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Monergism vs. Synergism

"Monergism" means "only one working." "Synergism" means, "working with, or working together." "Soteriology" is, at the risk of being overly literal, is "the study or science of being saved." So if one is committed to "soteriological monergism," this means there is only one actor. If that one actor is God, it doesn't matter if that action causes an ontological change in the recipient or not; whatever the man experiences in terms of acting, it's not real, in the sense of participation. It's a sophisticated form of fatalism, because if there's only one actor (God) then God alone is responsible for the outcome. At least the Reformed separating justification and sanctification attempts to give the man freedom in sanctification, even if it ends up being fictitious, being ultimately rooted in the immutable will of God. They (Lutheran and Reformed) both quite unintentionally but truly make God the author of sin, because the only one whose actions are determinative is God. "Monergism" does not refer to God as First Cause, or even as the primary actor; it means God is the only actor. This cannot be, if we want to hold a man responsible for his sins, and for rejecting the Savior's atoning death. Let's be clear on definitions. And be willing to live with their implications.

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