I write this in deep fear that I’m going to get a poke in the nose from Rick Patrick.
Actually, his light-hearted complaint about being labeled a Calvinist made me think about a problem with the whole debate. I left a comment on that post, but thought I would expand the concept as a separate post and ask the question I think we need to answer.
What do you mean when you call someone a Calvinist?
As I watch the sometimes intense discussion of Calvinism here and elsewhere, I can’t help but think that one root of the problem is often the definition of the term. I mean one thing when I use the term and you mean something else. So we argue based on our different definitions when our views are not all that different.
Dr. Al Mohler got a lot of this going with comments he made at the 2006 Pastor’s Conference suggesting that all Southern Baptists, in one form or another, are Calvinists. If ever a statement has been taken out of context, it was that one.
Can we agree that Mohler is not a stupid man? He knows that there are many Southern Baptists who are do not believe the tenants of strict Calvinism. He wasn’t saying that. In fact, these comments were made within the context of the debate with noted non-Calvinist, Dr. Paige Patterson. Thabite Anyabwile has a loose transcript of the debate available here, for those who are interested in what was actually said.
Mohler’s point was not that all Baptists should be labeled Calvinists or that only Calvinists are true Baptists. The point he was making is that all Southern Baptists share theological roots with Calvinism. He was not trying to assert the ridiculous, contrary to how some have painted his comments. Again, he’s not stupid. He knows that there are many Baptists who reject the “doctrines of grace” as defined by Calvinists.
You can read some of the quotes from the debate and what Mohler was actually trying to say here.
When Mohler said that all Baptists share theological roots with Calvinism, he was casting a wide net. So, here’s my point: If you accept his presuppositions and definitions, Mohler was right. The vast majority of Southern Baptists have a theology that owes much to Calvinism, even if they do not subscribe to the Calvinist system. That’s what he was trying to say.
But that brings us back to the original question. What is a Calvinist?
But I still have doubts as to whether or not I’m a Calvinist. I don’t have doubts about what I believe – I’m fairly comfortable with my theological understanding, even though no human doctrinal system codifies truth completely. I know what I believe, I just don’t know if it makes me a Calvinist or not.
Where I Stand on Calvinism
The issue of God’s sovereignty in salvation and human responsibility is one of those logical antinomy issues like the Trinity and the dual nature of Christ. The Bible often affirms as true two things that cannot both be logically true. Isaiah 55:8-9 is key to my theological understanding. His ways are higher and his thoughts are higher. God has a logic and understanding which we fallen human beings cannot grasp. Our job is not always to understand God but to trust him and his Word. Here are some examples of these antinomies.
- God is one. God is three. You don’t understand that and neither do I. If you think you understand it, you probably have accepted a simple solution to an unsolvable logical problem.
- Jesus was fully man and fully God. Huh? Trying to completely understand that will sprain your brain.
- And I believe that the sovereignty/responsibility debate is just such a conundrum.
So, do I believe that God chose before the foundation of the world those who would be saved, based solely on his sovereign grace and not on any merit or anticipation of action on the part of the chosen one? Yes.
Do I believe that human beings are responsible moral agents who must make a genuine, free choice to trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, to repent and believe? Yes I do. As I read scripture, God’s sovereignty over salvation is pretty clear.
How can both be true? How can God choose me but I must also choose him? I don’t know. Ask God. I’m just not sure I can completely buy into the monergistic systems some have presented.
I think the problem comes when our love for human logic makes us want to choose one side of this or the other. Some want to embrace a radical monergism (certainly not all Calvinists fit this bill) that makes the faith of man just a programmed response to the sovereign call of God. Why then did Peter exhort the Jews with many words to make a choice on the day of Pentecost? And those who say, “God chose those he knew would choose him.” Really? That’s nonsense. We love him because he first loved us. Any system that ignores the fact that God’s choice came first doesn’t match the biblical evidence.
So, I’m caught in between. I cannot deny the sovereignty of God in salvation, but I cannot reduce man’s choice in a way that some Calvinists I’ve known do. I’m kinda in between Calvinism and and Baptist non-Calvinism and I’m not completely sure where I fit.
What is Your Definition?
I’ve read hardcore Calvinists who have claimed that you are not really a Calvinist unless you buy the whole system – infant Baptism, covenant theology, Calvinist ecclesiologies, all five points of the TULIP system, etc. Certainly, by their definition, I am most certainly NOT a Calvinist.
At the other extreme are those who say that if you hold to some form of eternal security you are basically living in Calvin’s world. By that system, of course I’m a Calvinist.
For most, I think, the watershed issue is whether God’s choice or man’s is the root of salvation. Do we choose God because he chose us, or does he choose us because he foresees that we will choose him?
So, here’s my question today. When you say, “He’s a Calvinist,” what do you mean? What makes someone a Calvinist or not a Calvinist?
How can we have a civil and productive discussion of the TRUTH of Calvinism if we can’t even agree on the ESSENCE of Calvinism?
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to give a clear, concise and comprehensive definition of Calvinism. Warning, this blog post will self-destruct in 5 seconds…
Articles like this are why I persist in reading this blog. No attack, just clearly and plainly stating your view and a genuine interest in other’s coherent responses. I hope you get them, coherent responses, that is.
Ditto.
Thanks.
It’s pretty simple. If this song could be sung about you, you’re probably a Calvinist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZdoSG0IdNE
Chris,
That’s funny.
David
yep
Dave, What you believe on this issue, and what I believe is very, very close, although I’m not a 5 point Calvinist. And, I’d have to agree with Dr. Mohler that all Baptists, who believe in eternal security and salvation by grace thru faith are Calvinistic. But, if by that Dr. Mohler meant that all Southern Baptists came from aggressive, 5 point Calvinists types like we have today; and we need to get back to that in the SBC; then I cant agree with him. That would be like the Founders view. So, of course, all Baptists, who arent Free… Read more »
David: Wouldn’t you agree that being aggressive and obsessed is a bad thing, no matter what the topic? I’ve noticed a lot of aggressive, obsessed behavior in the SBC blogosphere from Calvinists and non-Calvinists alike. I’ve noticed obsessions about certain persons. I’ve noticed obsessions about cultural issues. I’ve noticed obsessions for and against Calvinism. Despite your assertion that Baptists aren’t Arminians, I’m seeing, if not obsession, a new and surprisingly strong interest in Arminianism in the SBC blogosphere. Aggressiveness and obsession are both bad things, no matter what the subject, but those traits aren’t exclusive to Calvinists, although I’ll agree… Read more »
You make a good point. Aggressive, obsessed Calvinists, anti-Cslvinists, BI, anti-BI – all cause problems. When you lose balance and become obsessed it becomes a problem. And just for clarity, I am not saying you are anti-Calvinist, David. Just making a theoretical point. Aggressive and obsessive Christians advocating a viewpoint are usually off-putting.
I’d really love a good solid definition of what an aggressive Calvinist is and what specifically is the difference with new Calvinism and old Calvinism. Alongside this definition I would love for a list of people who fit the definition and an example of why they fit the definition. If the definition is fair and the label is true of their position I don’t think it would be slander to say, “____ believes X, I define X as being an aggressive Calvinist, therefore I consider ___ to be what I would call an aggressive Calvinist”. I say this b/c these… Read more »
Throwing in a new Clavinism post during the last week of the year strikes me as a bit risky: You might have to revise your Top 10 SBC Voices list, again.
A little more serious than my previous point, a couple of tweaks. “The Bible often affirms as true two things that cannot both be logically true.” I would tweak this to say (and suspect you would agree from the other things you say), the Bible often affirms as true two things that we are unable to understand as both being logically true. The weakness is not with logic or with God’s action but with our ability to understand. As for my definition, I’m reluctant to refer to a person as Calvinist unless he affirms at least four, and preferably all… Read more »
I used to think that only 5 pointers should rightly be called Calvinists. Not in an exclusive club sort of way, but simply for clarity. Now I would say that 4 pointers who aren’t universalists are pretty much Calvinists, since they limit the atonement in one way or another. The bottom line for me is that I don’t think God tries, and I don’t think God fails. So I can’t really accept a system that suggests that God is trying to save as many people as He can, and by all accounts failing most of the time. I can’t accept… Read more »
This, Bill, is one of the better attempts to arrive at a definition of Calvinism. Thanks.
