Nuanced
Arminian: salvation offered to all; Calvinist election rejected
Mennonites hold an Arminian view of salvation: God desires all people to be saved and the gospel is genuinely offered to all. Calvinist predestination — particularly unconditional election and limited atonement — is rejected as inconsistent with God's character and with the universal scope of Christ's invitation. Human freedom to respond to God's grace is affirmed.
The Anabaptist tradition has always emphasized voluntary, adult commitment to faith — which is why believer's baptism is foundational. This presupposes genuine human freedom to choose or reject the gospel, which is incompatible with hard Calvinist determinism.
Key Distinctions
- Election model:
- conditional election — God elects those he foreknows will believe (Arminian)
- Double predestination:
- denied — God does not predestine any to damnation
- Free will teaching:
- libertarian free will — prevenient grace enables genuine choice
Scripture References
Sources
- Mennonite Confession of Faith (1995), Article 8 (Salvation)