Calvinists and Arminians Are On the Same Team

Yesterday I posted summaries of the “five points” of both Arminianism and Calvinism. Today I want to demonstrate how these differences, while substantial and important, are not essential. In other words, Calvinists and Arminians are on the same team! We can work and worship together, because we agree that:

1. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone
2. God is Triune, and sovereign over all things, including salvation
3. The Bible is inerrant and authoritative

The list could go on. But many within the Southern Baptist Convention (the current flashpoint for a centuries-old debate) and elsewhere would benefit from a little historical context of cooperation. I submit to you now two examples of admirable cooperation. The first is Charles Simeon’s account of a conversation he had with John Wesley more than 250 years ago (recounted in J.I. Packer’s Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God):

Sir, I understand that you are called an Arminian; and I have been sometimes called a Calvinist; and therefore I suppose we are to draw daggers.  But before I consent to begin the combat, with your permission I will ask you a few questions.  Pray, Sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature, so depraved that you would never have thought of turning to God, if God had not first put it into your heart?

Yes, I do indeed.

And do you utterly despair of recommending yourself to God by anything you can do; and look for salvation solely through the blood and righteousness of Christ?

Yes, solely through Christ.

But, Sir, supposing you were at first saved by Christ, are you not somehow or other to save yourself afterwards by your own works?

No, I must be saved by Christ from first to last.

Allowing, then, that you were first turned by the grace of God, are you not in some way or other to keep yourself by your own power?

No.

What then, are you to be upheld every hour and every moment by God, as much as an infant in its mother’s arms?

Yes, altogether.

And is all your hope in the grace and mercy of God to preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom?

Yes, I have no hope but in Him.

Then, Sir, with your leave I will put up my dagger again; for this is all my Calvinism; this is my election my justification by faith, my final perseverance: it is in substance all that I hold, and as I hold it; and therefore, if you please, instead of searching out terms and phrases to be a ground of contention between us, we will cordially unite in those things where in we agree.

The second goes straight to the source. Writing of John Calvin’s Commentaries on the Bible, Jacobus (James) Arminius himself said the following:

“After the reading of Scripture, which I strenuously inculcate, and more than any other … I recommend that the Commentaries of Calvin be read … For I affirm that in the interpretation of the Scriptures Calvin is incomparable, and that his Commentaries are more to be valued than anything that is handed down to us in the writings of the Fathers — so much that I concede to him a certain spirit of prophecy in which he stands distinguished above others, above most, indeed, above all.”

I’ll be the last one to say that our doctrinal differences aren’t important, or aren’t worth debating. But surely we can all play nice, right? Let’s save our daggers for the Enemy.

Who Is In the SBC Family?

Tom Ascol has his finger on the pulse of the SBC, and has identified what he believes are four distinct types of Southern Baptists today. I think his analysis is right on, and his commentary on the bigger picture of what’s happening in the convention right now is definitely worth a read. Here are the four types:

1. Intolerant Calvinists—These are those who are convinced of the doctrines of grace and believe that anyone who does not agree with their views does not really believe the gospel. Therefore, they are always suspicious and often dismissive of folks who understand issues like unconditional election, particular redemption and effectual calling differently than they do and think that it is unwise at best and most likely impossible to work together with such people.
2. Cooperative Calvinists—These are people who believe the doctrines of grace but recognize that there are other brothers and sisters in the SBC who do not agree with their understanding. They are not mad about the disagreement but believe there can be genuine cooperation on the basis of what is believed in common. They do not think that it is necessary to be a Calvinist in order to “really believe” the gospel and they acknowledge that there are good and godly people who simply disagree with some of the specific tenets of reformed soteriology. They are unwilling to compromise their convictions but do not see cooperating with gospel-believing non-Calvinists as necessitating that.
3. Cooperative non-Calvinists—These Southern Baptists disagree with one or more points of the Calvinistic understanding of the doctrines of grace but do not believe that Calvinists are heretics or believe a “different gospel.” They are open to dialogue about their differences and willing to work with Calvinists and others who might disagree with their views as long as there is agreement on the nature of the gospel. They are not embarrassed about the Calvinistic heritage of the SBC and harbor no paternalistic attitude toward their Calvinist brethren. They are unwilling merely to tolerate Calvinists but desire to work with them in the common cause of making Christ known to the nations.
4. Anti-Calvinists—This group genuinely believes that Calvinism is a serious threat that must be rooted out of the convention or at best, relegated to a “back of the bus” status. They seek to marginalize Southern Baptist Calvinists by actively working to block access to local churches and denominational positions. Those anti-Calvinists who are denominational employees sense a stewardship to stand against Calvinism as well as, with increasing regularity, against those cooperative non-Calvinists who embrace their Calvinist brethren as equals. They believe that by doing so they are protecting the convention.