Dave, Then there are also the definitions: Hyper-Calvinist – anyone who is more Calvinist than me. Arminian – anyone who is less Calvinist than me. Why are there “Semi-Arminians” but no “Semi-Calvinists?” There seem to be “Calvinists,” “5-point Calvinists,” and “CALVINISTS!” As I mentioned recently, I’ve heard off and on all my life that all Baptists are Calvinists since we at least believe in eternal security (perseverance of the saints). And, depending on how they are defined, other (but most would say not all) of the 5 points of Calvinism. I and others have sometimes distinguished them as Moderate Calvinists,… Read more »
Ranting about your interactions with various people is ok, but I think you missed the point of the post…
what do YOU mean when you say: he is a calvinist?
How do YOU define that Mr Brumbelow? What are YOUR parameters? Where do YOU draw the line? Dont’ cop out and only rant about “them” whoever “they” are… (I think Fox Mulder knows who they are)
Greg,
Didn’t know I was ranting. Don’t see what you’re upset about.
David R. Brumbelow
me either. I didnt take David’s comments as a rant, and I didnt think he was mad or upset. Geeeez.
David
eh… rant was probably too strong a word… sorry.
I’m not upset, just that you seemed to have a strong opinion (from past discussions) and for clarity I just wanted to know what Dave wants to know: what do you mean/how do you define “calvinism/calvinist” when you are posting.
Not upset at all. I was actually trying to joke with the X-Files reference. And, to show that I’m not a hypocrite by commenting and not defining, I posted my take/understanding what I think of when I define calvinism/calvinist.
Did not mean to offend…
Greg,
Just a question, nothing behind it. When you say “strong opinion”, is that what is meant when a person says, “I believe in…..”? Seems it would because that causes a change in course for that person. 🙂
I would have to say that i completely mistook what David B wrote.
I apologize.
I think ultimately all Southern Baptists are calvinisticto some degree even staunch noncalvinists, such as, P. Patterson, S. Lemke, and J. Vines have said as much. The determining factor at this point in Baptist theology in my opinion is how does one believe on “the doctrines of grace” or “limited atonement” and “unconditional election”. These are the points most people disagree on and might be the best benchmarks to set as to whther a person qualifies as a Calvinst. As if that actually matters in the grand scheme of things.
That was certainly the point Mohler was making back in 2006.
Calvinism is often used to describe those Christians who believe that biblical truth, in regards to soteriology, is best summed up with the five points of Calvinism; total depravity (man is unable to save himself), unconditional election (God has chosen those who will be saved), limited atonement (Christ only died for those who will be saved), irresistible grace (God will overcome the elects sinfulness), and perseverance of the saints (Once saved always saved).
When baptists speak of Calvinism they are almost always referring to soteriology and so that is why I went with the above definition.
So, if I adhere to only four of those points, I’m not a Calvinist?
You are taking, if i understand you, the more strict interpretation of Calvinist identity – that the Calvinist system hangs or falls together.
Am I understanding you?
It’s my personal belief that labels, such as Calvinism, should be used to help point out distinctives. So, if you believe 4 of the 5 points then you would say so, ie “I’m a 4 point Calvinist”. As far as I am concerned it would also be valid to say, “I’m a two point Calvinist (T and P).” Calvinism is just a theological term that is defined by a particular system of thought within soteriology. Just as Baptist is a term that deals mostly with ecclesiology. In my case, I go with reformed baptist. I feel it more accurately labels… Read more »
I agree with you that labels, unless used pejoratively, can be very helpful in summarizing positions. Four-point, 5-point, etc – these terms are pretty descriptive. The more general term, “Calvinist” is not so nearly easy to define.
“The point he was making is that all Southern Baptists share theological roots with Calvinism” I find this premise ridiculous. Jesus came before Calvin (wink) and the church was started in the first Century and soon after the New Testament. What on earth does Calvin have to do with that? Our “theological roots” come from much farther back than Calvin. Since they happen to intersect with some things Calvin wrote or practiced, that is one thing. But they also intersect with some things Menno Simms wrote. That does not make us Mennonites. Although we could claim it and insist we… Read more »
So, do you not use Protestant as a label for yourself?
Lydia, your schema here lacks historical credibility. We all want to believe that our doctrine goes back to the NT. But we are all also the products of the process of historical theology. Whether you like it or not, Luther, Calvin, Zwingli and many others have had an effect on the formulation of your beliefs.
“Lydia, your schema here lacks historical credibility.” Dave, I would have been disappointed if you had said, Lydia, that is a good point. :o) But I wonder why “history” has the “credibility” and not just spiritual truths? If history is the guide then you have to admit there are plenty of things many of us agree with Menno Simms concerning (just using him as an example). So why are we not 4 or 5 pt mennonites? Because he had no power and position like Calvin and did not publish a lot because he was busy hiding from the Reformers. :o)… Read more »
Lydia – Ouch ! That’s good .
Wouldn’t it be kind of arrogant to assume that we do not build upon the teachings of those who have studied throughout history. You are creating a false dichotomy between history and biblical doctrine.
We are not the first people to attempt to study and interpret the Bible.
And, just for the record, it was Menno Simons.
Bingo!
The Holy Spirit also uses people to teach and carry out theological truths. I’m not sure it would have been beyond God’s power to have given Menno Simons a greater historical and theological influence in the SBC.
Actually, there are denominations out there who have been influenced and promote Simons’ work which people are free to join.
Thanks……Simons.
“You are creating a false dichotomy between history and biblical doctrine”
Some can choose to study history for spiritual truth, I suppose. So and so’s systematic theology. I am guilty of it, too, btw.
I am trying to figure out why we do this when we have been given the Best Teacher.
Because, Lydia, those great figures in church history that we study also had that Great Teacher and we can learn from their labors and their studies. We don’t have to start over from the beginning every generation. We build on what the previous generation learned from the previous generation. My dad is a Bible teacher from whom I learned many things. That doesn’t mean that he replaced Christ as the great teacher. It just means that my dad helped me better understand the teachings of Christ. Learning from Calvin (even if you don’t call yourself a Calvinist) or sharing some… Read more »
Dave Miller, As an Arminian, I would say that you are a Calvinist, not a “non-Calvinist” nor an Arminian. If we ask R.C. Sproul Sr., however, he may say something else entirely, depending upon your views of the atonement, haha. Nevertheless, even if a person is soft on the issue of “Limited Atonement,” or perhaps even “Irresistible Grace” (regeneration preceding faith), the fact that one holds to “Unconditional Election” and “Perseverance of the Saints” would, at the very least, make one Calvinistic. I think there are many, many Southern Baptists who fall into this category. They may not be sold-out… Read more »
The distinction between Calvinistic and Calvinist is a good one, though with just two letters differentiating them, a new term might be helpful.
We could call them Millerites! Oh wait, that’s been done before…
Way to close to Miller Lites as opposed to Bud Lites and in the deep south that is a major issue; almost as big as Calvinism!
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Bob, you’d better be a Calvinist. You talked about beer on a Baptist blog. If one can lose his salvation that would be just cause.
I knew I was flirting with danger there… but since I KNEW that no one here cared for bud or miller lite, I thought I would be safe! After all being in Daytona I am a NASCAR fan and those boys are serious about them.
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Hi Bob. I’ll admit that I like Miller Lite ok. But I prefer Guinness.
DAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Dave, I liked what you said and how you said it in such a short written form. 🙂 I agree with what you said, too. When I read Job 38-40 each year to bring my thoughts aright I am humbled by any comprehension of God that He has allowed me to know about Himself. It is like a mental tune up that sets the timing of my thoughts before they exit my mouth, sometimes. 🙂 In my meditation times I have to explore things too big for me to understand about God. It is when I begin to explain those… Read more »
It’s a raccoon, for some who think of me otherwise.
For the record, isn’t approach sick animals usually a really bad idea?
First, I didn’t have you there to tell me he was sick. Second, I always thought of romance as having her believing in the Prince Charming hero type. Third, I am more ADD than Calvinist. Actually, ADHLAS (Attention Deficit, Hey Look a Squirrel). Finally, you have to take their temperature to really find out.
Besides, where would a teacher be without really good illustrations?
Many of my best illustrations have rooted in things that I later realized were questionable in wisdom!
ADHLAS – I like that.
Someone say “Squirrel”?
‘Specially ‘Possums.
Dave, Thanks for the “civil” tone of the post. I know my name will not be associated with that kind of tone but that is not my intention. I do at times, respond at times with an antagonistic tone because this kind of writing does at times demand it; but I am far from being the ONLY one guilty of that! I promise I do TRY to do better!!! Even the civility of tone is in the “eye of the beholder.” To me THE central determining factor in whether someone is a Calvinist or not is really focused on ONE… Read more »
I think that is a workable definition. If you put regeneration before faith you are Calvinist. If faith precedes regeneration, you aren’t.
