Wow...
Talk about a dumpster fire in a train wreck.
I know it was 7 years ago, but I can't remember if I saw it before, and I was intrigued by the RFG intro where Tassi is accusing White of being a Molinist.
Tassi: "You need to realize that he's gone from predeterminism, now he's speaking of some kind of middle knowledge, and now has to -"
White: "I deny, and categorically deny, middle knowledge."
Tassi: "Then don't beg the question that would, uh, demand me to force you to, uh, embrace it."
Huh?!
The day before the debate, James found a video of Tassi attacking Calvinism (with incredibly poor arguments, IMO), and decided to make a video about them, addressing them so that hopefully Tassi would avoid such poor argumentation, and the end result might be a far better debate (since historically, Arminians don't do well debating Rom. 9). Well, I can understand Tassi's annoyance, since it was the day before, and that didn't leave a lot of time to modify his presentations (not that he would have, IMO).
So after James' 20 minute opening statement, Tassi spent 20 minutes playing the victim, complaining that White was trying to sabotage the debate, and calling White every name under the sun. He also apparenlty wanted to let the audience know how many names of logical fallacies he knew, as he had an excuse for everything (as he spent the entire 20 minutes personally attacking and insulting White, instead of addressing Rom. 9).
The rest of the debate didn't go much better for Tassi. During the cross-ex, Tassi couldn't give straight answers for what any Scripture (eg. John 6:44) meant, only what it "cannot" mean. He did the same for the audience Q&A at the end.
It made me wonder how much education and background Tassi had. It turns out that Calvary Chapel apparently only requires a 1-year study in their in-house seminary before becoming CC pastors. But at least he knew how to look up and pronounce Greek words (ooh! We're all impressed!)
He clearly didn't have an adequate understanding of Calvinism. He mentioned the WCF and LBCF, as well as Geisler's book, White's response book, and White's and Hunt's "debate" book. So I'm guessing he's never read any irenic presentations of Calvinism, such as the Institutes, or Boettner's book, or something like that.
He showed nothing but contempt and disrespect for Calvinists, both in his presentation to his congregation that James was responding to, but also in the debate itself. And while he falsely accused White of not thinking he was a Christian since he wasn't a Calvinist, he feigned appreciation that James kept calling him, "brother Tassi". Newsflash, James wouldn't call you that if he didn't consider you his brother in Christ.
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