you both to will and to do of his own good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12

While touring Northern Ireland as an itinerant minister in the early nineteen nineties, I kept coming across the books of Colin Urquart in the houses of fellow Christians where I was staying. As I read his books, I started feeling that he had something in his spirit that I desperately needed. After attending a meeting of his in Bangor, N. Ireland, I was deeply impressed of the Lord to leave the mission field and take my family to Horsham, East Sussex, England, and attend Kingdom Faith Bible College which he founded, and where he lived and taught. I did this for a semester and graduated with a certificate of completion for one of the many ministerial courses offered there. During that time, through his ministry, I came to a greater understanding of Christ’s accomplished work on the cross on our behalf and in our stead, as well as a greater revelation of what it meant to be “in Christ.”

After having returned to the U.S.A. I was working in television production for Turner Entertainment in the late nineteen nineties. At that time I was becoming interested in the International House of Prayer Ministries founded by Mike Bickle. One night I went to his ministry website, and as I researched it, I discovered a conference being advertised which was dealing with the subject of the end times. The keynote speaker for this ministry was a man named David Pawson. As I looked at a picture of him, and read about his ministry, the Lord spoke clearly to my spirit saying, “Go and hear him.” I signed up for the conference and booked a flight to Kansas City. For one week I sat under his ministry and every time I heard him teach, I received a confirmation from the Holy Spirit of the truth that he was speaking. In essence, everything that he said was exactly what the Lord had been saying to me throughout my entire Christian life and ministry. I bought four of his books and read them thoroughly again and again. My life and ministry have been greatly enriched by his teachings.

In conclusion let me say, I know in my heart of hearts through the witness of the Holy Spirit, and the faithfulness of God, that I have been saved, that I am being saved, and that I will be saved. I also know, through the exhortations of the Holy Scriptures, that I must “be careful if I think I stand lest I fall.” Regarding the different points of doctrine between Calvinism and Arminianism, let me say in agreement with the revealed Word of God, “Now, we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, we will know even as we are known.”

In honor of my two mentors, Colin Urquart, a Calvinist, and David Pawson, an Arminian, I would like to recommend two of their books for your edification. “The Truth That Makes You Free,” by Colin Urquart. (KingdomFaithMinistries.com), and “Once Saved Always Saved?” by David Pawson (DavidPawson. com). May the God of all wisdom and grace bless you as he has blessed me through both these great men of God and their respective ministries.