That’s at least a pretty good attempt at a definition.
Hehe…time to make this thread more interesting. I just wish to point out that a “Full” Calvinist, that is one who agrees with the core tenets of Calvinism, ie “the five points” can agree with the BFM2000 completely with very little “wiggling”. The same can not be said by those who are Arminian, that is those who agrees with the core tenents of the Remonstrants. The remonstrants believed that believers are never free from the possibility of falling from grace. IE loosing ones salvation. This clearly contradicts the BFM2000. As others have said, there has been a growing interest in,… Read more »
“The remonstrants believed that believers are never free from the possibility of falling from grace.” Just to clarify and correct – that is not the case. I’m a five pointer with no particular desire to defend Arminian theology, but I do want it to be presented properly. The Remonstrants – and Arminius himself – left the question open. The fifth article states, “But whether they are capable, through negligence, of forsaking again the first beginnings of their life in Christ, of again returning to this present evil world, of turning away from the holy doctrine which was delivered them, of… Read more »
Chris, Thanks, man! You took up our cause. 🙂 The piece from which you quoted, however, is the Remonstrance of 1610. By 1618, in the “Opinion of the Remonstrants,” they had finalized and solidified their position. Points 3 and 4 under the Fifth Article read: 3. True believers can fall from true faith and can fall into such sins as cannot be consistent with true and justifying faith; not only is it possible for this to happen, but it even happens frequently. 4. True believers are able to fall through their own fault into shameful and atrocious deeds, to persevere… Read more »
“What generation of SBCers dropped the Calvinist ball?” I had a theology prof in seminary who asked a similar question. He said it is easy to trace the shift in some areas, but he wasn’t sure what was behind the shift from Calvinism. My guess it has to do with the rise of revivalism and embracing the practices and teaches of Finney, heretic though he was. As for the security issue, part of my response is based on conversations with you, but much of it comes from Olson’s Arminian Theology book where he really argues the point that classical Arminians… Read more »
Yes, if I misled you, it was due to ignorance. I completely forgot about the 1618 piece. Evidently, so has Roger Olson, since on his site recently he also quoted the same 1610 confession in defense of ambiguity. He holds to Eternal Security, so the 1610 confession helped his position that day. I forgot to comment on that post about the 1618 confession. Perhaps I shall do so now.
William,
Would the canons of Dordt have been in response to the 1610 or 1618 articles? I know the Dutch synod was 1618-19 but I would suspect they were dealing with the 1610 articles. Arminius himself can be shown to hold an ambiguous position, perhaps the classical designation should point to the views of Arminius and the 1610 articles rather than what came in 1618.
I did my genealogy a couple of years back. One of my wife’s ancestors was a signatory to the Remonstrance. Not sure if that nullifies our marriage or not.
It should at least give you cause to pray more.
Dave, Thanks for this post. Thanks for having the grit to post it. I appreciate your honesty about the struggles we have as is revealed in this statement: “God has a logic and understanding which we fallen human beings cannot grasp. Our job is not always to understand God but to trust him and his Word.” I appreciate you stating that. Your honesty here is not unlike that of Danny Akin in an article he wrote recently related to this issue. My appreciation of him grew with its reading also. Our quest to understand God’s eternal truths should never end… Read more »
Can you point to that article? Or at least tell me generally where it was. I’m a big Danny Akin fan, so I’d love to read it. And link to it here.
Dave,
The articles are found in: Between The Times
Danny Akin wrote them both:
“Q&A 13: What do you think about limited atonement?”
“Q&A 14: What are your thoughts about irresistable grace?”
Here are links
Q&A 11 – Unconditional Election
Q&A 13 – Limited Atonement
Q&A 14 – Irresistible Grace
I personally limit my definition of calvinism to the realm of soteriology. I’m never speaking of infant baptism, CT, or NCT. I learned about those things in church history, but since they were not directly relevant in my church, I didn’t add them to my definition. I see more of those “extras” of reformed theology on blogs (unless I happen to hear RC Sproul on the radio 🙂 ). I’m not sure if I’m a “5-pointer” and I don’t really care. I used to be what I consider a traditional/typical SB regarding salvation: it’s everyone’s free choice. And, if anyone… Read more »
The Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689 is my view.
CB Scott was on the committee that constructed that.
ha ha ha.
Just a friendly FYI: It’s tenets
Bob: I agree with you about regeneration preceding faith (which I hold to), however I have seen bandied about in the anti-Calvinist wing of the blogosphere the idea that regeneration preceding faith as some sort of fringe philosophy even among Calvinists. As if the “good Calvinists” wouldn’t believe any such thing.
You wrote, “I have seen bandied about in the anti-Calvinist wing of the blogosphere the idea that regeneration preceding faith as some sort of fringe philosophy even among Calvinists. As if the “good Calvinists” wouldn’t believe any such thing.”
Sorry… not following you there. I obviously am on the other side of the regeneration position so I am in the anti-Calvinist camp. So am interested in what you meant in your comment.
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You stated that believing regeneration precedes faith puts one in the Calvinist camp. I agreed with you. I then added that I have seen in some corners of the anti-Calvinist blogosphere that regeneration preceding faith was not normative even among Calvinists.
If I am understanding you correctly, that just means that they do not know what they are talking about, for sure. Which is epidemic in a LOT of these discussions.
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Bob,
Why are you anti-ME? Seriously, though, why anti? Are we Calvinists THAT bad for the church? For the record, I’m not anti-you. Love ya man.
Les,
I was asking for clarification on Bill’s statement.. I was not saying anything about anti-Calvinist but I do not consider you in that category! LOL
Appreciate our dialogue!
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Dave, I, like you (if I understand you correctly), would classify myself as an Antinomist (not an antinomian, though) on this question. There are too many Bible passages that seem to teach both sides of the equation, and none that clearly teach that both cannot be true at the same time. That is just our human reasoning that says they both cannot be true. So I prefer to leave it up to God to work out the apparent discrepancies, and believe the passages that appear to teach the Calvinist side of the question as well as those that appear to… Read more »
One thing I have found, David, is that when I advocate the antinomy principle, those who are passionate on either side of the equation just seem to think that this is “theological idiocy.”
And, of course, angels do not dance on the head of a pin. They are all Baptist and know that dancing is a sin.
And, of course, angels do not dance on the head of a pin. They are all Baptist and know that dancing is a sin.
🙂 Just one more example why Dave Miller is soooo likeable!
You obviously don’t know me well.
Ut-oh …
David,
Other than those couple of valid and important points, isn’t a lot of this discussion basically the equivalent of arguing over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
If you wouldn’t mind a “non-Dave” individual responding 🙂 … I have often thought the same. I then concluded that these issues do matter (to whom they matter) because these issues speak to another, perhaps more important, doctrine — that of the nature and character of God.
I’d be curious to learn if any others share the same notion.
My take is God puts things in the Bible for a reason. However difficult it may be to understand, we should strive to understand. We may never come to what we consider a satisfactory resolution (such as my understanding of Revelation to date), but we never stop trying, never stop considering, never stop wrestling to know more and more of the truth.
I can readily acknowledge that there are many things we will never understand, but at the same time I want to do my best to ensure I understand as much as possible of that which God has revealed.
Chris, Legitimate point. We should all seek to understand God’s revealed will and correct doctrine as clearly as possible. In the big scheme of things, though, when compared to other points of doctrine, I think a proportionately greater amount of ink has been spilled over this particular discussion than what it really merits. And, besides that, it has often created division where there ought to be none. In the theological triage model, though many would agree that this discussion is at best a level 2, and some, even a level 3 issue, it is often treated, in regard to the… Read more »
I’d say the significance is for two factors: 1. Even if something is a lower-level issue in terms of theological orthodoxy (one can be a Christian non-Calvinist; I’ve even met one or two!) it is still important in terms of biblical faithfulness. We all want to be true to what the Scriptures teach. We want to believe what God has given. It does not matter how minor the point, I want to be correct in my understanding of Scripture. The issue of Calvinism covers a lot of ground, which makes it all the more significant in terms of understanding the… Read more »
I’d agree with that William. I think the saying what your doctrine is determines how you live and view the Bible is correct. I would not put it at a 1 but certainly a 2 or 3.
