Reformed Arminianism & the Death of the Holiness Movement
Through a friend’s recommendation, I recently read a blog entitled, “The Death of the Holiness Movement and The Imminent Collapse of Arminianism” by Jeff Paton.[1] I know very little about the author, but the blog was intriguing for a couple of reasons. First, Paton rightly understands that various forms of Arminianism exist. For many, only one form of Arminianism exists, and it is Wesleyan Arminianism. Paton is aware that...
Thomas Helwys: Father of Religious Freedom
The American Church increasingly faces serious challenges concerning religious freedom. Many already see trouble on the horizon concerning homosexuality. Likely this issue will be only one of many to assault the church’s freedom to practice her beliefs unhindered by the state. Therefore, we must begin to redevelop a strong theological defense of religious freedom that will guide us in these days. Free Will Baptists have a unique...
Reflections on ETS 2014
Two weeks ago, over 2500 students, professors, exhibitors, and scholars from many fields journeyed to San Diego, California for the 66th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS). My colleague Matthew McAffee (Welch College) and I were among those in attendance. We each enjoyed the privilege of giving presentations this year. More significant, though, was the opportunity to attend three days of presentations from...
Homosexuality in Legal Perspective (Part III): Reclaiming Religious Liberty
This piece will conclude the Helwys Society’s emphasis month on the topic of homosexuality. Having approached it biblically, historically, and pastorally, we’ve turned lastly to considering it in legal perspective. In Part I, we considered our past and present legal environment. In Part II, we looked in particular at the doctrines of due process, equal protection, and privacy. In this last piece, we’ll consider the important doctrine...
Homosexuality in Legal Perspective (Part II): Revisiting Due Process, Equal Protection, and Privacy
In last week’s article, we began considering homosexuality in legal perspective. We summarized America’s present state of affairs, and the constitutional arguments advanced by LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) and religious liberty proponents. In this article, we’re going to revisit LGBT rights arguments in greater detail: namely, due process, equal protection, and privacy. Due Process & Equal Protection a. Basic...
Homosexuality in Legal Perspective (Part I): Society and the Constitution
During the month of November, the Helwys Society Forum has emphasized the topic of homosexuality. This is an important topic, especially in our day and age. We have examined it in Biblical, historical, and pastoral perspectives. In this article, we’re considering it in a legal one. A legal vantage point on this topic is important for Christians for this reason: by having an accurate account of the legal environment in America, we can...
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