People don't like labels, and I totally get that. I've said many times on here, that I don't like being labeled a Calvinist. First of all, the word Calvinist automatically has ties to the man John Calvin, and I agree with what a minister I heard say once, that he had enough sins of his own to be tied to another man's sins. But beyond that, Calvinism is also often highly misunderstood.
Nevertheless, my views if I'm honest, line up pretty well with the five points of Calvinism. But only because I believe the bible teaches these five points, not because John Calvin taught them.
So all that said, I think the author of this word study doesn't like the label of Arminian, and again I totally get that, but still, I think a thorough study of his writings, would most likely reveal his views still line up with Arminianism.
(This guy Roger E. Olson, not related to C. Gordon Olson, did a review of one of his books and this is an excerpt from an article he wrote)
Over the years, since I “came out” publicly among evangelicals as an Arminian (beginning with my 1999 Christianity Today article “Don’t hate me because I’m an Arminian”) I have received many books and manuscripts about Calvinism and Arminianism from authors. Often they CLAIM to have discovered a via media between Calvinism and Arminianism or a biblical alternative to both. In most cases (perhaps every case!) I have found them to be promoting either Calvinism or Arminianism without knowing it. In other words, the authors are not really well versed in Calvinism or Arminianism.
Some years ago C. Gordon Olson sent me his book Beyond Calvinism and Arminianism (Global Gospel Publishers, 2002). When an author sends me his or her book or manuscript I assume he or she wants my honest feedback. I wrote to Olson (not a relative) and told him that his theology “beyond” was really just classical Arminianism. I had not yet written Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities, so I couldn’t send that to him. But I tried to point out where his discovery actually agreed entirely with Arminius and Wesley and other classical Arminians. I didn’t hear back from him.
Once an author writes and publishes an article or book he or she can’t take it back. So I understand when he or she discovers his or her fundamental mistake it’s tempting not to respond and just hope others don’t notice. But the frequency of this problem (not just with regard to Calvinism and Arminianism) should be a lesson to all who are tempted to write a book to make sure they are really knowledgeable about their subject. Otherwise, they should expect to receive negative reviews.
---Roger E. Olson