Thursday, May 31, 2012

A Preliminary Response to “A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation”



A recent doctrinal statement has been released wherein Southern Baptists are implored to reject Calvinism as a theological benchmark and to embrace a series of doctrinal affirmations and denials that presumably affirm a kind of baptistic Arminianism. And indeed a number of prominent and respectable Baptist ministers and theologians have signed their name in approval. The document may be read here.

I have only briefly looked over this document, but I plan on reading it much more carefully in the near future. I will blog on this more fully at a later time. Nonetheless, I have a couple of preliminary observations:

“. . .we are asserting that the vast majority of Southern Baptists are not Calvinists. . . We believe it is time to move beyond Calvinism as a reference point for Baptist soteriology.”

Though I generally agree that Calvinism as a baptistic nomenclature is less than helpful (for reasons of ecclesiology and missiology rather than soteriology), I am troubled when the writer asserts that the majority of Baptists are not Calvinists. He may be right about this (in a robust 5 point sense); yet, I find myself asking: how does the writer know? In other words, he did not publish his research.

Also, something else disturbing to me is that the doctrinal affirmations and denials lack nuance. For example, when speaking of election, double predestination is assumed, and there is a failure to acknowledge moderate Calvinism which opts for preterition as an alternative—something that is historically quite common among Calvinists (Andrew Fuller for instance). The result of this lack of nuance is that though I realize my theological views are often different from the writer of this document, I am nonetheless affirming and denying right along with the document (with some obvious exceptions of course). And, the writer, as a result, is in danger, at times, of making a caricature of this so called “New Calvinism.” If we can agree (and I’m preaching to both sides now) that many of our theological conclusions are the same, then, perhaps, we can co-exist with a greater degree of unity. More on this later…

Monday, May 21, 2012

Two Previous and Positive Reviews


I realized recently, after posting Dr. Finn's recent book review, that I have not posted two previous and positive reviews of my book Fullerism as Opposed to Calvinism. They may be viewed here and here. The kind remarks are much appreciated.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Road to Emmaus




A link to a video sermon I recently preached can be accessed here. In it, I am delivering a sermon on the post-resurrection appearance of Christ to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). Some of you may have a particular interest in the video starting around 19:00 into the sermon, where I discuss the importance of affirming a bodily resurrection of Christ. This doctrine is contrasted to a spiritual non-physical resurrection.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

New Book Review


Below is a link to a new review for my book Fullerism as Opposed to Calvinism. Dr. Nathan Finn, from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote the review for the Gospel Coalition website. His candid and constructive remarks are greatly appreciated.

Click here to read the review.