Arminianism

This is one of the famous protestant reformative movements of the Christian tradition that was found by Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609).  He was a Dutch reformer who came into religious prominence by the aid  of his historic supporters known as the “Remonstrant”.

Origin of the Group

            As a Christian protestant reformer, his teaching were based on the “Five Solea” of the reformation but were in various forms different to teachings of fellow protestants as Marthin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin and others.

            Historically, Jacobus Arminius was a scholar under Theodore Beza who was direct successor to John Calvin at the theological university of Geneva.  As a Dutch pastor and theologian, Jacobus Arminius began to reject the Calvinist thought of predestination but hold that election of believers by Yahweh is effected by the condition of faith through the believer's freewill.

            This conflict of Ideology to Calvinism attracted challenges from Calvinists but Arminius died before a national synod that is to address his proposal. His followers were not known by the name of Arminius but were identified as Remonstrants.  As Arminius died  before defending his proposal at the Holand's state General's request for a 14 pages document of his view, the Remonstrant responded to the call through the drafted five articles of Remonstrance.

            By this development, the supporters of Arminius were subjected to humiliation and persecution by Calvinists who occupied dominant offices in the state.  By this event, Maurice of Nassau systematically effected removal of Arminian magistrates from office and convoked a national synod at Dordrecht which was primarily attended by Calvinists alone who passed a decree condemning Arminianism as heretic.

            Part of the publications of the Synod of Dort became the Five Points of Calvinism which were in response to the Five Points of Remonstrance (Arminians).

            The outcome of the synod became unfavourable to the Arminians as they were subjected to removal from office, imprisonment, banishment etc.  This maltreatment of the Arminians continued till twelve years when the nation of Holland officially recognized Arminianism as a state religion and were protected for protesting against some irregularities in the church.

            The religious animosity between Arminians and Calvinists continued as both groups divided many protestant dominations while some of the denominations shared thesis from both parties.

            Some of the strong protestant denomination that lean upon Arminianism in concept are the Methodism, Freewill Baptists, General Baptists, the Salvation Army, Conservative Mennonites, Old Order Mennonities, Church of Nazarene, the Seventh day-Adventist church, Amesh and Charismatic.

            Equally, the protestant denominations that lean upon Calvinism are termed as the Reformed Churches and they include the Particular Baptists, Reformed Baptists, Congregationalists and Presbyterians.

            The Lutheran Church has a developed view of election and salvation that is of different to both Arminianism and Calvinism.

Arguments on Soteriology

            There are varieties of Arminian denominations but the prominent is referred as Classical Arminiansm and adherents term it as the Reformed Aminianism. This group was grounded from the direct theology of Jacobus Arminius.

            Classical Arminianism is maintained by some of the Remonstrants and it serves as the root of Arminianism.

            The heated argument between Calvinism and Arminianism over doctrinal practices or soteriology influenced the operations of many protestant reformation churches.

            One of the churches affected by the argument is the General Baptists which gave rise to confessions that were of Arminianism while the Particular Baptists were more of reformed or Calvinist of the Presbyterians and Independents.

The debate equally occurred between John Wesley and his associate George Whiteheld.  The issue of Arminian and Calvinian different soteriologies became a heated debate amongst the protestant movements.

The Calvinists insist that signs of election must be sought before evangelization of the unbeliever to take place and that the  eternally damned have no obligation to repent and belief.

The Calvinists accuse the Arminians of practicing “Pelagianism” (Movement that reject the doctrine of original sin on grounds of moral accountability).

Calvinists and Aminians share same belief over the doctrine of Total Depravity but only differ on how Yahweh remedies the human downfall.

Both agree on the doctrine of substitution and effect of atonement.  Some Arminians accept that the substitution was penal sanctification for all of the elect while some Weslyan Arminians hold that the substitution was governmental.

Areas of difference between both movements are on nature of election.  The Arminians hold that election to eternal salvation has the condition of faith attached while the Calvinists hold to the unconditioned election. While Arminians hold that believers owe to their faith, the Calvinists hold that believers owe their faith to their election.

