I heard it said - "I can't substantiate this, but this [discussion of determinism] makes me believe that Calvanists would have been okay with slavery and arminians would not have..."
I wanted to think this through with all the sequenced knowledge and tenants I know, as a calvanist. Since I cannot rightly say that I would not in any circumstance own, or be a slave, I can only rely on Spirit led knowledge and illumination of truth for my answer to the question.
But therein lies the problem, in the matters of fact of slavery, or any condition of mankind we cannot assume different circumstances in the present condition and expect different results. That is, the conditions - produce the results. The results are not simply a matter of choice. But I'm getting ahead of myself. If you're not into thinking, or evaluating thought processes to help train your own, just skip to the bottom paragraph.
The Two Systems
Calvanism/Determinsm - All of the tenants of calvanism will not be discussed here, suffice it to say that a calvanist is either 100% in agreement that all things are determined, or they rely on the word mystery to come to agreement on the issue of evil, yet, they stand by the fact that all things are necessarily determined from before the foundation of the world.
Arminianism/Free Will - The arminian, or more commonly known, Contemporary modern evangelical believes that God determines nothing or, determines some things, but not all, or has given man the power to determine things, predicated on a degrading system that would set into place that has rules and laws. Some of which can be bent, and some broken. Man is entirely responsible for his actions, by his own moral choice and necessarily must have the freedom to do so, in order for God to be just.
Now - to the question of slavery. It's pretty obvious and I think a fair accusation to say that on the matter of slavery, or any determined thing a calvanist would not necessarily believe things needed to be different. That is, the calvanist knows that if slavery does exist, is certainly necessarily exists. But - how does the calvanist do this? Isn't there a pertuberance of the mind? Should the calvanist attempt to change the wrong evils of man?
A mature calvanist recognizes that all men are evil. There are none who do good, all have turned aside, all seek evil. So he is not encumbered with the belief that slavery is any worse than, lying, or murder, or adultery. At least, in his ability to judge sin, all of it seperates you eternally from God.
The arminian however, and it makes sense given their world view, would attempt and believe it to be in their power to reconcile the wrong-doings of man-kind. This calvanist believes that, that Arminian is likely to overlook his own sin, in his hatred of slavery and he's likely to elevate slavery as a higher moral sin than his, more justifiable, understable and relatable, "respectable-sin" if ever there was one. But, that is an accusation that is only based on experience and not verifiable fact. So let me keep to the matter at hand. The principal issue here is that the Arminian does not recognize his own defect at determining what is wrong and what is right. He would say, slavery is OBVIOUSLY wrong!
Well - from who's perspective? The writer understands and is well aware of the sentimentality that has been injected, from birth, on the black/white race discrimination matters. Yet, this has nothing whatsover to do with slavery, nor the pursuit of what is right and true. God enslaved His own people many times. To the Egyptians, Babylonians, Assyrians and many, many more. Read Judges. So - if God does it, does that make it wrong?
The answer is, God doing it, doesn't make it wrong for Him, but it can still be wrong for us. Consider the matter of the killing of His own Son. Thou shalt not, murder. Christ was innocent, yet the Arminian will have no problem assigning the blame to the Jews first, and then the Gentiles (Romans). Yet - Acts says, specifically, that God planned it and it could be no other way.
Then, there is Paul, a very strong writer and revealer of doctrine in the faith. What is his stance on slavery? Specifically, he says that whether bond or free, you are to serve God. He implores a slave owner - who was a Christian, to take back his slave. Notice, when he has the chance what he doesn't say..."say....philemon, you know slavery's wrong and remember how our people were once enslaved...you wouldn't like that, would you? C'mon let the guy go".
It should be stated that my goal is not to justify slavery, bring it back to contemporary times, or even defend it. I'm simply looking at facts and asking the question...would a Calvanist accept slavery where the Arminian would end it?
What's slightly strange about this is that on one side, the Arminian has no trouble saying "you made your bed, now sleep in it" which is a direct statement of their faith. You are morally responsible for your deeds because of your freedom of choice and awareness of consequences.
It's strange that the Arminian would not apply the same logic to slaves. Did they not suffer due to being weak, inferior in intellect, or skills of war? Certainly, if they were conquered by force, they were still yet conquered...were they not and now, they are at the disposal of their captors?
The arminian doesn't apologize for winning a hand of poker, or running a race and winning do they? Certainly they praise themselves, even if they invoke the name of God when they say that "I have won the race - thanks be to God"....
Why is it suddenly wrong or evil to apply the same means of logic to slavery or even imprisonment? I find it utterly strange that an Arminian could look at a criminal, who by the results of his free choices, found himself in imprisonment, and yet a slave who was once free, by his free choices also found himself in the same place. But the Arminian does not reason like this!
Freedom is defined so broadly in one sense and so narrowly in another, it is a moving target! Freedom is the ability to choose and the slave chose to be a slave, by not having the power to choose differently (isn't he JUST as resposible not NOT choosing to have the power to choose, when he had the chance?). He should have chosen to have the power to choose differently! But, this is the conundrum that the arminian falls into. How can he do so?!
HE CAN'T! And that is exactly the problem with the theological view. Because the Bible says that YOU and I are slaves to sin. And except we are chosen of God and transferred into His dominion, we will remain that way, forever. No matter what we choose.
SO - to answer the question, does your worldview predispose you to slavery. Unashamedly, let me say, yes. You will accept what God has planned as necessary and you will see it for the GOOD of those who are called and love God, if you're a calvanist. And you'll see life happening to you and you'll be a victim at times and a victor at others, having no sense of why God seems so capricious if you're an Armininan.
And if you're an arminian on his worst day, you'll reason that a slave is a slave because he chose to be taken captive, by not choosing something higher.
But at the core - humanity is desperately wicked. So I am not surprised when evil men, perpetrate evil against one another. But God is Holy, so let Him be true and all men be liars.
Put no confidence in the flesh, but in all ways acknowledge God, he will direct your path. And the Spirit, will lead His elect into all truth and righteousness.
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