To use the TULIP format: Total depravity – Count me in. Easiest thing to prove in scripture is that man is desperately wicked. When someone says, “human beings are basically good” you know they haven’t been into the Word in a while Unconditional Election – Gotcha. It’s grace, not our merit that is at the root of God’s choice. Limited atonement – there is some scripture that supports this and some that doesn’t. I go with some kind of “sufficient for all, efficient only in the elect” kind of thing. Maybe this is also an antinomy. Particular Redemption makes logical… Read more »
Dave, It seems that Limited Atonement has a degree of time and space. If it is an eternal work or a work of God we would have no ability to measure it. What do we measure it with? (See Job 38:5) Moses was instructed to place a serpent upon a pole for those who were snake bitten, in Numbers 21:7, 8, to simply look and be healed and it was exemplified for salvation by Jesus in John 3:14. It seemed so easy to look upon the serpent than determine its volume or capacity to heal. We know it was effectual… Read more »
David Rogers,
We are close in agreement on many things and this issue is one of them. If I could just get you to “Identify” with Baptist ecclesiology, I might be convinced you are not really a spy sent among us by the Plymouth Brethren.
CB,
If I am not a true member of the Plymouth Brethren, do you think it’s possible I am among the “false brethren” referred to in Gal. 2:4?
“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.”
After all, the best spies are able to blend in the best.
Chris Roberts, (The site wouldn’t let me respond to your last question up there, so I did so down here.) I think the Dortians reacted initially to the 1610 piece. The Remonstrants’ ambiguity in 1610 (as well as Arminius’ own ambiguity) was still intolerable: of course the elect could not forfeit salvation — salvation was given as a monergistic gift of God, and He doesn’t take that away. I don’t think they viewed ambiguity on the issue viable. But the nail in the coffin for the Dortians (whether supra- or infralapsarian) was the 1618 “Opinions” piece. IMO, this is why… Read more »
Here is where Christ comes in: thanks to the Incarnation, He IS the Divine Freedom He IS human freedom In Him is reconciled the Sovereignty of God AND full human free will. You cannot fathom ‘God’s Sovereign Plan’ as opposed OR in conflict with man’s free will simply because the Person of Jesus Christ is BOTH true Man and true God . . . reconciling the two Natures. The debate that represents Determinism in loggerheads with human free will . . . that is a modern debate. But the Incarnation proves to be the answer to how it is that… Read more »
Okay, if I respond to this comment thread, some people will accuse me of being obsessed with anti-Calvinism….because, as I told them, about the only time I ever talk about this issue is when responding to what someone else has said, or there’s something fueling my desire to talk about it…as in Dr. Mohler’s comments, or a new Driscoll sighting, or a new song about Piper, etc.
So, I’ll just not comment here.
David
Here’s a question for you David. Simply, how do you define Calvinism? What is a Calvinist?
trying to tempt me, Dave? uh uh…aint gonna fall to your tempting ways….stop holding that apple out in front of me… get thee behind me….
oh…okay, I’m alright.
David
🙂
Does this mean my question above won’t get an answer?
Single tear.
There are many medical and biological terms that describe me accurately ; but I am still called a person , human or Christian without straining my brain to decipher others definitions. Separate and divide us into “clubs” which always demand leadership positions over which the omnicient can fight. I belong in this discussion like my whole body does when I walk thru the doors at the hospital not really mindful of what definitions will befall me in each medical practice – and I don’t want to know . I may be a Christian and I may not but it does… Read more »
Greg Buchanan, You asked what I believe. I suppose I believe the most common use of “Calvinist” today in the SBC is primarily referring to those who believe in the five points of Calvinism. Some might call them Strict Calvinists or 5-point Calvinists. I’m also aware that there are a hundred different versions of Calvinists; that’s why I find it sometimes frustrating to hear a Calvinist say, ”Calvinists don’t believe that,” or, “A Calvinist would not do that.” That depends on which Calvinists you’re talking about. I would consider all Southern Baptists to be, in a sense, Calvinist. The majority… Read more »
I think you bring up a good point here, David. A lot of the debate is between that which is known only to God and that which we know.
God may know who and who is not elect. We don’t. Our job is to proclaim the gospel to all regardless, to call them to salvation and to leave God’s job to God.
Our job is to proclaim. God’s is to save. And that doesn’t really change regardless of how many points you ascribe to.
Thanks David B!
I also believe we can spend too much time worrying about the finer points of the Sovereignty of God, the Free Will of Man, and Salvation. I’m for the “Roman Road Plan of Salvation” and I’m for saving all we can.
AMEN!
Greg,
And thanks to you.
David R. Brumbelow
I’ve always seen the ‘Limited Atonement’ argument as a ‘challenge’ to the integrity of the doctrine of the Incarnation. The Greek Fathers upheld the integrity of the Incarnation: Jesus Christ was true God AND true Man, fully capable of reconciling all mankind to God through His Cross, because His human nature was fully human, representing all of the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, in every way, except that He had no sin in Him. St. Gregory of Nazianzus speaks of the integrity of the Sacred Humanity affecting Christ’s work on the Cross, this: “That which was not assumed… Read more »
It’s amazing how you can take a biblical doctrine like the incarnation of Christ and turn it into a universalistic falsity. The Incarnation does not negate justification or redemption or atonement or any of those doctrines.
Jesus was God come as man to die for our sins and redeem those who repent and believe. To use the Incarnation to advocate false doctrine is a sad.
All are automatically born in Adam; not all are automatically born in Christ. He does not stand as the representative for the whole race but only for those who, by faith, are united with him.
You are taking that line out of context from Letters (101.5). What Gregory of Nyssa is arguing is the Eastern Fathers view that Jesus redeemed Fallen sinful nature by entering out nature; i.e. Jesus took on not just human flesh in order to redeem all aspects of humanity from birth to death. Some early Eastern Fathers apparently believed (as some do today) that in order to completely redeem fallen man, Jesus had to take on sinful flesh and be subject to Satan (the power of the prince of the air); which sounds strangely like Joyce Meyers teaching that Jesus was… Read more »
All, I wonder. Would a Baptist wh agreed with the London Confession of 1689 be considered a full Calvinist? i.e a full 5-pointer?
On my reading of it, and knowing its close similarity to the WCF (which is full Calvinist), I would think if you could affirm that confession then you would be a Calvinist.
Short of affirming fully the 5 points, I would think “Calvinistic” would be a sufficient label.
Let me comment on my own comment, “Short of affirming fully the 5 points, I would think “Calvinistic” would be a sufficient label.”
That is if you hold to a majority of the 5 points. Maybe TUP. I do think most can affirm some form of L, at least from the practical outworking of redemption. “I” is often too much to handle for many.
It is true that none among Biblical Christianity believe that Christ’s death redeemed all. So, in one sense, we all agree that the atonement was limited in one form or another.
There is a continuum on this issue, not just extreme points.
“There is a continuum on this issue, not just extreme points.”
Agree.
Dave, You ask … what is a Calvinist? Here is what I think a “high Calvinist” is: “A “high Calvinist” (supralapsarian) could be described as one who sees God the Father choosing a people (a certain number of persons before creation), Jesus the Son of God died for them (them alone, the elect – not the whole world), and God the Holy Spirit works to make Christ’s death effective by bringing the elect (only those chosen before creation) to Christ, thereby causing them (drawing or dragging them) to obey the gospel. The “high Calvinist” believes the entire process of (predestination,… Read more »
And then there are the Low Calvinists.
And the Low-Down Calvinists.
🙂
But seriously, interesting definition, Ron.
David R. Brumbelow
You mention supralapsarian but you may want to go look the word up; the distinction is between supralapsarian and infralapsarian, and both are Calvinist positions. Both groups would affirm your description (with some clarifications and tweaks). What you describe is not “high” Calvinism or “low” Calvinism but (with the clarifications and tweaks already noted) “Calvinism”. Trying to describe anything else as being Calvinism is basically meaningless. Moderate Calvinism, as some describe themselves, is not Calvinism.
Chris,
Oh … then please share with me your personal definitive definition of what a supralapasarian is …
Blessings!
Ron, here is are definitions from a calvinist theologian. I hope the blockquotes thing works: The terms“supralapsarianism,” and “infralapsarianism” (sometimes called “sublapsarianism”) have to do with the logical order of God’s eternal decrees of salvation. The question, basically, is this: did God’s decree to save a certain people come before (supra) or after (infra) his decree to permit the fall (laps). Infralapsarians argue that, in order not to charge God with injustice or sin, it is necessary that God’s election of men to salvation be made from a field of men who are sinners already; hence, the decree to ordain… Read more »
It would still be best to look it up yourself, but here is an explanation from the Chris Robert School of Summary: The supra/infra distinction is not about what God would do but when God decided that he would do it. Packer talks about the distinction a bit in his lectures on Puritan theology. This is the matter of the divine decrees (Sam Storms also discusses this in his book Chosen for Life). Both positions would agree that God has ordained all that comes to pass; the question is which did he ordain first – the fall, or election. Supra… Read more »
Chris,
I would encourage you to “look up” Dr. Ken Keathley’s chapter 12 on the work of God in Salvation in the book: A Theology for the Church (edited by: Dr. Akin). On pages 710-713, he shows some important differences in supra and infra.
