Ten Top Reasons Why Calvinism is Spreading in the SBC
I'm sure there will be much disagreement over the order but here they are as I see them.
10. The Tireless Efforts of the Founders Ministries and those associated with it.
9. Southern Baptists are reading more Baptist History.
8. More Willingness among SBC Pastors/Teachers to cross SBC lines to hear "dynamic preachers and teachers".
7. Proliferation of online sermons by SBC Calvinists
6. Calvinistic Web Sites and Blogging
5. Inadequate treatment by SBC Professors openly opposed
4. Unwillingness of SBC Leaders to model and promote church discipline
3. Frustration with 60% failure rate of SBC evangelistic emphasis
2. More Calvinistic Professors at SBC Seminaries
1. Anti-Calvinistic rhetoric by "leading" SBC Pastors
Number 10 - The Tireless Efforts of the Founders Ministries and those associated with it.
What can I say? Had not those seven men met in Memphis in 1983 and shared their common concerns and vision I might not even be writing this today as a Southern Baptist. The leadership that Tom Ascol and others have provided through the years since that humble beginning has been an encouragment to all of us Southern Baptists who embrace the Doctrines of Grace.
Number 9 - Southern Baptists are reading more Baptist History.
When thinking Southern Baptists look at the historic Baptist Confessions and look at the Articles of Faith of almost all Southern Baptist Churches in this country that existed before the SBC was organized in 1845, they realize they are holding in their hands evidences of a strong Calvinistic heritage.
Number 8 - More Willingness among SBC Pastors/Teachers to cross SBC lines to hear "dynamic preachers and teachers" like R. C. Sproul, John Piper, John MacArthur, Ligon Duncan, C.J. Mahaney and others. What more needs to be said?
Number 7 - Remember back when a sermon tape by an SBC Calvinist was as rare as hens' teeth and you guarded it so carefully because you didn't know if you could ever replace it or not? Not anymore. Any SBC Calvinist can post his sermons online so we can all listen and be encouraged to our hearts' content.
Number 6 - Calvinistic Web Sites and Blogging
I've learned more theology and more Baptist history since I've plugged into the internet than I ever did in seminary or during that period I call the "dark ages" between seminary graduation and the advent of the web. I've also had more fellowship and made more friends through the web than I ever thought possible.
Number 5 - Inadequate treatment by SBC Professors openly opposed to Calvinism
Some obviously must feel like they have to say something so they say things that reveal a total lack of or a woefully inadequate understanding of the position of most SBC Calvinists. It only reinforces what many of us suspected was true during our seminary days. These are dedicated men and are faithful servants, for the most part, but they are certainly not infallible.
Number 4 - Unwillingness of SBC Leaders to model and promote church discipline
I don't believe I've ever heard a SBC mega-church pastor suggest that he needed to prune his church's membership roll, and these are the guys we keep electing President of the SBC every year. We know we have a problem in SBC Churches with unregenerate and inactive church members showing up to vote at controversial business meetings. Our leadership has not adequately addressed these issues but leading SBC Calvinists have.
Number 3 - Frustration with 60% failure rate of SBC evangelistic emphasis
Southern Baptist pastors are simply tired of the same old evangelistic results regardless of whether you call it F.A.I.T.H. or CWT or EE. When you get the same old results - 60% failure rate - campaign after campaign - then it becomes apparent that something is broken.
Number 2 - More Calvinistic Professors at SBC Seminaries
May their tribe increase. I believe this is a providential thing - don't you?
Number 1 - Anti-Calvinistic rhetoric by "leading" SBC Pastors
What happens when a well known SBC personality speaks out for something or against something so controversial as Calvinism? Ears perk up all over the SBC. Questions are asked. Inquiries are made, and the end result is that more and more Southern Baptists examine the Doctrines of Grace and some are persuaded they are true.
