So let’s do a little apologetic clean-up and bust some of the most common myths Calvinists toss our way.
Myth #1: “Arminians deny God’s sovereignty.”
Really? So the Creator of the universe suddenly loses His throne because some Christians believe His grace can be resisted? That’s like saying the teacher isn’t in charge of the classroom because she lets kids choose whether to raise their hands.
Reformed Arminians affirm God’s absolute sovereignty. What we deny is the Calvinist definition of sovereignty—as if sovereignty only means “micromanaging every thought, word, and action.” But biblically, sovereignty means God rules and governs, not that He causes sin to exist. Otherwise, what do you do with James 1:13: “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone”?
Claiming Arminians deny sovereignty is a false dilemma fallacy—as if the only options are Calvinism or atheism. Nope. God’s sovereignty and human responsibility are compatible without turning Him into the author of evil.
Myth #2: “Arminians believe salvation is by works.”
This one gets repeated so much you’d think Calvinists have it on a t-shirt. But here’s the irony: Arminians were the ones historically accused of being “too Calvinistic” in their doctrine of grace by the Remonstrants’ opponents.
Reformed Arminians believe salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Full stop. We just believe faith is not an automatic download forced into the elect’s hard drive—it’s a real response enabled by prevenient grace.
To say we teach “works salvation” is a strawman fallacy—misrepresenting our view just to knock it down. It’s like calling someone a vegan because they don’t eat pork, even though they’re currently holding a chicken sandwich.
Myth #3: “Arminians think people save themselves.”
Oh yes, because when Paul fell to the ground on the Damascus road, he pulled himself up by his own spiritual bootstraps, right? Please.
Reformed Arminians affirm total depravity. Left to ourselves, we’re as spiritually lifeless as a broken iPhone. Without God’s initiating grace, no one would repent, believe, or even care. The difference? We believe God’s grace draws all, not just a select few, and humans can resist or receive it.
Calling that “saving yourself” is a false analogy. It’s like saying a drowning man who grabs the lifebuoy “saved himself.” No—he didn’t throw the lifebuoy, and he definitely didn’t invent flotation devices. He just clung to what was offered.
Myth #4: “Arminians can’t have assurance of salvation.”
This one’s funny because the same Calvinists who throw it around will also admit that lots of Calvinists wrestle with assurance. Why? Because if you’re not one of the elect, no amount of “faith” matters.
Reformed Arminians ground assurance not in some hidden decree but in Christ Himself. “Whoever has the Son has life” (1 John 5:12). Our confidence is in God’s faithfulness, not our perfect track record.
To say Arminians can’t have assurance is a hasty generalization fallacy. It’s like saying all introverts hate people. No, they just don’t like your party.
Myth #5: “Arminians are basically Pelagians.”
Ah, yes, the theological equivalent of calling someone a heretic and walking away. Newsflash: Pelagius denied original sin and the need for grace. Reformed Arminians affirm both. In fact, we go out of our way to reject Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism.
But hey, if Calvinists get to call anyone who disagrees with them a Pelagian, then maybe we should start calling Calvinists “hyper-determinists.” See how childish that gets?
This one is pure guilt by association. If Pelagius sneezed in the 4th century, apparently Arminius caught a cold. Not how logic works.
Wrapping It Up
Reformed Arminianism isn’t some weak halfway house between Calvinism and “Do-It-Yourself Salvation.” It’s a robust, historic, biblical theology that magnifies God’s grace, human responsibility, and the universality of Christ’s atonement.
So the next time a Calvinist throws one of these myths at you, just ask a simple rhetorical question back: “Do you actually know what we believe, or are you just repeating memes?”
Because when you shine the light of Scripture and reason on these myths, they collapse faster than a Jenga tower in an earthquake.
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