Blessings, Ron
Ron,
Is that info from Keathley online? If not, is too long for you to reproduce here?
Ron,
As my sources might indicate, I’ve done a little reading on the distinctions. Does what Keathley says indicate something other than what I’ve mentioned above? I’ll note that my sources quoted or noted above are pretty solid fellows: Packer, Storms, Bavinck, and Erickson. I’m inclined to trust their discussions on these positions.
You got “supra” and “infra” backwards, Chris. :0) Unless I misunderstood.
Jim G.
Jim, You’re right, the way I worded it, it’s backwards. Part of that was because I was trying to avoid bringing in too much detail, hard to avoid with supra/infra heh. A better way of putting it is to place election not in reference to the fall but in reference to creation: supra says that even before God decided to created people, God decided to elect some and reject others. He then decided to create objects of salvation/judgment. Infra places his decision to create first, then the fall, then election. Either way, my point is that what Ron describes as… Read more »
David,
Thanks … btw … I’m enjoying your book!
Les,
Thanks for your post … so where do you fall (supra or infra)?
Blessings!
Ron,
I’ve landed in the supra camp many years ago, but I do like Dr. Reymond’s modification. I ran across it a few years ago and so I suppose I would now be in that “modified” camp.
Chris is right, in that either supra or infra are firmly Calvinists positions.
All said, the Luther quote, while a little strong (and tongue in cheek) arrests me. At the end of the day I don’t think we can know which is correct.
The Luther quote pretty well summarizes my position on the lapsarian issue. 🙂 I don’t really see it as a helpful debate, particularly since it is not a matter given any real attention in Scripture.
Les,
You shared: “Chris is right, in that either supra or infra are firmly Calvinists positions.”
I know, and I am neither, but I did enjoy writing a personal definition in my “5:27PM” post.
Blessings!
Les,
Dr. Keathley at Southeastern writes that Supralapsarianism (the position of the orginal Reformers) is the minority position within Calvinism today — do you agree?
Ron,
What is your source to say it was the position of the original reformers, and which reformers? As I recall from Packer, at least in Calvin’s time this was not an issue. He certainly doesn’t use the terms, and doesn’t seem to have any discussions that specifically relate. Packer and others have tried to piece together from Calvin’s writings to determine where he would fall and they generally conclude that Calvin probably would have taken an infra position.
Some quotes from Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology: “The position of Calvin himself as to this point has been disputed. As it was not in his day a special matter of discussion, certain passages may be quoted from his writings which favour the supralapsarian and other passages which favour the infralapsarian view. In the “Consensus Genevensis,” written by him, there is an explicit assertion of the infralapsarian doctrine.” “In the ”Formula Consensus Helvetica,” drawn up as the testimony of the Swiss churches in 1675, whose principal authors were Heidegger and Turrettin, there is a formal repudiation of the supralapsarian view.” “In… Read more »
Daniel says differently. Let me at once add that [Supralapsarianism] did not arise early in the Reformation. This was not the theory of Luther, Melanchthon or any of the Lutherans. Nor was it held by Zwingli, Bucer, Vermigli, Bullinger or the other ?First Generation Calvinists. A few scholars have attempted to see it in Calvin, but I agree with most in saying that it arose in ?Second Generation Calvinism and was not held by Calvin. And it need hardly be said that Augustine or Gottschalk did not hold it. The closest one can find it before the Reformation was in… Read more »
Mark and Chris, Earlier I referred to the work of Dr. Kenneth Keathley in — A Theology For the Church, edited by Dr. Daniel L. Akin. On page 710, in his chapter on The Work of God: Salvation, Dr. Keathley writes: “Supralapsarianism is sometimes called “high Calvinism.” The original Reformers held this position as did several at the Synod of Dort; however, it is a minority view within Calvinism today. Supralapsarianism contends that God is the ultimate cause of the choices of both types of individuals – those who accept Christ and those who reject him. God decided (or ordained)… Read more »
Ron,
Been out tonight. Frankly I don’t know. From what I read below it would seem so. It’s a tough one and as I said, we just don’t know.
Hi Dave and all, I think I will broaden this a little. What I would call a Calvinist in our present day is one who identifies with John Calvin’s views of providence and Christology. I’ll explain. First off on Christology, Calvin was somewhat novel in that he saw a one-way communication of properties between the natures in Jesus. He was fine with the divine nature sharing human properties (a la Acts 20:28 the church “God bought with his own blood”), but he did not allow the human to share in the divine properties (a la Luther and the real presence… Read more »
Hi JIM G.
I think you will be interested in this, starting around 3:12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1qDJxXuzLc&feature=player_embedded#!
Ockham’s ideas are contrasted with those of classical Christianity in a most interesting way. Enjoy!
Thanks Christiane,
That was a good clip. William of Ockham’s nominalism really did change things.
And it is a good reminder that what we see as “biblical” is really biblical filtered through 2000 years of theology/philosophy in varying degrees.
Jim G.
I think that most people are referring to someone who’s at least a 4 1/2 point Calvinist…in the least…when they’re referring to a Calvinist. Aggressive, obsessed Calvinists are those whom…well, this is a little harder to define, but when you see it, you know it….kind of like trying to define good BBQ….hard to define…but when you eat it, you know it. But, I’ll give it a try….an aggressive, obsessed Calvinists is someone who is bent on converting people, churches, the SBC to 5 point Calvinism; they’re quite often teaching Calvinism; talking about Calvinism; some say that people who arent Calvinists… Read more »
David,
Now … you’ve gone and done it .. all I can think about now is Bad Bobs BBQ! 🙂
I’m pretty sure that Bad Bob is an Arminian.
David
🙂
Sorry, I didn’t read all the posts, so if I am repeating someone else, I apologize.
The battleground is the same battleground that it was during the reformation, that is, Total Depravity/Original sin.
We would agree that God is sovereign over all things, but in our depravity, we do not recognize the extent of our depravity.
Luther and Erasmus battled over this and it seems that even good Southern Baptists would side with Erasmus.
I hope that the gravity of my last statement sinks in.
With that….
I am prchrbill
So true. The Protestants have stopped protesting.
Nathan Finn tweeted: RT @stevemckinion: Harrison’s awake & interacting. Docs say that’s good news. Still not out of danger but not worse either #pray4harrison
Thank you for all the prayers.
Thanks, Debbie. You are our official liaison on this matter. Keep us informed.
Thanks for keeping us informed, DEBBIE.
Prayers will continue for the child.
Here is one definition of Calvinism. One of the most popular ways of defining Calvinism is in terms of the Five Points, viz: Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints (= TULIP). Since these were explicitly formulated at Dort at a critical time in the development of Calvinism, they must be taken into account in any definition of Reformed theology. However, one problem is with point #3. Many Calvinists have moderated or rejected limited atonement; whether they are true or inconsistent is debated, but they are nevertheless Calvinists. The 5 do not stand and… Read more »
So far, here are the answers to my question, what is a Calvinist?
We’ve had strict interpretations – all 5 points or close.
we’ve had more complex theological views – see the discussion of lapsarian views and Jim G’s discussion of Calvin’s view of providence and the inner workings of Christ’s dual nature.
Perhaps the easiest and most practical view focused on whether regeneration precedes faith or not.
So far, productive on the whole.
Dave, I think that is a great question. Since I can point to the scriptures and see that faith comes by hearing the word of Christ, I can then say that faith, as pointed out by Eph 2 is something that comes from God. Since my faith is given to my by God, we then have to wrestle with does God give saving faith to dead men or does God resurrect dead men and give them faith. Since we were quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, I can only conclude that I was dead and when God raised… Read more »
I have a question for you theological types. Is there a middle position between monergism and complete synergism. Can’t buy the “God did his part now you do yours” construct. But monergism as I’ve heard it proclaimed goes too far. Maybe I’ve just heard it presented wrong.
I would say that Molinism tries to be a middle ground.
Dave,
How are you defining monergism?
One-working, literally. That the “energy” that accomplishes salvation is all God’s.
Dave,
I think Preacher Bill just made that case …
Hi Dave,
I don’t think there is a middle ground. Monergism means one worker. Synergism means I cooperate with God generally (which means 2 workers). I don’t think there is a whole number between 1 and 2. 1 One-and-a-half workers doesn’t cut it, at least I don’t think. So I don’t think there is a middle ground.
