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Published Saturday, January 21, 2012 in Religion
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.
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We cant all be saved and go to heaven...on 144,000 of us. That is if you believe the Bible to be accurate.
Posted by Joseph Breyne at 2:49 PM
We are all brothers and sisters in Christ - no matter the denomination. We should have God in our hearts and love one another as he commanded. The rest is just different rules for different clubs so to speak. The bottom line is we should all be saved and go to heaven. The logistics leading up to that are secondary. Comparing religions is wrong. We need to love each other and support each other, fellowship with each other and respect each other. Labels aren't necessary.
Posted by Christian For Life at 11:43 AM
The more I have studied God's Word, the more convinced I am that our salvation is completely dependent upon God's sovereign will. Rev 17:8 says that the names of God's elect were written in the book of life from the creation of the world. The entire theme of scripture is about God choosing people to have a relationship with Him. God chose Israel to be His people, not because they were of themselves anything special, but because of His sovereign will. He chose all the great patriarchs, they didn't choose him. Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, etc. Jesus chose all the apostles, and on the Road to Damascus converted Saul, the great persecutor of the church who was God's "chosen instrument" to preach to the Gentiles. He has chosen His elect as well.
Posted by Walker Inman at 4:28 AM
Being a Christian means spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. His blood was shed so others could be forgiven their sins when they ask. All this social theology antibondage antislavery is liberalism. Not one place in the Scripture calls slavery a sin or condemns it. The Scripture condemns the mistreatment of slaves. Slavery was God's punishment for a stiffneck people. It was also against God's law to keep a convert in slavery. As Christians were are to make ourselves slaves or bondservants to Jesus Christ. We are not to be slaves of the world(liberalism and relativism and other gods).
Posted by Bonnie Blue at 12:57 AM
I attended Passion and can say from experience that the Conference as a whole was not Calvinistic (you say "Passion [is a] major proponent of Calvinism"); however, John Piper clearly conveyed that if we were to choose our salvation, He would loose control. And if He lacked control, He would not be Lord, creator of all. Passion was not about Calvinism, it was about growing in your faith and love for Christ; through Passion, over $2 million was raised, not for the "Calvinistic cause" that you say speakers like Sproul and Piper support, but for the cause of Jesus Christ and the spread of His fame throughout the world.
Posted by Passion Attendee at 10:29 PM
I find it ironic that you call a 16th century return to the truths of God's word that was ignited by John Calvin's bold preaching of the gospel (evangelism) "trendy".
Posted by true to the Word at 9:41 PM
While I applaud the article for the discussion on Calvinism, I feel the author has misrepresented the intent of the Passion Conference. It is true that John Piper gave a talk to the 44,000 in attendance, and it is true that Piper is a Calvinist. However, Piper was only one of several speakers/teachers. And not all speakers were Calvinists. The theme of the Passion Conference was the abolition of modern day slavery and human trafficking. It was not a celebration of Calvinism, or Arminianism, or any particular denominational theology. Passion 2012 was a call to "rise up" and "do something now" to save the 27 million people in some form of bondage. That's not Calvin; that's Christ!
Posted by Craig Bryan at 3:28 PM
A revival of Calvinism amongst Baptists would not be a bad thing. Generations of promoting easy-believism, which de-emphasizes the convicting work of the Holy Spirit and repentance (or redefines it) and focuses on quick emotional decisions, have led to false professions by the score. Yes, it will divide churches, but that is true of any strong doctrine.
Posted by Captain America at 1:50 AM
Willowcreek and Seekers and the use of their materials has been and is still the worse threat to not only Baptist churches but most other churches. Another downfall to the Baptist Church is making an act of works tithing more important than baptism which Jesus never refered to as an act of works. The SBC should change their name to STA, Southern Tithing Assosiation. It is a much better fit. Church should not be about numbers(aka money) but about the Word. Most Baptist churches are out of touch with the Word but in touch with the world.
Posted by Bonnie Blue at 11:58 AM
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No false gods and no false religions
1/24/2012
Link To This Comment
We are not all brothers and sisters in Christ. Scripture does not say comparing religions is wrong. The opposite is true. Anyone teaching another gospel or a washed down version of the Gospel is wrong. It is sin. An the reward for it is a punishing eternal death. Labeling is necessary so God fearing Christian know what to stay away from. God ordered the killing of every man, woman and child who worshiped other gods in the Torah. Jesus took a whip to the religiuos Jews. Yes liberalism is a false religion that offends God.
Posted by Bonnie Blue at 4:06 PM