“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

NO DOUBT, SOME of you will have jumped – and I mean jump with enthusiasm – on here assuming what this article is not. For months, even years, I have observed countless debates via so many public forums between Calvinists and Arminians, many of which I have declined to partake in, and even withdrawn from reading further comments because of the unchristlike display of utter conceit and arrogance. 

What kind of fruit grows when we contribute to such debates? Now, I am not insinuating that we avoid such discussions altogether. This is not about refusing to partake; rather, it’s the spirit in how we contribute to such topics. Neither am I writing, in this instance, to defend either side. It is more so about our hearts in the midst of such discussions.

For numerous years I prayed that God would lead me into truth prior to transitioning from one system of doctrine to another, and as much as I saw truth that ran against my natural bias, I embraced what scripture irrefutably teaches. Here, however, is not the place to discuss where I personally and firmly stand – as to whether I am an Arminian or a Calvinist – although some may already assume. Again, this article is primarily concerned with addressing our approaches and attitudes – our hearts.

We are to earnestly contend for the faith and our doctrine is to be biblically sound, but when the flesh gains opportunity and where pride excels, we are better off closing our mouths. We do more for the kingdom of Satan than for the kingdom of God when we sow discord through our opinions and the idolising of our doctrines.

God is bigger than our convictions and pet creeds, and there are times when He works mysteriously that knocks us off our feet theologically, and some believers are no different than the Pharisees who missed the entire picture when emphasising less weightier matters (Matthew 23:23-24).

During the seventeenth century – known for its Great Awakening – George Whitefield (Calvinist) and John Wesley (Arminian) were used  greatly of God, irrespective of their doctrinal leanings. No one can deny that, and yet, that throws a spanner in the works for many believers because they idolise their doctrines. Who can defy that God used both these men? Is there anyone? Then answer why God used two such God-fearing men, with differing doctrinal leanings, more than any of us have ever been used of God? Not forgetting that we are to earnestly contend for the faith that has been delivered to us, but is not God infinitely bigger than our system of theology where we become so stiff, rigid, stubborn and conceited, that if someone were to sneeze we would break? What may seemingly appear as God contradicting Himself, He never does; it’s our little and finite minds that cannot fathom God’s ways at times. God infinitely transcends our highest thinking. Some may be an equivalent to Einstein in their theology, but there are times when God will shake us to our core when arrogantly presuming we know God, and we know Him no more than when Job said, “I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” Job 42:5

Sometimes, in our theology, we are like children, thinking we are men well-accomplished when nothing could be further from the truth! Some of us are nothing more than just mere armchair theologians, who can argue well, profoundly articulate, convinced we have mastered the Scriptures – and yet have no clue whatsoever to know what it means to encounter being beyond oneself through afflictions that test almost to insanity. It kind of resembles some young college students who think because they can recite – without personal experience – anecdotes or poems on war, love, injustice, death and poverty, that they are, therefore, well equipped to go out into the world and put right the wrongs when they have never held a dying fellow soldier, whose one half of their body is on the other side of the battlefield, touched a dead father who is ice cold to the touch, seen countless people draw their last breath, loved another who would give of their very life to protect the other, to know what it is to forego eating out at restaurants throughout the year while still struggling to pay utility bills winter after winter, or to know what injustice feels like when being punched in the face as a seven year old for no reason by their father. In all reality, having the experiences of hardships is what seasons our theology; encountering God through them we are made real. How many of us who know about the sovereignty of God can continue trusting Him when circumstances are cruel, unfair and seem to contradict Him for years on end? That’s where the rubber hits the road. Do we know the sovereign God – not about Him – DO WE KNOW HIM?!

Regarding John Wesley and George Whitfield, I’ll recall an incident that transpired where Wesley preached at Whitefield’s funeral and was approached by one of the godly band of Christian sisters who had been brought under his influence, and who also loved Whitefield:

”Dear Mr. Wesley, may I ask you a question?”

” Yes, of course, madam, by all means.”

” But, dear Mr. Wesley, I am very much afraid what the answer will be.”

” Well, madam, let me hear your question, and then you will know my reply.”

At last, after not a little hesitation, the inquirer tremblingly asked,

” Dear Mr. Wesley, do you expect to see dear Mr. Whitefield in heaven?”

A lengthy pause followed, after which John Wesley replied with great seriousness,

“No, madam.”

His inquirer at once exclaimed, ”Ah, I was afraid you would say so.”