Although I think Molinism is an ingenious attempt, I’m not satisfied with it.
Jim G.
Dave, I’m not sure there is a middle position. Below is a comment from Schaff concerning these issues. The Greek church adhered to her undeveloped synergism, which coordinates the human will and divine grace as factors in the work of conversion; the Latin church, under the influence of Augustine, advanced to the system of a divine, monergism, which gives God all the glory, and makes freedom itself a result of grace; while Pelagianism, on the contrary, represented the principle of a human monergism, which ascribes the chief merit of conversion to man, and reduces grace to a mere external auxiliary.… Read more »
Mark, et al, Here is a definition from monergism.com ( great site too): Monergism: In regeneration, the Holy Spirit unites us to Christ independent of any cooperation from our unregenerated human nature. He quickens us through the outward call cast forth by the preaching of His Word, disarms our innate hostility, removes our blindness, illumines our mind, creates understanding, turns our heart of stone to a heart of flesh — giving rise to a delight in His Word — all that we might, with our renewed affections, willingly & gladly embrace Christ. The Prophet Ezekiel inspired by the Holy Spirit… Read more »
Ron, given my Daniel quote and your Keathley quote we may need to define what is meant by the “original reformers”.
The Oxford Dictionary seems to agree with my Daniel quote above.
David,
I’ve read where Phillip R. Johnson says that T. Beza was a supra; that’s pretty close — Calvin’s son-in-law. Beza once said, “Those who suffer for eternity in hell can at least take comfort in the fact that they are there for the greater glory of God.”
I’ll check more on Calvin.
I’m turning in … too much excitement for a non-Calvinist like me.
Blessings!
Beza was right, and one does not have to be a supra to believe that.
One of the things I have learned during my 54 years as professing, practicing believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and nearly 50 years as an ordained Southern Baptist Minister is that the doctrines of grace are meant to be preached as evangelistic, soul-winning truths. My oraining pastor was a professed supralapsarian, hyper calvinist (his terms describing himself in preaching and in personal conversation), and he preached some of the most pressing, evangelistic invitational sermons I have ever heard. In fact, let me add here, that Jonathan Edwards has a sermon on the subject, “Pressing into The Kingdom.” From Dr.… Read more »
I’ll try to answer your original question. I appreciate the answers above but I’ll just quote our good President and say, “that’s above my pay grade.” When I refer to someone as a Calvinist I am usually speaking of someone who will quote from Romans and refuses to read from Jonah. Simple, yes, but it’s effective for me. I grew up around Calvinists who mocked anyone who quoted Scripture that spoke to God “changing” his mind as if it was a mistake that it was in the Bible. Therefore for me the issue is better defined by the personality of… Read more »
I don’t think people were mocking Daniel, but God does not change his mind. The Bible is written to human beings using human language to convey a point, but God is God he does not change his mind.
And I am one who thinks that in soteriology, Calvinism is pretty Biblically solid. It’s hard to read all the Bible and not come to a Calvinist view. I would disagree with Dave on the monergism issue because I am a monergist through and through and it does not make people into robots. I think Dave either misunderstands monergism or it has not been fully told to him. I find it a beautiful doctrine on God and keeps God who He is in the Bible while keeping with what scripture teaches on human responsibility. And I would reply to the… Read more »
I would also ask what is obedience to God after we are Christians, when God leads us into a ministry or vocation or whatever else He tugs at our heartstrings to do if it is not God calling the shots. Do we trust God fully enough to be a puppet or robot? I do. That is not at all saying I am more spiritual because I am also a person who sins greatly. But my desires have changed, God changed and is changing them just as he did when he changed my desires(turned my stone heart into flesh) to run… Read more »
The Baptist Confession of 1689 says this on Free Will: Paragraph 1. God has endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any necessity of nature determined to do good or evil.1 1 Matt. 17:12; James 1:14; Deut. 30:19 Paragraph 2. Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that which was good and well-pleasing to God,2 but yet was unstable, so that he might fall from it.3 2 Eccles. 7:29 3 Gen. 3:6 Paragraph 3. Man, by his… Read more »
Debbie, In the group that I was raised in I heard several pastors, my father included, yell; “you can’t quote that Scripture in reference to Salvation,” when someone would bring up any of the OT instances where Scripture states, “God repented.” I probably would disagree with very very little concerning Dave’s initial post but because of my background I have a short rope when it comes to Calvinists. Did my father and his circle take it to an extreme? Yes, absolutely yes. Are they a small portion of those who would call themselves Calvinists? Possibly. A short answer for me… Read more »
Faith is faith; works are works. Faith is not a work; faith is faith. I think people really get confusing when they start saying things like,”If faith is something that people could do, then that would be works; it wouldnt be faith.” Nonsense. Faith and repentance is what God told us to do to recieve His gift of salvation….Acts 20:20-21. ANd, faith is no more works, than calling on the Lord is works…Romans 10:9-13. Calling on the Lord is not a work; it’s just expressing faith. Repentance is not a work; it’s repentance. When I hear things said that faith… Read more »
David – A Faith that does not produce good works is a dead Faith. James 2:18 Faith without Works is Dead – James 2:17 . Close paraphrase of both because it seems that either seminarians are not being taught well ; or , they don’t understand ; or , people just like seeing their name in print making a solid Bible teaching an ” Either / Or ” as opposed to the obvious teaching that while both are different yet have their own purpose they compliment each other and together give a greater fulfillment in peoples lives.
Jack: This is not speaking of faith that is required to gain salvation. When we have Christ as our Savior through faith we can’t help but do good works because as the Apostle Paul says we are now new creations.
Roman and James fit together as a hand in a glove. Yes, we sin but the difference is now we hate our sin, we repent of that sin. I’m sorry but you have just taken James 2:17 out of context.
David: Conjuring up faith inside of a person, getting them to go forward and saying a prayer, calling that faith in Christ is making faith a work.
Debbie Kaufman – James 2:17 , KJV ” Even so faith , if it hath not works is dead , being alone ” How anybody misread that is beyond me unless they have an agenda.
Because scripture interprets scripture Jack.
So David, what good inside of a human being would produce this faith that is required by a Holy God? What good in a human being produces faith in Jesus Christ and where does this faith come from?
There is no good inside of a human that would produce faith. Faith is responding to the calling and convicting of the Holy Spirit…as He works in the hearts of men, according to the light they have shed upon them…. If we’ll respond in faith, then God will accept us; like he did with Abel. If we repond by works, in our own way; God will not accept us; like with Cain. But, if anyone gets saved, then it’s only because of the working of God in their life. If anyone is lost, it’s only because they rejected the light… Read more »
With nothing good inside of us, how would we ever respond with faith? Is it not good to trust in God, to have faith in him?
Chris, Faith is faith. The moment that a person is willing to turn to God…God gives him repentance. The moment that a person is willing to put their faith in Jesus, God gives them faith. And, of course, the only way that a person can turn to God and put their faith in Jesus, is because of the drawing of the Holy Spirit…the working of the Spirit in their heart. Now, faith is not a work. Repentance is not a work. But, faith and repentance lead to good works, because a person is changed. But, they are not works. If… Read more »
Ok gentlemen and ladies, I’ve said elsewhere my background, but I don’t know if I have done so here. My legitimate question(s): Can I be accepted in a SBC church on staff? Is that even a possibility? 1. Graduated from Mid America Baptist in the 1980s. Ordained in a SBC church in 1987. 2. Left the SBC in 1992 to become a pastor in the PCA. Graduated PCA seminary in 1996. 3. Left formal pastoral ministry in 1999. Demitted the Teaching Elder (pastoral, ordained) position in the PCA. 4. Became a Ruling Elder (ordained “lay” elder) in the PCA in… Read more »
The SBC does not credential or blackball people (at least not officially). You can be a Southern Baptist pastor if a Southern Baptist church hires you as a pastor. It’s that simple. Because each SBC church is autonomous, all you have to do is get hired by one SBC church.
Thanks Dave for the response. I’m not necessarily looking to get back into a pastorate. But I have wondered whether I would still be considered an ordained SBC pastor.
Ordination is a local church issue. If the church that ordained you has not revoked your ordination papers, you are still ordained as a Baptist minister.
