Last time we continued the History and Theology strain of thought by starting to look at the thinking of John Owen on this issue. Owen was so upset at the bringing in of Arminian theology in his day that in 1642 he wrote a volume entitled A Display of Arminianism. He was convinced that Arminianism was not just a little different than the teaching of the church since the Reformation, but instead was a major error that attacked the very core of the Gospel. If he was correct in his day, then his insights should be examined to see how they apply today. Last time I gave a quote of Owen (the first nine lines below). I will continue on in that quote after repeating the first part.
“What benefit did ever come to this church by attempting to prove that the chief part in the several degrees of our salvation is to be ascribed unto ourselves, rather than God?-which is the head and sum of all the controversies between them and us. And must not the introducing and fomenting of a doctrine so opposite to that truth our church hath quietly enjoyed ever since the Reformation necessarily bring along with it schisms and dissensions, so long as any remain who love the truth, or esteem the gospel above preferment? Neither let any deceive your wisdoms, by affirming that they are differences of an inferior nature that are at this day agitated between the Arminians and the orthodox divines of the reformed church. Be pleased but to cast an eye on the following instances, and you will find them hewing at the very root of Christianity.
Surely these are not things…, as Austin [some Puritans called Augustine Austin] speaks,–‘about which we may differ without loss of peace or charity.’ One church cannot wrap in her communion Austin and Pelagius, Calvin and Arminius…The sacred bond of peace compasseth only the unity of that Spirit which leadeth into all truth. We must not offer the right hand of fellowship, but rather proclaim ieron polimon, ‘a holy war,’ to such enemies of God’s providence, Christ’s merit, and the powerful operation of the Holy Spirit. Neither let any object that all the Arminians do not openly profess all these errors I have recounted. Let ours, then, show wherein they differ from their masters.”
Owen then goes on to say in his “To the Christian Reader,” that “never were so many prodigious errors introduced into a church, with so high a hand and so little opposition, as these into ours, since the nation of Christians was known in the world.” He goes on to say that he did not set out to refute all of their errors, but the ones that were at the very foundation-errors that “prevaricated against the very grounds of Christianity.” The writing of Owen at this point is simply stunning. While it is legitimate to ask if the brand of Arminianism was the same then as it is now, we must be careful not to dismiss Owen without examination. There is a reason that he has been called by many “The Theologian of the Puritans.” We must ask ourselves if the truth has changed or if Owen was wrong. If Owen was wrong, we must realize that our words and thoughts have tremendous implications. We would then have to show where Owen differed in terms of the Gospel from Luther and Calvin and from the other Puritans. If we think they were all wrong on this issue, then we must realize that the whole Reformed tradition is wrong. At the very least that would mean that we are no longer Reformed. Let us be honest on this point.
From the quotes given above, see what Owen and Augustine thought of unity between differing trains of thought. Can one church really have peace and unity with such widely divergent trains of thought? Not if both are taught in a real consistency. Both views when truly held will bring about a loss of peace and of charity as well. Does the Spirit of truth lead one into a view that totally contradicts the view of another? Can two really opposing views that are essential to the Gospel be held while at the same time expecting for there to be peace? If Augustine and Owen were correct on this, then the only way for there to be peace in one church between those who hold opposing views is if one or both will water their views down or simply not stand up for them. We live in a day where peace and tolerance are preached as the essence of Christianity and of love. But let us not forget that in love Jesus cleaned out the Temple in anger. Let us not forget the zeal and suffering it took for the Reformation to take place and bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ back to its purity. Let us also not forget that the Reformation was a time of great revival. If we truly desire days of blessing and great revival in our day, we must not forget that the Gospel must be stated with precision and the contrary views also stated. That will cause division and trouble. Ah, but let us also remember that the prophets and apostles and Jesus Himself also caused division and trouble. That is one thing that the Gospel does. If we wish to avoid trouble or division, we simply need to avoid standing for the truth of the Gospel. The cross, after all, is offensive. When we are so gracious as not to offend, we are not standing for the cross or Gospel.
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