In this series, we have been contrasting five major points of Arminian theology with the five points of Reformed/Calvinistic theology known as “TULIP”. The series now continues with an examination of the contrasting views of Arminian and Reformed theology regarding the topic of election.
Conditional Election vs. Unconditional Election
The prominent Arminian view holds that election is conditional, that is, God elects those whom He foresees responding positively to the gospel. Fred Olson, an expert in Arminian theology writes, “Arminians believe that election is corporate, that God has chosen to have a people and that predestination is God’s foreknowledge of who will freely choose to be among God’s people”.
In contrast, the Reformed view says that election is of individuals, and that it is unconditional, because God’s choice of particular individuals is not conditioned upon man’s response, but is independent of it. The Reformed view would agree with the statement “God has chosen to have a people”, but more specifically would say that He has, independent of constraints or influence from anyone or anything, chosen particular individuals. This is against the Arminian view that God has made a corporate choice of all people in Christ, and that people then choose themselves for inclusion “among God’s people”.
Posted in Election