Les, It seems that your primary question here is: “Can I be accepted in a SBC church on staff? Is that even a possibility?” Based on what you reveal here, a church which uses any discernment would ask questions of you if you were seeking to enter local church ministries again. Some primary questions that would seem very appropriate would be: 1. Why did you leave local church vocational ministries in a Baptist church? 2. Why did you leave local church vocational ministries in a Presbyterian church? 3. If there were specific personal problems that caused you to leave local… Read more »
cb,
You are absolutely right in my opinion. In a variation of that (Groucho I think) quote, “I wouldn’t want to be a member of any club that would have me as a member,” I wouldn’t want to be part of any church position, Baptist or Presbyterian, that would not probe deeply into the things you mentioned, and other questions as well.
Thanks.
Also, cb, perhaps what I am really asking is, “Am I still an ordained Baptist minister?” Dave above says yes.
I know this is off topic so I understand if this line of discussion dies. I just don’t have a forum among my Baptist brothers for these kinds of questions.
Les, Dave stated that ordination is a local church issue. I agree with Dave in that respect. I also believe that a local church is the only entity biblically qualified to publicly ordain a person to the gospel ministry. I do not know if Dave agree with me in that respect. At the same time, it is my opinion that any other local church can and does have the biblical right (and responsibility in my opinion) to recognize or refuse to recognize the ordination bestowed on a person by another local church. I also believe it is the responsibility of… Read more »
cb,
Thanks. Very well said and very satisfying to know there are Southern Baptists out there who feel as you do.
God bless.
Thanks again Dave.
Perhaps we should define what Calvinists are not, and see if any of our non-Calvinist brethren disagree: Calvinists are not anti-evangelical. Non-Calvinists don’t really use this one much anymore, unless they’re from Missouri. There’s just too much evidence to the contrary. Calvinists are not anti-congregational. Elder-led does not mean elder-rule. Any honest look at the issue will come to that conclusion. Calvinists are not anti-invitation. The invitation of the Gospel is to come to Christ, not to come to the front. Some Calvinists are anti-altar-call, some are not. Calvinists are not-anti-missionary. See #1 above. Calvinists are not pro-alcohol. I mean… Read more »
I am pro alcohol in moderation. 🙂 I am Calvinist. :)I do not abstain. 🙂
Debbie: So you believe people should drink alcohol? That is what being pro-alcohol means.
I believe people are allowed to drink alcohol in moderation. I drink in moderation. I am not against it, which is what pro-alcohol means.
Like.
I’d really like for this NOT to become a moderationist/prohibitionist thread. Pretty please? With sugar on it?
Charles Spurgeon, famous Baptist Pastor, did not believe in regeneration before faith. He said, ““If I am to preach the faith in Christ to a man who is regenerated, then the man, being regenerated, is saved already, and it is an unnecessary and ridiculous thing for me to preach Christ to him, and bid him to believe in order to be saved when he is saved already, being regenerate. Am I only to preach faith to those who have it? Absurd, indeed! Is not this waiting till the man is cured and then bringing him the medicine? This is preaching… Read more »
David, If you read that entire sermon, Spurgeon is countering the Hyper-Calvinism of his day. Here he is not making a statement on whether regeneration precedes faith or vice versa. What he is saying is that if you only are to preach the gospel to those that are “already regenerate” then it’s kind of a ridiculous thing. The preaching of the gospel–in Spurgeon’s mind–was the means that God used to awaken an unregenerate sinner. If he’s already regenerate then preaching faith in Christ is silly b/c in Spurgeon’s mind regeneration always leads to faith. If that person is regenerate then… Read more »
David, I believe if you check the context of that quote, Spurgeon was reacting to some in prior days and in his day who were essentially saying that a man must have faith before one can preach the gospel to him. Spurgeon said that is like offering life, not to a dead man, but to one already living.
Yes he did David. Faith And Regeneration
But faith comes from hearing the words of God through the Bible.
That is to say, both Regeneration and faith comes from hearing the words of God through the Bible. Romans 10:14.
Here is another great sermon by Charles Spurgeon on Regeneration. He says this: And now we must say, that regeneration consists in this. God the Holy Spirit, in a supernatural manner—mark, by the word supernatural I mean just what it strictly means; supernatural, more than natural—works upon the hearts of men, and they by the operations of the divine Spirit become regenerate men; but without the Spirit they never can be regenerated. And unless God the Holy Spirit, who “worketh in us to will and to do,” should operate upon the will and the conscience, regeneration is an absolute impossibility,… Read more »
The link you gave David is not a sermon by Charles Spurgeon but an interpretation taken out of context of a sermon by Charles Spurgeon. If you want to know what Spurgeon believed, don’t do like David Hunt, but actually read what Charles Spurgeon has written. His many sermons in full are out there. I am a avid reader of Spurgeon and have been for years. Full sermons. Not interpretations.
Debbie, thanks for pointing this out. You are right on.
Mike, I must have been typing as you were. Well said. Context, David.
And BTW, are you and other non-5 pointers prepared to follow Spurgeon on all his views of soteriology? That would be really good.
Bob Ross has probably done more study on Spurgeon than any other person on the planet. Bob Ross will tell you in a New York minute that Spurgeon did not believe in regeneration before faith.
David
BTW, I like Spurgeon. I’m reading his devotion book, “Morning by Morning” at this time. I used his commentary on the Psalms when I preached thru the Psalms. So, yea, I like Spurgeon.
Of course, that doesnt mean that he’s 100% correct about everything, either.
David
And I’ll tell you in a Oklahoma second that if he says that, he is wrong. Read for yourself David. Proofs have been given.
Well, Debbie…let me see…should I believe a man, who’s studied Spurgeon more than anyone on this planet, or should I believe Debbie? I think I’ll believe Bob Ross.
David
David,
It never ceases to amuse me how non-Calvinists want to redeem Spurgeon from his Calvinism, but quotes such as the one you gave above simply will not work because they do not mean what you say they mean. Ripping a quote out of context and trying to make it fit somewhere else may be the popular postmodern means of biblical interpretation, but it doesn’t change the actual meaning of the text, whether one is dealing with the Bible, the US constitution, or sermons from Spurgeon.
Chris,
Talk to Bob Ross…read some of his writings on Spurgeon. Go to Calvinist Flyswatter blog and read the things that Bob writes. The man has spent years studying Spurgeon. Are you saying that you know Spurgeon better than him?
David
I’ve just been scanning the following from Ross:
http://calvinistflyswatter.blogspot.com/2006/03/bob-ross-regeneration-calv_114261719496018943.html
and all I can say so far is this is a rather amusing piece.
Here is an example. Ross says that Spurgeon, like John Gill, rejected regeneration preceding faith. I thought it was quite odd that Ross would say Gill rejects this doctrine: “The “pre-faith regeneration” theory as taught by Shedd and Berkhof, and as it is being popularized today in writings by Pedobaptist R. C. Sproul and Reformed Baptist James White, Pedobaptist Iain Murray, and some in the Founders movement among Southern Baptists, not only differs from our Calvinist creedal standards and the theology of the Puritans, but from Baptists such as John Gill, Alexander Booth, A. H. Strong, C. H. Spurgeon, and… Read more »
It’s interesting that he’d put Gill with Spurgeon, given that Spurgeon considered Gill the “Coryphaeus of hyper-Calvinism”.
I would have thought it would have helped his argument to have put Gill with Sproul, White, etc.
In a quote by Charles Spurgeon he said:
“My eminent predecessor, Dr. [John] Gill, was told, by a certain member of his congregation who ought to have known better, that if he published his book, The Cause of God and Truth, he would lose some of his best friends, and that his income would fall off. The doctor said, ‘I can afford to be poor, but I cannot afford to injure my conscience;’ and he has left his mantle as well as his chair in our vestry.”
Yes. I am saying that I know better than him. I have read Spurgeon for over twenty years. Read Spurgeon David, not those who think they have read Spurgeon. You don’t even have to take my word for it.
Read Gill not those who take his words out of context and say they “know him and are experts.” What is an expert but someone who calls themselves or other people who call them an expert.
There are experts who say the Bible is a book of tales. They or others say they are an expert on the Bible but are they really? Expert at twisting maybe.
I have read Spurgeon. I’ve read Spurgeon.
David
It’s interesting that he’d put Gill with Spurgeon, given that Spurgeon considered Gill the “Coryphaeus of hyper-Calvinism”.
One point Mike. That is wrong as well. Charles Spurgeon pastored at the church that was in fact the former church John Gill pastored.
Debbie, that’s a quote directly from Spurgeon. He felt Gill was the predecessor of Hyper-Calvinism…but if they only followed Gill and no further they’d have been okay. That’s straight from Spurgeon.
Whole quote from Spurgeons work on commentaries:
Gill is the Coryphaeus of hyper-Calvinism, but if his followers never went beyond their master, they would not go very far astray.