Stay tuned - More to come
10. The Tireless Efforts of the Founders Ministries and those associated with it.
9. Southern Baptists are reading more Baptist History.
8. More Willingness among SBC Pastors/Teachers to cross SBC lines to hear "dynamic preachers and teachers".
7. Proliferation of online sermons by SBC Calvinists
6. Calvinistic Web Sites and Blogging
5. Inadequate treatment by SBC Professors openly opposed
4. Unwillingness of SBC Leaders to model and promote church discipline
3. Frustration with 60% failure rate of SBC evangelistic emphasis
2. More Calvinistic Professors at SBC Seminaries
1. Anti-Calvinistic rhetoric by "leading" SBC Pastors
Number 10 - The Tireless Efforts of the Founders Ministries and those associated with it.
What can I say? Had not those seven men met in Memphis in 1983 and shared their common concerns and vision I might not even be writing this today as a Southern Baptist. The leadership that Tom Ascol and others have provided through the years since that humble beginning has been an encouragment to all of us Southern Baptists who embrace the Doctrines of Grace.
Number 9 - Southern Baptists are reading more Baptist History.
When thinking Southern Baptists look at the historic Baptist Confessions and look at the Articles of Faith of almost all Southern Baptist Churches in this country that existed before the SBC was organized in 1845, they realize they are holding in their hands evidences of a strong Calvinistic heritage.
Number 8 - More Willingness among SBC Pastors/Teachers to cross SBC lines to hear "dynamic preachers and teachers" like R. C. Sproul, John Piper, John MacArthur, Ligon Duncan, C.J. Mahaney and others. What more needs to be said?
Number 7 - Remember back when a sermon tape by an SBC Calvinist was as rare as hens' teeth and you guarded it so carefully because you didn't know if you could ever replace it or not? Not anymore. Any SBC Calvinist can post his sermons online so we can all listen and be encouraged to our hearts' content.
Number 6 - Calvinistic Web Sites and Blogging
I've learned more theology and more Baptist history since I've plugged into the internet than I ever did in seminary or during that period I call the "dark ages" between seminary graduation and the advent of the web. I've also had more fellowship and made more friends through the web than I ever thought possible.
Number 5 - Inadequate treatment by SBC Professors openly opposed to Calvinism
Some obviously must feel like they have to say something so they say things that reveal a total lack of or a woefully inadequate understanding of the position of most SBC Calvinists. It only reinforces what many of us suspected was true during our seminary days. These are dedicated men and are faithful servants, for the most part, but they are certainly not infallible.
Number 4 - Unwillingness of SBC Leaders to model and promote church discipline
I don't believe I've ever heard a SBC mega-church pastor suggest that he needed to prune his church's membership roll, and these are the guys we keep electing President of the SBC every year. We know we have a problem in SBC Churches with unregenerate and inactive church members showing up to vote at controversial business meetings. Our leadership has not adequately addressed these issues but leading SBC Calvinists have.
Number 3 - Frustration with 60% failure rate of SBC evangelistic emphasis
Southern Baptist pastors are simply tired of the same old evangelistic results regardless of whether you call it F.A.I.T.H. or CWT or EE. When you get the same old results - 60% failure rate - campaign after campaign - then it becomes apparent that something is broken.
Number 2 - More Calvinistic Professors at SBC Seminaries
May their tribe increase. I believe this is a providential thing - don't you?
Number 1 - Anti-Calvinistic rhetoric by "leading" SBC Pastors
What happens when a well known SBC personality speaks out for something or against something so controversial as Calvinism? Ears perk up all over the SBC. Questions are asked. Inquiries are made, and the end result is that more and more Southern Baptists examine the Doctrines of Grace and some are persuaded they are true.
Stay tuned - More to come
posted by Jim Shaver at 4:55 AM
3 Comments:
SBC will never be favor total Calavinism because John Calvin followers persecuted Baptists.
In John Calvin's time, who did not persecuted Baptists?
Calvinism is spreading since it is a move of God.It's not happening by chance.Every heresy,whether moral or theological,works itself,either first or last,into a frenzy against Calvinism. But this move will not be stopped.So relax and enjoy. It may be God is getting ready to do something big and,and as in the first Reformation, will look to the Calvinists to accomplish His work.God will defend his truth against all opposition.
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