--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I once informed a leading evangelical…" description: "\"“I once informed a leading evangelical theologian that his newly published systematic theology is thoroughly Arminian even though he never uses the ter..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/roger-e-olson-17551_leadership_i-once-informed-a-leading-evangelical-th_1927254.jpg" --- # I once informed a leading evangelical theologian that his… ![“I once informed a leading evangelical theologian that his newly published systematic theology is thoroughly Arminian even though he never uses the term. His response was, “Yes, but don’t tell anyone!” quote by Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/roger-e-olson-17551_leadership_i-once-informed-a-leading-evangelical-th_1927254.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/roger-e-olson-17551_leadership_i-once-informed-a-leading-evangelical-th_1927254.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/285/roger-e-olson-17551_leadership_i-once-informed-a-leading-evangelical-th_1927254.jpg) > ““I once informed a leading evangelical theologian that his newly published systematic theology is thoroughly Arminian even though he never uses the term. His response was, “Yes, but don’t tell anyone!”” [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A theologian’s work aligns with Arminianism despite avoiding the label; secrecy hints at doctrinal politics. **In simple terms:** Theologian’s hidden Arminian stance. Key Takeaway Recognize implicit theological positions. Themes theology doctrinal politics transparency Mood analytical cautious Type academic critical When to use this quote - academic conferences - church teaching - public debates Key Concepts systematic theology ecumenical dialogue Questions to Reflect On - Why might scholars hide doctrinal labels? - How does transparency affect theological discourse? A Different Perspective May foster distrust; secrecy can undermine credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arminian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arminian-2205647/) [Evangelical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelical/) [Evangelical Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evangelical-theologian-2994634/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Theologian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theologian/) [Thoroughly Arminian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoroughly-arminian-2994633/) ## Related quotes > [“Wesley noted that “to say, ‘This man is an Arminian,’ has the same effect on many hearers, as to say ‘This is a mad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/wesley-noted-that-to-say-this-man-is-an-arminian-has-the-same-effect/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [The Arminian view makes the final decision of our salvation rest upon a human choice, not upon a divine action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-arminian-view-makes-the-final-decision-of-our-salvation-rest-upon/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [ “\[T\]he Papist and the Arminian on the one extremity, enthroneth Nature, and extolleth proud merit, and abaseth Christ and free grace. The Familist, libertine,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-rutherford/t-he-papist-and-the-arminian-on-the-one-extremity-enthroneth-nature/) [Samuel Rutherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-rutherford/) > [Satan does not care whether he drags you down to hell as a Calvinist or as an Arminian, so long as he can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/satan-does-not-care-whether-he-drags-you-down-to-hell-as-a-calvinist/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Work like an Arminian, sleep like a Calvinist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/work-like-an-arminian-sleep-like-a-calvinist/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [It's clearly the case that there's not some moment in American history when every evangelical is holding hands with every Catholic who is holding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-douthat/it-s-clearly-the-case-that-there-s-not-some-moment-in-american/) [Ross Douthat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-douthat/) > [Expecting perfection from ourselves or others is not what holiness is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/expecting-perfection-from-ourselves-or-others-is-not-what-holiness-is/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“The evangelical wing of the Church spends a lot of energy on being "born again" but little time on "growing up" again. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stockman/the-evangelical-wing-of-the-church-spends-a-lot-of-energy-on-being/) [Steve Stockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stockman/) > [“The world is in a mad dash of personal peace and affluence. Sadly, too often the evangelical church is not much different. Of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr-2/the-world-is-in-a-mad-dash-of-personal-peace-and-affluence-sadly-too/) [R.C. Sproul Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr-2/) > [As evangelical Christians we have tended to relegate art to the very fringe of life. The rest of human life we feel is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/as-evangelical-christians-we-have-tended-to-relegate-art-to-the-very/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [As far apart as they are theologically, Mormons and evangelical Christians may have more in common with each other anthropologically than they do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-weisberg/as-far-apart-as-they-are-theologically-mormons-and-evangelical/) [Jacob Weisberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-weisberg/) > [The two most evangelical groups in the world are atheists and vegetarians, especially the least knowledgeable and least intelligent individuals within those groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-coleman/the-two-most-evangelical-groups-in-the-world-are-atheists-and/) [Clark Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-coleman/) > [“The "new evangelical" wears skinny jeans and earrings made from recycled beer caps. After all, she is acquiring a taste for Blue Moon and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addie-zierman/the-new-evangelical-wears-skinny-jeans-and-earrings-made-from/) [Addie Zierman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addie-zierman/) > [New Rule: There is no devil, so stop blaming your screw-ups on him. Last week, one of the biggest evangelical leaders in America, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-there-is-no-devil-so-stop-blaming-your-screw-ups-on-him-last/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Evangelical Christians and I can sit down and talk one on one about how much we love Jesus, and yet I'm not carried in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/evangelical-christians-and-i-can-sit-down-and-talk-one-on-one-about/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) ## More by Roger E. Olson > [Human beings are special, of higher dignity and worth than other animals, because they're created in God's own image and likeness. It's actually true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/human-beings-are-special-of-higher-dignity-and-worth-than-other/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [“People who say that Calvinists teach predestination and deny free will, and that Arminians deny predestination and teach free will are simply wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/people-who-say-that-calvinists-teach-predestination-and-deny-free/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [We, including many Christians, read the Bible through "eyes" conditioned by, and even accommodated to, modern Western culture plus the influences of messages and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/we-including-many-christians-read-the-bible-through-eyes-conditioned/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [Before saying 'I disagree' be sure you can say 'I understand.