Coryphaeus is like saying Gill is the choir director of Hyper-Calvinists
I’ve looked a little at Bob Ross’ work on Spurgeon and Regeneration. First of all I’m grateful for his work in preserving the works of Spurgeon. But I must say I think he is rewriting history with an agenda. (Can’t we all be tempted to this). It looks to me, and I could be wrong, that Ross is taking Spurgeon’s arguments against Hyper-Calvinism and then conflating those quotes with his own agenda against “regeneration precedes faith”. Spurgeon spent a good amount of his time arguing with the Hyper-Calvinist of his day that thought faith was not a duty of all… Read more »
And BTW, are you and other non-5 pointers prepared to follow Spurgeon on all his views of soteriology? That would be really good.
🙂
I come very close to believing like Spurgeon. I dont agree with him 100%. I dont think I’ve ever found anyone that I agreed with 100%. But, I do hold with him on many, many things.
I also use John McArthurs study Bible while preparing sermons. Its very good. I also do not agree with him 100%, but his study Bible is excellent.
David
Bob L. Ross is one who tries to dispute Calvinism by taking words and twisting them. Spurgeon is not the only Calvinist writer this man has attempted to take a statement out of context and write as though the Calvinist writer did not believe in regeneration. One of many times would be here. I am grateful he introduces such writers to the public, but it’s what he does with their words that I am against.
“Charles” and Bob L Ross vs. Scripture And The Confessions
Debbie, On a personal note, if I may. The article you reference here was written by Gene M. Bridges. Have you had communication with him in the last year or so? Gene M. Bridges was/ maybe still is (I don’t know where he is now) one of the best of the best of the early Baptist bloggers. No one could defeat Gene M. Bridges in a blog fight. No one. He was, hands down, the best. A person may not have agreed with Gene M. Bridges on various issues, but you had to admire his mind and his ability to… Read more »
Those were some wild days back then. A lot of the folks at the heart of blogging back then have gone into the federal bloggers relocation program.
I was relocated to Nebraska. It was OK ’till the leaves began to fall off of the trees and I went to a Nebraska football game? That’s what they called it anyway.
I could not take it for more than one quarter so I handcuffed my case manager to a door in the stadium men’s room, climb out of a window, and here I am!
CB,
As you may know, Gene has an illness which may have taken him out of his regular blogging. He and I used to trade emails fairly regularly and then he was gone. We were also on a private discussion board together.
If I recall correctly, he re-appeared earlier this year on Triablogue. I have a few email addresses for him, but the emails do not get an answer. I asked one of his blogging partners and he was not sure of Gene’s status either.
If I hear anything I will try to let you know. He certainly was brilliant.
I haven’t heard from him in a couple of years come to think of it.
Sorry, I just read your comment Mark after I had posted. Yes, please let us know.
Thanks Mark and Debbie.
I knew of his illness and I know he had some hard roads in life. I met him once. You are right Mark, he certainly was or is brilliant, whichever the case may be. I think the guy really loved Jesus. He was the real deal.
Debbie, that is quite a detailed refutation of Mr. Ross and a case for regeneration precedes faith. Thanks for linking to it.
You are welcome Les.
I’ve not read much Bob Ross, or frankly, nearly as much Spurgeon as some people! But when your blog name is “Calvinist Flyswatter” one wonders if there is an agenda!
I’ll be honest: I’ve never heard of Bob Ross before this thread, and this is all I can think of: http://i.imgur.com/hYzAg.jpg
Now that’s funny.
This blog needs a like button because I like.
This is so funny it deserves to highlighted.
Hilarious!
Now, could we discuss the nature of Calvinism again, and not what Spurgeon believed?
My deep disappointment is that Rick Patrick is evidently involved in church business this week and was not here to absorb the shot I took at him at the beginning of the post.
Sad face.
Dave Miller,
I was visiting in a home yesterday. A lady was visiting in the same home while I was there. She asked me if I knew Rick Patrick. I told here I knew of him and had listened to him preach on his church website, but had not spent time with him as of yet.
She stated that Rick was an exceptional pastor and a very good preacher. In a world where we hear bad things said about pastors far too often, I thought I would pass that along.
Yeah, Rick is a good guy – especially for someone in SEC territory. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try to rile him up, does it? That’s how we show affection at SBC Voices.
That’s why you pay me the Big Bucks to stay here Dave. Remember? To make sure everyone feels affection or affected, which ever the case may be. 🙂
I probably first heard of Bob Ross as far back as the Fall of ’58, and for sure I knew of him in the early sixties and would meet him briefly in the late 60s. We had one letter debate (there was no internet and no blogs then). He was in considerable distress at the time over a disappointment in a fellow minister and family relationship. That break precipitated his antagonism to Sovereign Grace which he had been preaching previous to that problem. Another problem was a problem with ecclesiology. I talked with Bob once earlier in this year in… Read more »
“I probably first heard of Bob Ross as far back as the Fall of ’58…”
James,
Did you guys go to the same Day Care Center or what? Did you actually mean 1958?
How long have you been in Baptist life? Have I ever met you?
For those who don’t know, Bob Ross has the Pilgrim Bookstore on Preston Road in Pasadena, Texas. He is especially well-known for publishing all of Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s sermons. I think he first began publishing them in the 1960s.
If you find yourself in the Houston, TX area, go by his bookstore; he has books you’ll never find in regular Christian bookstores. Plan on spending some time, and money, there.
David R. Brumbelow
I’ve never heard of him. But is this the same Bob Ross at Calvinist Flyswatter? That site is pure poison. If ever there was an “attack” blog, that one qualifies. One example of his venom about when Tom Ascol was struck by lightening: An unanswered question is, why did the Lord strike Tom down with a bolt of lightning? Was it because the Lord got tired of Tom’s promotion of lies and discord among brethren? Did Tom finally see the light (pun intended), realize the discord he was causing and attempt to lessen the trash talk that so frequently filled… Read more »
Rejoicing that Ascol got struck by lightning? Yeah, that might qualify as “anti-Calvinist.”
Maybe.
Dave Miller,
I’ve seen a lot of vitriol on the blogosphere, but nothing quite like what I saw over at Mr. Ross’ site. It is a serious matter to call a brother and fellow minister of the gospel a liar publicly. I see far less venomous attacks among non-believers!
Yes. That is the same Bob L. Ross.
This is the guy who seems to have spent a great deal of energy making Spurgeon into the poster child for anti-Calvinism. He is beyond the pale, and hardly an authority.
If SBCers are getting info from Bob Ross, it is no wonder the anti-Calvinism ranks are growing. Implying God struck Tom Ascol with lightning because of his Founders work? Calling those who believe regeneration precedes faith heretics? Calvinists can be really obnoxious, but I have never seen vitriol the likes of this.
Dave, Debbie and Bill Mac,
I’m further shocked that more on this forum are not jumping up to condemn such unChristian discourse! Man, the anti-Calvinists decry the so called aggressive Calvinists who apparently want to take over and rid the SBC of all others. And then some refer to this man as a credible source? Really?
Hopefully the reason there is not more condemnation of Mr. Ross’ writings is because not many are actually going over there and reading.
Les, to be honest, I rarely hear of Bob Ross. I just wandered through his blog, and I would agree that it is not the kind of tone we should hope for in Christian blogs.
But, to be honest, I never read it and hadn’t heard of it in a long time.
I don’t think we should judge and condemn people JUST for being Texan, though, David.
Dave,
There really are a few good Texans.
And yes, Bob Ross has been known to get involved in a debate or two. Sometimes enthusiastically.
Some might be surprised to know he is more Calvinist than many realize.
But if you’re by his bookstore, it’s worth checking out.
David R. Brumbelow
I was born in Texas, but I repented and became an Iowan.
Dave,
Take it back! 🙁
Bob Ross aside, there are some good Texans. Primarily because Texans prefer their BBQ to be beef instead of pork, which is of course totally correct. Brisket beats butt any day of the week.
Calvinism aside, I can’t believe the BBQ comment didn’t get any reaction. Where are Southern priorities?
Bill Mac,
Some comments are just beyond the pale of “good taste” and deserve no response from people of culture who know better.
David R. Brumbelow,
Is he a LONGHORN NATION fan?
cb,
Afraid to answer. You’ll have to check with him on that. I would hate to give inaccurate information on such a crucial issue.
David R. Brumbelow
David R. Brumbelow,
You are right. Also very astute.
If he is not a LONGHORN NATION fan but was thought to be, it would be a serious charge for him to live with and hurtful to his peaceful nature.