I am a former "disillusioned" Arminian. I grew up in, and then worked for, a very performance-heavy church (and not just "moral" performance, either). Things went sideways after 25 years of service there, and I kinda went through what the current trends and marketing teams might call "deconstruction." I came out the other side of that completely stripped of all my epistemic confidence, all my "machinations," and all my "wisdom," as you've said here. It did feel like insanity for a time. But I believe God found me where I was at and helped me to begin again.
Growing up "Arminian," we were taught to be wary of "Calvinism." Because of this, there is a whole system of theology I never explored to any reasonable degree for fear of "getting it wrong." But I am glad that I've since learned a lot from the reformed traditions, especially the Five Solas. I may never go so far as to make any of the reformed traditions or teachers a label from which to identify (frankly, Calvin himself wouldn't want me to do that, would he?), but I have since come into an experiential appreciation of what I think Paul was getting at in 1 Corinthians chapter 3: "all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's."
This is all to say, as a recovering doctrinal elitist raised on the other end of the spectrum... I want to thank you for putting words out there that serve as a bright spot in the darkness we all seem to be bumbling around in :)
Wow, thank you so much for reading and commenting and sharing that part of your story. I resonate with a lot of what you shared, especially the whole Arminian vs. Calvinist charade. It's relieving to know that faith isn't really about all that stuff. It's really just about trusting in God's word of promise over and above everything else. That's what matters. Blessings to you, man!
I appreciate your writing, Brad.
I am a former "disillusioned" Arminian. I grew up in, and then worked for, a very performance-heavy church (and not just "moral" performance, either). Things went sideways after 25 years of service there, and I kinda went through what the current trends and marketing teams might call "deconstruction." I came out the other side of that completely stripped of all my epistemic confidence, all my "machinations," and all my "wisdom," as you've said here. It did feel like insanity for a time. But I believe God found me where I was at and helped me to begin again.
Growing up "Arminian," we were taught to be wary of "Calvinism." Because of this, there is a whole system of theology I never explored to any reasonable degree for fear of "getting it wrong." But I am glad that I've since learned a lot from the reformed traditions, especially the Five Solas. I may never go so far as to make any of the reformed traditions or teachers a label from which to identify (frankly, Calvin himself wouldn't want me to do that, would he?), but I have since come into an experiential appreciation of what I think Paul was getting at in 1 Corinthians chapter 3: "all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's."
This is all to say, as a recovering doctrinal elitist raised on the other end of the spectrum... I want to thank you for putting words out there that serve as a bright spot in the darkness we all seem to be bumbling around in :)
God is good
Wow, thank you so much for reading and commenting and sharing that part of your story. I resonate with a lot of what you shared, especially the whole Arminian vs. Calvinist charade. It's relieving to know that faith isn't really about all that stuff. It's really just about trusting in God's word of promise over and above everything else. That's what matters. Blessings to you, man!