As a result of recent discussions with a dear friend of an opposing belief system, I sought to do some research to see if I could find those influences that lead John Calvin to teach the Doctrines of Grace which years after his death became labeled “The Five Points of Calvinism.” I also set out to find what influenced Jacob Arminius in his opposing belief system which, after his death, became known as Arminianism.
In the process of my research, I came across a website which contained an article written in 1995 by a gentleman named Keith Drury. The way he describes modern churches is exactly what our church forefathers warned us against.
The following is a part of his article entitled, “Triumph of Arminianism (and its dangers).” So as not to mistakingly take his words out of context, I have not simply printed one or two quotes. I have given you entire paragraphs. Read the entire article to get the full context of what Mr. Drury is saying. If you desire to read the entire article you may find it at http://www.drurywriting.com/keith/triumph.htm. I have not altered or edited his text in any way.
The Triumph of Arminianism
There is little doubt about it: Arminianism has triumphed in the pew, if not in the seminary. The average Christian is a practicing Arminian, even if he claims to be a Calvinist in theory. "Practical" modern church members are increasingly rejecting traditional "five-point Calvinism." While Arminianism has been a "minority view" for decades, today there is a major drift toward Arminianism in most Calvinist churches.
Why the switch?
I spent several years as a determined five-pointer as a young man before changing my mind to accept Arminianism. I made the switch purposefully and with quite a bit of painful study as a student at Princeton Seminary. But many Calvinists today are making the switch for purely pragmatic reasons. They have not become convinced the Bible really teaches the Arminian approach. Frankly, Arminianism is simply more palatable to a secular culture. It "fits in" to the mind-set of the people in their pews. Like it or not, the secular mind is naturally Arminian in its outlook. I've discovered this repeatedly myself by administering a theological questionnaire to secular students in an adult education program. These "unchurched Harrys" invariably register Arminian theologically.
Face it, Arminianism is simply more logical. It makes sense to the person on the street. And today's church is scrambling to make sense to unbelievers. We want to sound sensible, logical, rational, enlightened, fair. Arminianism is so much more appealing to worldly people.
Thus, many Calvinist churches customize worship services, communication styles, architecture, and music, to fit the worldly customers. But they also adapt their theology by quietly creeping away from the "right end" of the theological continuum and drifting over toward Arminianism. The truth of the matter is, they are embarrassed by Calvinistic theology. They have found it offensive to the "customers." The Arminian approach to theology is simply a more "seeker sensitive."
“Frankly, Arminianism is simply more palatable to a secular culture.”
“Like it or not, the secular mind is naturally Arminian in its outlook.”
“Arminianism is so much more appealing to wordly people.”
I would now like to show you part of two articles, one written in 1887 and one in 1891, by Charles Spurgeon. As with Mr. Drury’s writing, I have not altered or edited Spurgeon’s text in any way.
Sovereign Grace Hated by the
Modern Religionist C. H. Spurgeon
If anything is hated bitterly, it is the out and out gospel of the grace of God, especially if that hateful word "sovereignty" is mentioned with it. Dare to say "He will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and he will have compassion on whom he will have compassion" (Romans 9:15), and furious critics will revile you without stint. The modern religionist not only hates the doctrine of sovereign grace, but he raves and rages at the mention of it. He would sooner hear you blaspheme than preach election by the Father, atonement by the Son, or regeneration by the Spirit. If you want to see a man worked up till the Satanic is clearly uppermost, let some of the new divines hear you preach a free grace sermon. A gospel which is after men will be welcomed by men; but it needs a divine operation upon the heart and mind to make a man willing to receive into his inmost soul this distasteful gospel of the grace of God.
My dear brethren, do not try to make it tasteful to carnal minds. Hide not the offence of the cross, lest you make it of none effect. The angles and corners of the gospel are its strength: to pare them off is to deprive it of power. Toning down is not the increase of strength, but the death of it. Why, even among the sects, you must have noticed that their distinguishing points are the horns of their power; and when these are practically omitted, the sect is effete. Learn, then, that if you take Christ Out of Christianity, Christianity is dead. If you remove grace out of the gospel, the gospel is gone. If the people do not like the doctrine of grace, give them all the more of it. Whenever its enemies rail at a certain kind of gun, a wise military power will provide more of such artillery. A great general, going in before his king, stumbled over his own sword. "1 see," said the king, "your sword is in the way." The warrior answered, "Your majesty's enemies have often felt the same." That our gospel offends the King's enemies is no regret to us.
Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, 1891, page 49.
I preach the doctrines of grace because I believe them to be true; because I see them in the Scriptures; because my experience endears them to me; and because I see the holy result of them in believers. I confess they are none the less dear to me because the advanced school despises them: I should never think it a recommendation of a doctrine that it was new. Those truths which have enlightened so many ages appear to me to be ordained to remain throughout eternity. The doctrine which I preach to you is that of the Puritans: it is the doctrine of Calvin, the doctrine of Augustine, the doctrine of Paul, the doctrine of the Holy Ghost. The Author and Finisher of our faith himself taught most blessed truth which well agreed with our text. (Ephesians 2:8). The doctrine of grace is the substance of the testimony of Jesus.
The Sword & The Trowel, January, 1887.
It would appear that Mr. Spurgeon agreed with Mr. Drury on this…secular and worldly people hate the Doctrines of Grace. Therefore, today’s modern American churches have done what Spurgeon warned against and that is they have sought to take away the offensiveness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They have made it tasteful to carnal minds and in doing so have deprived it of its power.
Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To him it was the power of God unto salvation. Many churches today are ashamed of the offensive Gospel of Jesus Christ and have toned it down to make it acceptable to carnal men. The modern Gospel has no power. That’s why secular marketing, gimmicks, programs, and gymnasiums are necessary to draw people into the church.
If this is true of many of our modern American churches as it seems, it would appear to me that our nation is under the judgment of God because scripture states that judgment begins with the house of God (1 Peter 4:17). He has given us our request and sent leanness to our souls. With the desire to have huge numbers on membership rolls and the willingness to compromise the preaching of the true Gospel, the majority of today's churches are filled with religious people who have been made two fold a child of the devil and on that dreadful day of the Lord will say , "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" ...only to hear the Sovereign God say, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
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