Like Ascol, I am a type-2 Southern Baptist, which he believes is the fastest-growing group. The vast majority of our church membership probably fall into category #3, though we have our fair share of #4′s as well. I hope and pray that the coming years will see the growth of categories 2 & 3, with fewer and fewer on the fringes who are unwilling to cooperate.

I highly encourage you to read the rest of his article here.

Combing the Net – 6/26/2012

How Facebook Changed Your E-mail and How You Can Fix It — I noticed last week as I was looking up several e-mail addresses on Facebook that everyone now had their real e-mail addresses replaced by a facebook.com address. I’m not as angry about this as it seems a lot of others are, but it is annoying. I changed my e-mail address back pretty easily, and now someone has made a helpful video to show you how to do it, too.

How We Die — Here’s a chart comparing mortality rates and causes of death from 1900 and 2010. Though the mortality rate has dropped significantly (as the article points out), it was interesting to see how many more people are dying of heart disease and cancer today… unless it’s simply being diagnosed more accurately/frequently. (HT: Trevin Wax)

David Platt, the Sinner’s Prayer, and the SBC — A personal note from pastor David Platt about the resolution adopted last week by the SBC (see here) about the sinner’s prayer. The controversy was sparked in large part by a 3-minute video clip from a sermon Platt preached two months ago. It is sad that Platt has been so misrepresented by some in the SBC, but his response is gracious and heartfelt. (HT: Denny Burk)

5 Problems With Unconditional Forgiveness — Should Christians forgive others unconditionally? Chris Brauns explains why  the answer must be “no” in this short post based on his book Unpacking Forgiveness: Biblical Answers for Complex Questions and Deep Wounds. (HT: Head Heart Hand)

Would You Ride These Homemade Water Slides? — Check out the “Backyard Waterslide of DOOM” from a couple different angles. Here’s one:

Awe. Some.

Combing the Net – 6/25/2012

The Message of the Bible in 221 Words — This is a great summary by D.A. Carson.

A Tale of Two Resolutions on the “Sinner’s Prayer” — One of the many nuances of the SBC soteriology debate going into last week’s annual meeting was the proposed adoption of a resolution that would officially affirm the use of what is often referred to as “the sinner’s prayer”. While a similar resolution was adopted by the Convention, the version that made it through committee to be voted on by messengers was quite an improvement on the original. Tom Ascol compares the two versions, and explains why this should not be seen as a “slap against the more reformed elements in the convention”.

What’s the Difference Between Typology and Allegory? — Short clarification on two things that are easily confused, particularly when interpreting Scripture.

Your Pastor Is Not Your Political Activist — This link is to the transcript of the John Piper sermon clip below (with links to the full sermon). Good stuff

I’m a Five Strip Baconist

So much for the SBC soteriology debate. Once people realize we’ve got BACON on our side, everybody will be a Calvinist!

Consider: You may think you had the opportunity to reject the bacon that was freely offered to you, but I know that I was irresistibly drawn to it.

Or, for those unwilling to part with the TULIP acronym, here’s a little baconization for you:

Total Deliciousness
Unconditional Edibility
Limited Allotment
Irresisible Goodness
Perseverance of the Savor

(HT: Ben Woodring via Jules Lapierre for the image, though please don’t blame the rest of my terrible puns on them… I take full responsibility.)