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/before-saying-i-disagree-be-sure-you-can-say-i-understand/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [Only a loving and covenant-making personal God can provide humans with unique dignity, worth, and rights. Blind nature cannot do that. So, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/only-a-loving-and-covenant-making-personal-god-can-provide-humans/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [“If God’s love is absolutely different from the highest and best notions of love as we derive them from Scripture itself (especially from Jesus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/if-god-s-love-is-absolutely-different-from-the-highest-and-best/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [We're creatures, so we have limits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/we-re-creatures-so-we-have-limits/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > ["Ultimate reality" is the highest, deepest, eternal, unchangeable, source and ground of everything we see, touch, and experience with our five senses. It's that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/ultimate-reality-is-the-highest-deepest-eternal-unchangeable-source/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [Humanism cannot survive on a purely secular platform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/humanism-cannot-survive-on-a-purely-secular-platform/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [“Surely we can only come to understand each other's beliefs by means of direct encounter and open, honest discussion. In the meantime, many free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/surely-we-can-only-come-to-understand-each-other-s-beliefs-by-means/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [The Bible portrays God as entering into covenants with people which, when broken, causes him grief and sorrow. The biblical prophet Hosea and God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/the-bible-portrays-god-as-entering-into-covenants-with-people-which/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [“Someone has said that no theology is worth believing that cannot be preached standing in front of the gates of Auschwitz. I, for one,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/someone-has-said-that-no-theology-is-worth-believing-that-cannot-be/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [There's nothing easy or simple or even entertaining (in our contemporary American sense of that word) in disciplining our minds to "see" reality through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/there-s-nothing-easy-or-simple-or-even-entertaining-in-our/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [Today, under the influences of Eastern religions and philosophies imported into the West, many Christians confuse God's Spirit with our spirit and think our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/today-under-the-influences-of-eastern-religions-and-philosophies/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) > [Today we cannot assume people, even all Christians, understand the Bible's implicit, underlying view of reality. We have to dig it out and show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-e-olson/today-we-cannot-assume-people-even-all-christians-understand-the/) [Roger E. Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) [Explore all 37 Roger E. Olson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-e-olson/) ## More Evangelical quotes > [Evangelical Christians and I can sit down and talk one on one about how much we love Jesus, and yet I'm not carried in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/evangelical-christians-and-i-can-sit-down-and-talk-one-on-one-about/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [New Rule: There is no devil, so stop blaming your screw-ups on him. Last week, one of the biggest evangelical leaders in America, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/new-rule-there-is-no-devil-so-stop-blaming-your-screw-ups-on-him-last/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [“The "new evangelical" wears skinny jeans and earrings made from recycled beer caps. After all, she is acquiring a taste for Blue Moon and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addie-zierman/the-new-evangelical-wears-skinny-jeans-and-earrings-made-from/) [Addie Zierman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addie-zierman/) > [The two most evangelical groups in the world are atheists and vegetarians, especially the least knowledgeable and least intelligent individuals within those groups](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-coleman/the-two-most-evangelical-groups-in-the-world-are-atheists-and/) [Clark Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-coleman/) > [As far apart as they are theologically, Mormons and evangelical Christians may have more in common with each other anthropologically than they do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-weisberg/as-far-apart-as-they-are-theologically-mormons-and-evangelical/) [Jacob Weisberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-weisberg/) > [As evangelical Christians we have tended to relegate art to the very fringe of life. The rest of human life we feel is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/as-evangelical-christians-we-have-tended-to-relegate-art-to-the-very/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [“The world is in a mad dash of personal peace and affluence. Sadly, too often the evangelical church is not much different. Of course,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-jr-2/the-world-is-in-a-mad-dash-of-personal-peace-and-affluence-sadly-too/) [R.C. Sproul Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-jr-2/) > [“The evangelical wing of the Church spends a lot of energy on being "born again" but little time on "growing up" again. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stockman/the-evangelical-wing-of-the-church-spends-a-lot-of-energy-on-being/) [Steve Stockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stockman/) > [I don't think I am evangelical in my work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-don-t-think-i-am-evangelical-in-my-work/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [You've got these twenty million people who call themselves the Evangelical Christians who will put their hand up and say, I believe in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-ve-got-these-twenty-million-people-who-call-themselves-the/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [As evangelical Christians, we have tended to relegate art to the very fringe of life. The rest of human life we feel is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/as-evangelical-christians-we-have-tended-to-relegate-art-to-the-very-2/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [We live in a very pluralistic society today. There are Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, atheists, Roman Catholics, Evangelical Christians, and Christians like me. 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