The last few BLOGS we have been looking at some writings of William Cunningham taken from his Historical Theology. What we have seen might be confusing to some, but when understood it should be seen as a severe warning to all within the visible Church today. Regardless of the theological umbrella that one holds on to, underneath that umbrella may be a person that truly denies the Christian faith. In other words, as we have seen, James Arminius stands at the head of Arminian teaching by name. However, in reality he taught nothing new in the history of Christendom but simply set out one system of thought that was opposed to certain teachings of John Calvin who also systematized a certain theology that was also not new in the history of the Church. It is true that some deviated from Calvin fairly quickly, but it is also true that many deviated from Arminius almost immediately and took the theology that bore his name deep into heresy. Regardless of what one thinks of Arminius, his followers left Christian theology while still bearing his name. What this means for people today is that they must begin to examine their own theology and the theology of others with new eyes. It is not enough to say that a person is a Calvinist or an Arminian and therefore the person must be a brother or a sister. It is not enough to carry a theological name from history as those names were abused in history and now today as well.
The followers of Arminius very quickly began to corrupt and even to deny the doctrines of original sin, of the grace of the Spirit in regeneration and conversion and even justification by the righteousness of Christ alone. They corrupted the doctrine of the atonement in denying the substitutionary aspect of the atonement as well as Christ satisfying the wrath of the Father. Some spoke very lightly and perhaps denied the Trinity and the deity of Christ. Cunningham says that something like this has been “exhibited by most writers who have passed under the designation of Arminius, except the Wesleyan Methodist.” Since Cunningham’s work was published in 1880, undoubtedly he would include the Methodists in his assessment as those who have fallen into that now. He says that the Arminian theology tends to imbibe either more truth or more error and to lean either toward Calvinism or Pelagianism. He continues on to say that “Pelagian Arminianism is more consistent with itself than Arminianism in its more evangelical forms; and there is a strong tendency in systems of doctrine to develop their true nature and bearings fully and consistently. Socinianism, indeed, is more consistent than either of them.”
Could it be that this is what happened within the SBC? Arminian theology became the prevailing doctrine and then it began to seek consistency within itself? Could it be that the liberalism and the Pelagianism that was so rampant within the SBC a few years ago was the fruit of Arminianism logically and consistently applied? We can use Clark Pinnock as an example. He was a firm Calvinist twenty years or so ago. He turned and became Arminian and then went down from there. He is now at best involved in Open Theism and is really denying the truths of the Christian faith. We have also seen what happened to Lutheranism. It started off with Luther who was at least as Calvinistic as Calvin. His teachings were watered down to some degree by Melancthon and from there Lutheran theology has went on to become Arminian and then much of it is now either liberal or Pelagian. Let us not deceive ourselves about the importance of theology and the need to stand firm.
Cunningham goes on to say that the Pelagians of the fifth century did not set out a formal teaching that denied the divinity of Christ and the real atonement of Christ, but they simply omitted them. In leaving those teachings out or not stressing them they were presenting a teaching to men that they could save themselves. The Socinians came along and formally denied what the Pelagians had emphasized less and as such had set out. Notice the way that theology regresses when something is not taught and stressed. If something is not set out and strongly taught, but rather set aside or not emphasized, the next generation will formally set it aside. This is the great danger that the SBC is in right now as well as other denominations. Many are afraid of Calvinism, though some are afraid of it because of false representations, and so prefer to have it neutered. Many who hold to the title of Calvinists don’t want to offend so they go along with that program. Both sides of the issue, then, will carry the blame when the SBC slides further into Pelagianism in the future. It is not enough to be gracious and winsome in order to be accepted, one must stand firm for the truth of God and be able to wield the sword of the Spirit with precision.
If Cunningham was and is correct about what he was saying, then the conservative resurgence in the SBC is simply a momentary postponing of the inevitable march of Pelagiansim from its father of Arminianism. Resurgence from liberalism, Socianism and Pelagianism back to its original source will ultimately not work. If people who call themselves Reformed think that peace within the denomination is best for the denomination and the kingdom, future generations if not the present one will rise up and call them something other than blessed. The denomination will again take up its downward slide (if it ever really stopped) and simply continue to its demise. It may be that the SBC was never really changed at the core even though the leadership became more conservative. But again, if Cunningham is correct, it is not conservative leadership that makes the real difference for the long term, it is the theology that they hold. Are the leaders in the SBC Arminian as James Arminius was or Arminian like his followers were? Or could it be that the Arminianism of Arminius led to the Arminianism of his followers? Again we see that a theological designation as an umbrella is not enough. If Arminianism inevitably goes toward Calvinism or Pelagianism, then the rejection of Calvinism does not look good for the SBC.
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