Where Are Those People?

Recently a man made this statement in a sermon: "I'd rather bow the knee with an Arminian who believed in freewill, but had a warmhearted love for the Lord Jesus, than with one of those coldhearted Calvinists who say, `As long as I believe the five points it doesn't matter how I live'".

I have heard numerous men make that statement, or others like it over the years.At first it disturbed me. Then it angered me. Today it infuriates me! It implies that the gospel of God's grace is an intellectually superior theological position, but that it has nothing to do with vital Christianity. It also implies that at least some gospel preachers are promoters of licentiousness. Both implications are abhorrent!

Here is a question I would like for one of those fellows to answer who thinks it is so important to accommodate freewillism: Where are those people?

I have never met, heard of, or read after any man who said, or even implied, "So long as I believe the five points, it doesn't matter how I live!" Believing the doctrines of grace does not promote licentiousness. The man who thinks it does, I fear, does not know what grace is. I have never met that green eyed monster who says, "Let us sin that grace may abound."

Someone else I have not yet met is "an Arminian who believes in freewill and has a warmhearted love for the Lord Jesus." I grant that the freewill works monger has a warmhearted love for his god; but his god is no God at all. It is only the idolatrous figment of his depraved imagination. Talk to him about the God of the Bible who is totally sovereign in creation, providence, redemption, and grace, talk to him about the God whose will is absolute, the Christ whose blood is effectual, and the Holy Spirit whose grace is irresistible, and this imaginary "freewill brother" will let you know very quickly that he has no use for you or your God. We embrace as our brethren all who worship our God. We count them to be our enemies who are the enemies of our God (Psa. 139:20-22). To do otherwise would be treason against our Lord!

Don Fortner