the main thesis of the book

Arminian theology differs from Calvinist theology on every vital issue. Arminians pretend to uphold the supremacy of scripture in their doctrine and beliefs, but they do not. Instead they depend on the strength and validity of their human faculties to interpret scripture and establish doctrine, rather than the revelation of the Holy Spirit. They first declare their assumptions to be axiomatic and use these to interpret God’s word. Foremost of these is the freedom of the human will, next being the universal, indiscriminate love of God for all sinners. Some pretend to hold to the sovereignty of God over his Creation, but none actually do. Effectively, they believe that man is equal to God in rights and responsibilities, and nearly in terms of power. As a free, moral agent, man has every right to seek his own will; despite his weakness as a flesh and blood human being, limited in time, space, strength, resources, love, and righteousness, he also bears the responsibility of the salvation of the lost. With God in his corner, supporting his desires and purposes rather than God’s, the Arminian can literally accomplish anything. Arminians do not believe that sin has disabled and corrupted man’s heart and as a result, they believe not only that they possess all power to redeem the lost to Christ, but to continue in sanctification (perfectly, some even believe) by their own strength until death. They believe that God loves all men unconditionally, regardless of his attitude toward God, or his refusal to submit to his will or place his trust in Christ. They do not believe that God elects men, like Abraham or Jacob, but that he “elects in general”, generally and not specifically, whomever will respond. God chooses the choosers. Men elect themselves, in other words. Men are not sinners, remember, because none of them are slaves to sin and any can be righteous if he so chooses. God chooses the righteous, not sinners. Arminian theology is the theology of men and not of God. It is not the revelation of God to men, but the best idea that men have, given his best interpretation of scripture, to try to reach out to God. It is not the Gospel. It is not scripture, but an amalgamation of human philosophy and false religion in an attempt to satisfy our desire for God but without the humiliation and desperation that God requires.

From this theology, we get the “prosperity gospel,” Catholicism, ordained homosexuals, “Christian” abortionists, and nearly every other error in the modern church. When men believe that they choose independently of God and that God loves them in spite of their obstinate, unrepentant hearts, they no longer need scripture to guide them. They are free to pick and choose, to add, to dismantle and destroy the Word of God as they desire. They become a guide to themselves. The goal of Arminian theology is as the Serpent described in the Garden: “You will be like God.”