| A short sketch of the life and influence of James Arminius in modern church history. |
James Arminius of Holland (1560-1609), was a strict Calvinist during the early days of his profession. Through the combined influences of rationalism, liberalism and Semi-Pelagianism, he later shifted his views and began advocating a system of Theology that became known as "Arminianism". |
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His chief departure from Calvinism was in the "new view" he developed on the doctrine of Election. He came to believe that "the election of a sinner to eternal life is not absolute, but is conditioned on the sinner's foreseen faith and perseverance."
Although it was inconsistent with his new view on Election, James Arminius continued to maintain the Total Depravity of human nature since the Fall; "that man in his natural condition is dead in sins, his mind darkened, his affections depraved; that the will of man is not only wounded, crooked,...but is likewise captivated, destroyed and lost...". James Arminius never proposed an adequate reconciliation of the traditional and Scriptural view of Total Depravity with his new view on Election. The gaping inconsistency of the two is too great to simply dismiss. For example, how could a man in his natural condition, dead in sins, a darkened mind, depraved affections, and a will that is crooked and captivated by sin, perform an act that requires spiritual life. |
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Life Precedes Action |
Any clear thinker knows that you must have life before you can act. This is true in things natural as well as things spiritual. Before you can perform a spiritual act you must have spiritual life. However, James Arminius's doctrine states that the natural man who is "dead in sins" (without spiritual life) must perform a spiritual act (exercise faith) in order for God to Elect (choose) him! It has been said that James Arminius was less "Arminian" than his followers. In 1610 they had their creed drawn up into Five Articles. These Articles are permeated with their unblushing system of conditionalism. In Arminian Theology, rather than salvation being based upon the accomplished work of Jesus Christ, they would have it based upon the sinner complying with "conditions" necessary for salvation. |
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Arminianism rapidly began to make head-way among Protestants as well as Baptists, but it wasn't clear until the following century the extent that it had permeated "Christendom". Not the least of the many converts to Arminianism was a Baptist named Andrew Fuller.
In 1775 Mr. Fuller wrote his controversial essay, The Gospel worthy of All Acceptation, and it was published in 1782, seven years later. With its publication the "New School" movement among Baptists began. Subsequently, the first Baptist Missionary Society was formed at Kettering, England in 1792. Thus began the mission system we see today.
It is said that the Missionary Society that Mr. Fuller formed in 1792 is the Mother of the various but similar organizations of today. That being so, it follows that Arminianism is the "seed" that has given them life.
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