I am offended by the recent “Traditionalist” statement on soteriology,
not because I have a few differences theologically but because some people were
labeled, accused, and judged, and I’m afraid I’m part of that group. And that
is disconcerting at least.
The Statement says:
“This movement (“New Calvinism”) is committed to advancing in the churches
an exclusively Calvinistic understanding of salvation, characterized by an aggressive insistence on the “Doctrines of Grace”
(“TULIP”), and to the goal of making Calvinism the central Southern Baptist position
on God’s plan of salvation.”
Who
are these “New Calvinists”? Am I one because I affirm 5 points. I’m not
actually a “TULIP” guy anyway, and neither are most Calvinist leaning Bapstists
I know. I’m more of a RUDEP guy myself. But this vague accusation opens up many
of us for guilt by association. Even if we don’t know exactly WHO IT IS WE ARE
associating with.
The Statement says:
And, to their credit, most Southern Baptist Calvinists have not demanded
the adoption of their view as the standard. We would be fine if this consensus continued, but some New Calvinists seem to
be pushing for a radical
alteration of this long standing arrangement.
Once again, WHO? You know what this sounds
like?
“To their credit most Calvinists have enough
sense to “stay in their place,” But some of these uppity New Calvinists are
making us mad!”
What long standing “arrangement”? Who is
rocking the boat? Am I a New Calvinist because I don’t hide my beliefs? I’m not
even trying to make the church I have pastored for 13 years a “Reformed Baptist”
Church. But I preach Grace and Sovereignty from the pulpit. And I preach
salvation by Grace through faith and Call people to Christ.
But I also consider it a dangerous doctrine
to tell people, if they say a “sinner’s prayer” and are sincere, that they are
saved! Sinner’s prayers don’t save! God’s Grace saves through the demonstration
of faith. Or, Faith, enabled by Grace, saves. Not a nicely worded but powerless
prayer that is not expressed in miraculous, life-giving, God-given Faith!
So now am I a New Calvinist? I’m really
wondering what it is that will cross the line of this “long standing
arrangement” that I didn’t even know existed.
I have heard the “Traditionalist” view of
Salvation all my life. I was a victim of the easy-believism it engendered. I
followed suit by telling people whom I led in Sinner’s Prayers, “There, you’re
saved now.” May God have mercy on me for all the people I misled into thinking
they were saved, who then went about their merry sinful ways thinking they had
fire insurance.
NOW, I have the audacity to tell people I
was wrong –before- about salvation. That it’s not a simple matter of reciting
the right words. But it is something to be sought with fear and trembling, Calling
on the Name of the Lord, with faith and repentance, until such time that the
Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are indeed the children of
God.
I’m not trying to change the good gospel
preaching of Baptists everywhere around the world or even in my own church. I
believe that the “Jesus and His finished work” message being preached is the gospel
that God uses as His power “unto salvation.”But I do want to warn the SBC that
we have ushered in thousands upon thousands of unregenerate people into our
churches with an affirmation of their salvation that we have no right to give.
That’s why I Believe the teaching that
humanity is
1. Radically Depraved- every facet of humankind
has suffered under the fall. That is why every person is guilty of sin, as soon
as they are morally capable they are morally culpable.
2. Unconditional Election means that I did
nothing to satisfy a “condition” for salvation. I received the salvation that
Jesus secured on the cross for me!
3. Definite Atonement means that God did not
leave my salvation to chance, but definitely redeemed me by His own blood 2000
years ago.
4. Effectual Grace teaches us that God’s grace
doesn’t fail. Yes it is irresistible because it is effectual. All that the
Father gives to the Son will indeed come to Him.
5. Perseverance/Preservation of the saints,
teaches that the saints will in fact persevere to the end because they are
preserved by the Grace of God.
I stated these “5
Points” not to refute the tenants of the “Traditionalist’s Statement” but to go
ahead and put the Bull’s Eye on my chest so people won’t miss if they are
shooting at me.
Am I one of these terrible
“New Calvinists” or not? If not who are
they, and why am I not one?
If it’s because I’m
not trying to enforce my beliefs in the 5-points then I would suggest that’s the
case of most every mature Calvinistic Baptist out there.
And just maybe, the
adversarial language of the “Statement” was mis-directed or even inappropriate.
And if so, I think there should be some apologies in the offing.
Below, Please see the two part reply by my friend an Brother in Christ Dr. Adam Harwood of Truett-McConnell College.
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