To which John Wesley added, with intense earnestness,

“Do not misunderstand me, madam; George Whitefield was so bright a star in the firmament of God’s glory, and will stand so near the throne, that one like me, who am less than the least, will never catch a glimpse of him.”

That was not modesty but sincerity of heart, and one can further read of how he held Whitefield with the utmost esteem:

Dr D Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a staunch Calvinist, allowed Arminian ministers to occupy his pulpit while away preaching elsewhere or taking leave. Both he and his predecessor at Westminster Chapel, G Campbell Morgan (Arminian) were both used greatly of God. I’ve read each one’s extensive sermons that are life-changing. 

There are countless other accounts I could give, but suffice it to say, so long as the primary doctrinal issues are in place, God is no respecter of persons, so long as He is worshipped aright and the main fundamental tenets of the Gospel of Jesus Christ are proclaimed, God shall bless such endeavours. History alone reveals that, especially when considered unbiasedly.

Some may disagree, but being Reformed myself in doctrine, and steeped in the puritanical works of renowned men of God, I have come to a place, not of compromising, but rather seeing that God is not limited to our systems of doctrine.  I have learned hard lessons over the years where God has dealt with my arrogance. That does not negate being dogmatic (a pure defence of the faith) to where one becomes insipid, weak or lacking backbone; it is a moving away from being tunnel-visioned from where, in our own minds, we put God in a straitjacket.

The pride and arrogance displayed within such debates – between BOTH Arminian and Calvinist groups – are grieving to the Spirit of God. Don’t for a second think it isn’t, because even the world is witnessing these displays via the ‘World Wide Web’!

Let me ask you a question: are you proud of that? Are you proud of winning your arguments, having just ripped your brother or sister in the faith apart by insulting them, by treating them as outcasts and pronounce them as not being in the faith? Do you really think this brings pleasure to the heart of God? Let me ask you another question: Does this shame you, having reflected upon hindering another person in the faith; does it not grieve you and cut you to the heart? If you can read this so glibly and with an arrogant smirk on your face, then I really fear for the state of your soul and would seriously encourage you to earnestly and humbly seek God and know whether or not you are truly in the faith yourself.

Rather than pulling down satanic strongholds, we pull down our brother or sister in the faith. How dare we insinuate that a Calvinist or Arminian – or in-between – cannot be truly saved, and that is what some audaciously assume. Christians from either camp of Calvinists and Arminians look down on one another with contempt – and even HATE! Does God really take pleasure in this? Is this why Christ really came into this world to entertain and endorse such conduct?

How can we, when knowing we were such wretches, behave – or even think – we can berate others with such a pharisaical spirit when we are in dire need of mercy ourselves? Be careful lest you be doing the work of Satan in all your arrogant debates. God Himself is OPPOSED to it which has the very essence of pride that will strip any human being to NOTHING.

We are using weapons of the flesh to sow division, schisms. While scoring points, bolstering our ego, through arguments won in the spirit of the world, we give sin and the devil opportunity, and – again, the world witnesses it! And we foolishly wonder why churches do not grow and flourish; we wonder why the world repulses Christianity? Oh, it’s not persecution; we suffer because of our immaturity and ignorance of rightly handling the truth.

It pains me to write this, that there will be many on both doctrinal camps who argued articulately and so persuasively, but with venom in their hearts, who will face eternal separation from God; who masterfully argue the things of God while not knowing Him. Some sound no different than the Pharisees who boasted of Abraham being their father; today, some instigate (knowing it’s going to cause division and fall outs) and debate in such ways that give impressions of the devil – rather than God – being their father.

We can study all the theology we want and become so well-versed in the works of so many renowned church leaders and theologians – past and present – but it amounts to NOTHING if our hearts are out of sync with God Himself –  and yes, that includes our brother and sister in the faith as well!

If humility is not produced, or the growth therein, as a result of our studies, then we have grown in self; if we are not overwhelmed, and humbled to the dust when we consider great truths of God, we have grown in pride and not in Christ. If God is not having His way with us, then sin certainly is; there is no in-between.

