What is Monergism? with Leighton Flowers

This is a clip from Shawn's interview with the authors of Calvinism: A Biblical Critique. In this clip, Dr. Leighton Flowers explains what the Calvinist means by Monergism. If you have been confused by this term and wonder if it is biblical, Dr. Flowers shows what a Calvinist is communicating when he uses this word.

[LouisaWatt]

There was a quote my communications lecturer used recently which said “the first casualty of war is grammar” and I find that to be true of all false doctrines as well. They always adopt the language, but twist the definition to make it more insidious for the unwary.

[davidkelley]

Thanks for this important discussion, very helpful; interpretation and understanding of scripture is vital.

[CliveChamberlain]

Yup! Salvation is all of God. Someone once said, "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, but each must consider himself dead and believe He alone paid the price - all you have to do is pick-up that cheque, it's paid-in-full".
Now who would believe such a silly thing? I did. And Oh happy day! 🥰🤗

[johndodson]

From whence does a change of heart derive? That's the issue.

[davisbelas]

John 6:44
English Standard Version
44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

*The word “draw” here is key…to compel, or drag someone kicking and screaming against their will.

[thomasjohns]

So, in Mark 1:15 Jesus says; "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; REPENT and BELIEVE in the gospel."
The word repentance in the Bible literally means "the act of changing one's mind."
So when He said to REPENT and BELIEVE, what was He saying? Well, if He is saying REPENT and BELIEVE, it seems to me that He is saying to turn from UNBELIEF to BELIEF. REPENT and BELIEVE.
Romans 11:19-23 talks about this very thing: You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." Quite right, they were broken off for their UNBELIEF, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off. And they also, IF THEY DO NOT CONTINUE IN THEIR UNBELIEF, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.
So, in verse 23 it says that if they do not continue in their UNBELIEF... if they turn or repent from UNBELIEF to BELIEF, they will be grafted back in... So repentance is a decision or a choice that we make. Turn from UNBELIEF to BELIEF...
Sounds pretty much like free will to me.

[BrandonGray]

Like the law that was given to Moses at Mount Sinai 40 days after Passover, likewise the Holy Spirit was given to the world 40days after death and resurrection of Jesus. John writes, The Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, because they don’t believe, and concerning righteousness because Jesus goes back to the Father. Therefore,

[johndodson]

Just like in creation, God initiates life by breathing his Ruach. So also in our new creation. Life precedes that being's thinking.

It's very similar to the evolutionism debate. Do creatures cobble together life on their own? No. Neither does a corrupt, deceived heart SELF-GENERATE faith in truth by cobbling together lies.

[bloodbruise]

The prodigal son was a son though. The Bible makes it clear we're sons of the devil until we are adopted into the family of God.

I would argue the story of the prodigal son is that of a regenerate person who backslid (God says Himself He's married to the backslider) and then comes back to the Father.

I don't see the prodigal son story equating with an unregenerate, unbelieving, dead in Sims and trespasses son of the devil.

Yes I'm a calvanist in my soteriology, but I'm open to correction, however it has to be more biblically sound and cohesive than this argument.

[johndodson]

Faith is man's mind understanding and his will accepting. Man is acting, not passive. Unlike sunlight that just bounces off, the "light" of truth is internal. We are thinking God's thoughts after him.