THE CASE OF THE PEOPLE vs. JACOBUS ARMINIUS painting & caption by Larry James 

The heresy plaguing the modern church of the 21st century. What is it and where did it come from? The system of doctrine known as Arminianism is heresy. It is an offshoot from Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism. It has been adversely affecting the church and its doctrine for over 250 years. Men like Finney and Wesley, being the charismatic personalities they were, propagated the doctrine and resurrected the Pelagian error from the pit of hell once again to persecute the church of Christ. Today’s Arminians are not necessarily the same caliber as those of old. Historic Arminianism is altogether heretical. ~ Dr. C. Matthew McMahon, Calvinism and Arminianism.

So where did this deviant teaching come from? It was spawned by a 16th century gentleman named James Harmensen, born in 1560. This was his Dutch derivation, but is more well-known by his Latinized name – James Arminius. Thus, this is where “Arminianism” was birthed as a succession of an older heresy which was called Pelagianism. In other words, Arminianism was a form of Pelagianism that was not as extreme as Pelagianism, but more subtly destructive. Pelagianism denied the fall of Adam as affecting men in any way. Arminianism did not go to that extreme, but did say men were not completely dead in sin. In both views, though, men work for their salvation by coming, of their own accord, to Christ, on their own strength, and they “decide” to follow Jesus. Grace is good, and grace is helpful, but it is man that actually makes the difference. The reader may be directed to Arminius’ work published by Baker Book House in a three volume set which will demonstrate and convey the sense of all that this short article represents on his theology and thoughts about “god.” ~ Dr. C. Matthew McMahon, The “god” of Arminianism is Not Worshipable (A simple overview of what Arminius taught versus what the Bible teaches)