Another area of difference is about the nature of Grace, Arminians hold that Yahweh restore freewill relating to salvation and each individual is capable to accept the call to salvation through faith or to resist it.  The Calvinists hold to the contrary that Yahweh's grace that enable salvation is given only to the elect and irresistibly led to salvation.

Both movement disagree to the extend of atonement.  Arminians hold to the universally method of atonement (atonement for all mankind) while the Calvinists hold that atonement is limited to the extend of the elect only in what is termed as “Particular Redemption” in some quoters of Calvinists.

Another major point of argument is on the perseverance of faith.  The Arminians hold that salvation and eternal life is secured in Yahoshea Meshiyach and protected from all external forces but is condition that the adherent must anchor to the saviour and such state can be lost through apostasy.  The Calvinists hold to the perseverance of the saints.  By this thesis, Yahweh choose for himself those to save and he actually paid for their sins and secures them against apostasy. 

Major Subjects of the Sect

Most Arminians focus on main three subjects as the Human Freewill, Yahweh's sovereignty and his fore knowledge and they hold to these three points:-

-           That human freewill is limited by original sin through Yahweh's prevenient grace which restores to humanity the ability to accept salvation.

-           That Yahweh purposely exercises his sovereignty in ways that do not illustrate its extend.

-           That Yahweh's foreknowledge of the future is exhaustive and complete. That Yahweh does not determine the future, but he does know it.  Yahweh's certainty and human contingency are compatible.

Observation and Summary

Armenian school of thought is very influential in the family of protestant movement in Christianity. It is one of the major ways in which millions of humans seek for Yahoshea and his way.

It is equally seen by its adherents as the ancient path laid by Yahoshea and adopted by his early apostles.

Truly, the arguments raised by various arms of protestant reformers were based on minor religious issues or sentiments that are insignificant to the real expectations of a protestant to the Harlot Church that blocked the holy way and usurped the things of Yahweh.

The protestants departed from the path laid by Yahoshea Meshiyach and hold to the way of Roman and Greek churches but argue on insignificant dogmas.

Soteriology or holy tradition that is departed from the Yahweh's laid path that he handed to the Hebrew patriarchs remain insignificant, totally confusing and deceptive to those that profess or believe them.

Of what value is the soteriology that took to the way of heathen Greeks and Romans? What shall be the benefit of those that obey the way of man and reject the ordinances of Yahweh?

Salvation came through the Hebrews and then to the Greek, but it is deceptive to conclude that salvation is based on Greek acts, philosophies or decrees that is witnessed in Christianity.

All vital doctrines that acted as cornerstone to Yahosheanism were replaced by Roman theologians and monarchs to develop Christianity.  Therefore, a real protestant must disagree on all heathen thoughts that were made part of the Christendom than debating on some flimpsy and irrelevant issues.

For a protestant movement to mean its name or identity, it must hold to the Hebrew practices that were held by Yahoshea Meshiaych and his apostles. Those points include the usage of the holy names of Yahweh and Yahoshea Meshiyach in their activities or operations.

The movement must of certainty make Sabbath observation its major religious pillar.  The body must be able to answer all necessary questions that arises in regards to the personage of the comforter.  The body must adopt all practices of Hebrew religious traditions that were observed by Yahoshea and his apostolic assembly.

Since the Arminianism and other protestant reformers departed from those vital points of Yahosheanism, they are totally wrong in their claims to have been the regenerated assembly of Yahoshea or claim of his succession.

Therefore debates of salvation by faith or works is viewed as a mere dust while ignoring the stones that are stuffed in the eyes of the religious men.  As Arminianism is never Yahosheanism, it cannot serve as a relevant community to answer about Yahweh's position over elects and the future of the entire humanity.

Such answers are reserved for Yahosheans who will be led by the appointed comforter but not through scholarly researchers, thesis and schisms.