“Growing in notions of truth without answerable practice is another thing that indwelling sin makes use of to bring the souls of believers unto decay. The apostle tells us that “knowledge puffeth up.” If it be alone, not improved in practice, it swells men beyond a due proportion; like a man that hath a dropsy, we are not to expect that he hath strength to his bigness; like trees that are continually running up a head, which keeps them from bearing fruit. When once men have attained to this, that they can entertain and receive evangelical truths in a new and more glorious light or more clear discovery than formerly, or new manifestations of truth which they knew not before and please themselves in so doing, without diligent endeavours to have the power of those truths and notions upon their hearts, and their souls made conformable unto them, they generally learn so to dispose of all truths formerly known, which were sometimes inlaid in their hearts with more efficacy and power. This hath proved, if not the ruin, yet with great impacting of many in these days of light wherein we live. By this means, from humble, close walking, many have withered into an empty, barren, talking profession. All things almost have in a short season become like unto them; – have they been true or false, so they might be debating of them and disputing about them, all is well. This is food for sin; it hatcheth, increaseth it, and is increased by it. A notable way it is for the vanity that is in the mind  to exert itself without a rebuke from conscience. Whilst men are talking, and writing, and studying about religion, and hearing preaching, it may be, with great delight as those in Ezek. xxxiii 32, conscience, unless thoroughly awake and circumspect, and furnished with spiritual wisdom and care will be well pacified, and enter no rebuke or pleas against the way that the soul is in. But yet all this may be nothing but the acting of that natural vanity which lies in the mind, and is a principal part of the sin we treat of. And generally this is so when men content themselves, as was said, with the notions of truth, without labouring after an experience of the power of them in their hearts, and the bringing forth the fruit of them in their lives, on which a decay must needs ensue.” – The Works of John Owen, Vol 6, pg 301

To him/her whom much has been given or obtained, much shall be expected in return. We have this wealth of knowledge – more than any other epoch in the history of the Church – and yet we stand accountable to God in how it is used, either for His glory or our own.

Yes, discuss the topic at hand, but in a spirit of reverence, awe, meekness and humility. Be mindful of the glory of God; aim to glorify Him. Is Christ central; is God being glorified, and have we grown closer to Him as a result?

When considering the present state of nations – with all of its blatant immorality – it reveals we are in dire need of another reformation that shook the world over five-hundred years ago, or another Great Awakening, but are we not hindering that because of the divisions that pervade in so many churches, the constant grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit?

Does this concern us, or do we just apathetically say, “Oh, there we are then” only to get back on with life? Don’t you think, that as confessing believers in Jesus Christ, we cannot just carry on with life if we neglect these imperatives aspects? How can we, really, just move along in life if we choose to ignore the state of things? Should we not be moved to prayer, to get on our faces before God, to implore Him that He has mercy, and continue praying until He moves? If we can move on with life with no concern, then we are not living life; our life has become a travesty. We know NOTHING of travailing in prayer in our generation. We don’t, and yet we are so ‘soundly’ theologically trained and versed! Shouldn’t the fruit of all our reading and studying drive us to seek the face of God Himself?!

Another aspect that must be taken into consideration if the Spirit of God is to move in power again: Can we work together in unity? Does God desire that we be as one, or do we exclude? What does Jesus’ prayer mean to you recorded in John 17? What implications – of being one in Christ, not just theologically but in practice – does that bear on us today?

Do we truly yearn that God moves again in our generation; do we long for the Holy Spirit to move mightily that is the only hope of intervening in our nations? Then start to discern, through prayer, the dark spiritual strongholds rather than tearing others apart and waging war in the flesh; put down those weapons of pride that make you appear good in the eyes of others but detestable in the eyes of God; humble yourself under the mighty hand of God in order that you, through being rightly immersed in the Scriptures, are enabled to wield the sword of the Spirit to tear down strongholds against the TRUE knowledge of God.

In the arena of Calvinism and Arminianism, we are being outwitted by Satan himself, totally blind to his strategies and schemes. Where we assume we’re strong, we’re deplorably weak, and where we’re convinced of defending the faith, we’re actually marring God’s name before a world that feels more empowered to refute the Gospel of Jesus Christ – the power of God unto salvation.

God, in His mercy, grant that He puts within us a maturity to work in unity – through the Holy Spirit – with one another, that we may go forth in His power for the ONE cause of proclaiming Jesus Christ, Him crucified and risen again.

I’ll leave you with this: “Howell Harris, the warm-hearted Welsh Calvinist, and Lady Huntingdon found Wesley ready to forgive Whitefield’s impetuous personal abuse, and one of the noblest characteristics of Whitefield was revealed in his willingness to confess his faults. He wrote to Wesley in October, 1741: “May God remove all obstacles that now prevent our union; may all disputings cease, and each of us talk of nothing but Jesus and him crucified. This is my resolution, I am without dissimulation. I find I love you as much as ever, and pray God, if it be his blessed will, that we may all be united together.”