Last month, I posted a philosophical debate on God and morality/purpose and a scientific/philosophical debate on God’s existence and a scientific/philosophical debate on abortion. This time it’s 3 debates featuring a Calvinist debater and a foreknowledge debater. These debates are incredibly good and very friendly and cordial. If you have never heard a debate on theology before, then these are the ones to get you started. Theological debates are more fun than you think, you just need to choose the good ones.
The two views being debated are Calvinism and Foreknowledge. Calvinism is the view that God unilaterally predetermines a selected group of individuals who will know him – the “elect”. Foreknowledge is the view that God draws people to him who he foreknows will freely respond to his overtures and come to know him. What does the Bible teach about these issues?
The Calvinist debater is Dr. James White:
James White is the director of Alpha and Omega Ministries, a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a professor, having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of apologetics. He has authored or contributed to more than twenty books, including The King James Only Controversy, The Forgotten Trinity, The Potter’s Freedom, and The God Who Justifies. He is an accomplished debater, having engaged in more than one-hundred moderated, public debates with leading proponents of Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormonism, as well as critics such as Bart Ehrman, John Dominic Crossan, Marcus Borg, and John Shelby Spong. He is an elder of the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, has been married to Kelli for more than twenty-eight years, and has two children, Joshua and Summer.
The Foreknowledge debater is Dr. Michael Brown:
Michael L. Brown holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University and has served as a visiting or adjunct professor at Southern Evangelical Seminary, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (Charlotte), Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Fuller Theological Seminary, Denver Theological Seminary, the King’s Seminary, and Regent University School of Divinity. He has contributed numerous articles to scholarly publications, including the Oxford Dictionary of Jewish Religion and the Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. Dr. Brown is the author of twenty books, including, Our Hands Are Stained with Blood: The Tragic Story of the “Church” and the Jewish People, which has been translated into more than twelve languages, the highly-acclaimed five-volume series, Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus, a commentary on Jeremiah (part of the revised edition of the Expositor’s Bible Commentary), and several books on revival and Jesus revolution.
Now, let’s get ready to rumble!
First debate
A nice friendly debate that introduces the topic. This is the best debate for casual listeners and non-Christians.
Summary:
- Introduction to Calvinist James White and some of his 90 debates
- What is Calvinism and why is it important?
- Does God love all people the same way in Calvinism?
- Does God desire the salvation of all people in Calvinism?
- Is the offer of salvation to all people a genuine offer on Calvinism?
- Does Calvinism diminish or augment God’s sovereignty?
- Can God accomplish his will by permitting evil creaturely actions?
- Did Jesus die only for the “chosen”, or for the possibility of salvation for all?
- Does a person’s responding to God’s offer of savaltion detract from Gods glory?
- Does our ability to resist God’s grace mean that we are “stronger” than God?
There is a little static in the audio for a few seconds every time they come back from a break, but nothing major.
Second debate, on specific passages in the Bible
Same two guys, but this time they tackle the meaning of specific Bible passages.
The passages being disputed:
- John 6
- Romans 8, 9
- Ephesians 1
Third debate, on specific passages in the Bible
Same two guys, but this time they tackle the meaning of specific Bible passages.
The passages being disputed:
- Luke 13:34-35 (Deuteronomy 5:28-29)
- Ezekiel 18:21-32 (Jeremiah 3:19-20; Ezekiel 22:30-31)
- 1 John 2:1-2 (2 Pet 2:1).
WINTERY KNIGHT 
Curious question: Do you like James White as an apologist (minus the Calvinism)?
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Hey, Ninja. I think that he does a pretty good job debating Roman Catholics, and his skill on church history is quite strong. But in those debates, he does come across as abrasive and a bit arrogant, but I still learn a lot. I think he fails miserably in these debates on foreknowledge. He seemed to come into the debate not knowing what foreknowledge was. However, I have to admire the guy for being willing to debate – and he was much more irenic in these debates than with the Roman Catholics, so I give him that. He needs to debate like this all the time, though.
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Hey WK, I found a new debate on Calvinism and it’s fairly recent. The debate was held at Biola University and it’s between Michael Horton and Roger Olson. I have the links at my blog: http://reformedseth.blogspot.com/2012/01/for-or-against-calvinism.html
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If Michael Horton is debating Roger Olson, I’m cheering for Michael Horton. I am sorry, but Roger Olson is a big fat liberal leftist.
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Even if Roger Olson isn’t a big fat liberal leftist, I think you would still cheer for Horton. So far, Olson is basically denying the sovereignty scriptures because he doesn’t like them and said scriptures don’t fit in with who he thinks God is. Maybe he’ll explain later or rephrase his explanation…
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It is really hard to prefer one over the other. Niether were scripturally based.
Here is a example – In response to White’s comment on the Calvinst viewpoint comparison of God prevented the King Abimelech from sinning with Sarah vs. the sinning of the kings of Israel ( ie Irresistible grace).
The answer is quite obvious !
Abimelech didnt know !!!! Abraham lied and said she was his sister. What Abimelech was unknown to him – he had no idea (Gen 20:1-18).
This is a sharp contrast to the kings of Israel who had the Law and willingly sinned.
May I suggest to compare the 2 is “gainsaying” the scriptures and a unfair analogy. God is simply God – He will have favor on whom He will ( ie Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated, God hardened Pharaohs heart).
Trying to put Him in a box is impossible – He is bigger than any box.
Shalom,
Mike
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Calvinism is the theology of not putting God into a box. “God is simply God – He will have favor on whom He will.” — that’s pretty much a Calvinist viewpoint right there.
Welcome to the team.
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