As my profile mentions, I am writing my PhD dissertation with the Free University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. As a result, random pieces of my research will likely find its way into these posts. My subject deals with the 18th century English Particular Baptist Andrew Fuller--a continuation of my master's thesis (recently published as a book--see link to the right, click, and purchase many copies!). I intend to post essays, sermons, interviews, and book reviews that will hopefully appeal to the baptist thinker as well as the broader evangelical community. For now, I will leave you with a quote from Andrew Fuller on the Great Commission:
“We have no notion of any thing being the will of God, but what may be proved from the scriptures . . . The principle ground on which we act is confined to a narrow compass: it is the commission of our Saviour to his disciples, ‘Go
—teach all nations;’” Fuller,
Apology, Works 2:817.
It strikes me regarding Fuller how optimistically and favorably he looked across the Atlantic. Fullerism represents to some degree, in my opinion, the Americanization of English Baptist life. I realize that those might be fighting words to some. I admit that it is an idea that I've been trying on for a few years more than it is one that I have already adopted. I'm curious as to your reaction.
ReplyDeleteBart,
ReplyDeleteI think you are exactly right. Much of Fuller's "Fullerism" was essentially the New Light Calvinism of Edwards and some of the other Edwardsians, such as Bellamy. Though he certainly had other influences, Edwards and Co. were no doubt theological shapers of Fuller's soteriology.
What do you make of Fuller's comment (in the work compiled by Ryland) describing himself as "one that really holds to the system of Calvin" or as a strict Calvinist? Also, should it pose a problem for Southern Baptists to follow Fuller given that he held that regeneration precedes faith?
ReplyDeleteGreat comment, Mark. I think that it should not surprise anyone that Fuller "reckoned" himself to be a strict Calvinist, considering that he was a Particular Baptist. When Fuller described himself as such, he was distinguishing himself from (among other things) what we call hyper-Calvinism. He was appealing to John Calvin as the standard for Calvinism (something with which Richard Muller would not agree).
ReplyDeleteNow, regarding Fuller's view of regeneration preceding faith, this is certainly not a conflict of interest for Southern Baptists. In fact Southern Baptists have always had a number of folks in agreement with Fuller on this topic. This is not, in my opinion, a defining doctrine for the denomination.
Having said all of this, I would like to point out that my book does not argue that "Calvinism" as a soteriological distinction is incompatible with Baptist doctrine. Let's face it, Fuller was a kind of Calvinist (of the "New Light" variety), as it regrads his soteriology. Nevertheless, it is Calvinism as a complete system, however, that is incompatible for Baptists. And this is where "Fullerism" becomes a more appropriate nomenclature. With his soteriology, Fuller combined a Baptist ecclisiology and a Baptist missiology (the focus of my book).
So, within Southern Baptists circles, we have folks who hold to varying degrees of a Calvinistic soteriology--all of which are compatible with Baptist identity as long as the ecclisiological and missiological distinctions are maintained, something Fuller did quite well.
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ReplyDeleteGiven that Fuller is highly regarded in Baptist circles, I'd like to know what to do with comments like the ones found in the following post. Calvinism in the SBC.
ReplyDeleteMark,
ReplyDeleteCringe mostly! This well meaning fellow does not seem to know very much about the subtleties of the theological traditions of which he speaks—his own included. The straw men he is describing do not sound like good seminary professors to me either! Fortunately, however, I do not think that this guy is representative of the SBC. Much to Mr. Hadley’s chagrin, the SBC has historically been made up and led by Christians who vary in their adherence to Calvinistic and Arminian (if I must use the terms) soteriological principles. There is no conspiracy going on in the Calvinistic camp, as was suggested. Rather, Southern Baptists simply need to keep the dialog going (as we always have) and keep pressing forward for the common goal of reaching the world for Christ.
Chad