Published Saturday, January 21, 2012
Pastor's Corner: Calvinism -- Part 1
By DANIEL AUSBUN, First Baptist Church, Moreland
daniel@fbcmoreland.org
Nearly threw weeks ago over 40,000 young adults convened at the Georgia Dome for "Passion 2012" and heard a message from John Piper.
Passion and Piper are major proponents of Calvinism. Who is John Calvin? What is Calvinism? Why does it matter?
John Calvin (1509-1564) was a French reformer who promoted predestination and God's sovereignty in salvation so clearly his teachings became known as Calvinism. Calvin's teachings and sermons were controversial -- forcing him to Geneva, Switzerland.
His influence and popularity grew so much, he was referred to as the "Protestant Pope." Many consider him the greatest theologian after the authors of Scripture.
The recent new wave of Calvinism today appeals to young people because it offers a more intellectual approach to Christianity. The phrase "Young, Restless, Reformed" was adopted by Christianity Today to describe the movement. Authors such as John MacArthur, Albert Mohler, R. C. Sproul and John Piper have sold millions of books advancing their cause.
Calvinism, also known as Reformed Theology, is all about God. He starts the party, begins the conversation and initiates your salvation. Calvinism has an appeal because it tends to have an answer for everything -- you can explain everything by saying God predestined it.
Frank Page, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention's executive committee, said in an October 2011 interview that Calvinism was the biggest challenge facing Southern Baptists. He stated that everyone is aware of it, but few want to talk about it openly in public.
Steve Lemke, provost at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, said, "I believe that Calvinism is potentially the most explosive and divisive issue facing us in the near future. It has already been an issue that has split literally dozens of churches, and it holds the potential to split the entire convention."
In October 2011 the Daviess-McLean Baptist Association denied membership to a church in Owensboro, Ky. because it found the church's confessional statement too Calvinistic.
I have a minister friend who's a "closet Calvinist" -- living in fear that if his church found out he was reformed, they would fire him.
If this theology is so dangerous and divisive, what does it teach?
TULIP is an acronym and memory tool for the five points of Calvinism. This acronym was developed from the Synod of Dort, Netherlands (1618). A Calvinist affirms all of these statements:
* Total Depravity -- Because of their sinfulness, humans are not able to perform any action that will lead to their salvation (Romans 3:23).
* Unconditional Election -- God elects to save some solely on the basis of God's freedom and love and not on the basis on any merit or efforts on the part of humans.
* Limited Atonement -- Christ died only for the elect, who are the only recipients of salvation. Also called particular redemption.
* Irresistible Grace -- God's grace as it works for the salvation of an individual will accomplish its purpose and will not be thwarted.
* Perseverance of the Saints -- God's elect who believe in Jesus Christ are held secure by God's power, despite temptation and sin. Their salvation will not be lost (John 10:28).
Nathan Finn, professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, shared four myths about Calvinists:
* First, Calvinism is a threat to evangelism.
* Second, Southern Baptist Calvinists are opposed to invitations.
* Third, Calvinism is more or less equivalent to hyper-Calvinism. Hyper-Calvinism is the denied of the free offer of salvation. Why repent and believe if you're part of the elect?
* Finally, Authentic Baptists are not Calvinists.
We've seen how popular this theology has become, what it teaches, and some common myths about Calvinism. In two weeks we'll have a biblical critique of this trendy theology.
