I'm Back!

I know, I know, it has been forever since I've posted anything. I guess I'm just a boring guy. Today, while browsing blogs I found this article at founders.org. I thought it was an interesting read. Enjoy!

Lifeway: 10% of SBC pastors are 5 Point Calvinists

[9/19/06 EDIT: A friend from LifeWay contacted me today to let me know about the availability of a brief podcast with Dr. Waggoner regarding this research project as well as other research projects in the works. He even gives a "60 second overview" of Calvinism that is actually very good. It is certainly better than what is often presented. Dr. Waggoner makes the point that LifeWay wants to be on the cutting edge the things that are being discussed in our denomination as well as in evangelicalism in general. After discussing some of the plans with my friend and listening to the podcast, I am very encourged with potential good that LifeWay Research can do in helping pastors and churches understand various trends and tendencies that affect us all. You can access the podcast from the LifeWay news page. Click the podcast button.]

According to Baptist Press, a recent study by Lifeway Research, one out of every 10 Southern Baptist pastors considers himself a 5-Point Calvinist.The research also found that 85% do not consider themselves Calvinists while 4% do not know if they are or not. I think it's a pretty safe assumption that that latter group aren't either.

Brad Waggoner, director of Lifeway Research said that the study found that, contrary to popular opinion that the resurgence of the doctrines of grace is a young man's movement, "there is no significant statistical difference in those who are over 40 years of age responding in the affirmative and those under 40. Therefore, age is not a determining factor in those who embrace Reformed theology." I find this interesting, as well. The recent Christianity Today cover story suggests otherwise. Also, most of the anecdotal evidence indicates that the rising generation of evangelicals is more inclined toward reformed theology than those in the recent past.

I would be quite pleased to discover that one's age is not a factor in the theology he espouses. There are certain measurable realities, however, that would lead one to expect that more ministers being trained today in our seminaries would be Calvinistic than would have been the case 30 years ago. One of those realities is the fact that we now have more professors in our seminaries who understand and appreciate the reformation heritage of our Baptist faith. Only a few decades ago it was not uncommon to find seminary and college professors who were largely unware of the Calvinistic foundation of the Southern Baptist Convention. Consequently, those reformed roots were often overlooked when teaching Baptist history and theology. I well remember when it was common to hear the charge, "Southern Baptists have never been Calvinistic." With every new republication old books and articles, however, those claims became exposed as unfounded.

Another factor that leads me to believe that today's students would more likely be Calvinistic than previous generations is the breakdown of Southern Baptist sectarianism that we have witnessed over the last 30 years. For example, in the 1970s very few Southern Baptists were members of the Evangelical Theological Society. Today Southern Baptists are well represented in that organization. Interaction with the broader evangelical world has made Southern Baptists more aware of helpful writers and teachers who are not part of our own denomination. Men like John MacArthur, J.I. Packer, R. C. Sproul, John Piper and Iain Murray have been favorably introduced to Southern Baptists and their ministries have challenged many to look more favorably on reformed theology. In fact, one seminary dean told me 5 years ago that more and more students are showing up with reformed commitments already firmly in place.

The BP story also reports this interesting tidbit:

LifeWay Research also found that a slight majority (51 percent) of Southern Baptist pastors address Calvinism from the pulpit once a year or less, while 45 percent of SBC pastors address Calvinism several times a year or more from the pulpit. Four percent refused to answer the question regarding the frequency with which they address Calvinism from the pulpit.

I would guess that there are more Calvinist pastors in the first group than in the second. One common misconception is that a pastor who is committed to the doctrines of grace is regularly ringing five bells from his pulpit. A pastoral intern in our church disappointed a former classmate of his when he was asked what it was like to be in a church "where Calvinism is preached all the time." The intern honestly replied, "I don't know. In the four months that I have been here, all I have heard have expositions, mostly from the book of Ephesians."

As has been demonstrated on this blog and many others, what seems to be far more common is for Calvinism to be attacked from the pulpits of those who fear it, do not understand it, or vociferously oppose it. Too often when that has been done, the doctrines of grace have been caricatured and then dismissed as heretical. In this new information age, a pastor does that at his own peril. Thirty years ago, men could get away with making outlandish statements about what Calvinism is and what specific Calvinists have believed and taught. Today, with a reliable internet connection and google, those claims can be checked out very easily. Sometimes, when a check is made and claims are discovered to be inaccurate, the making known of that fact draws the accusation of "impertinence." Though a haughty spirit can rightly deserve that label, there is nothing impertinent in exposing error with truth.

I am grateful to Lifeway for conducting this research. I hope they will do it again in 5 years, because the return to the historic faith of our Southern Baptist founders is growing. John Broadus referred to "that exalted system of Pauline truth which is technically called Calvinism, which compels an earnest student to profound thinking, and when pursued with a combination of systematic thought and fervent experience, makes him at home among the most inspiring and ennobling views of God and the universe He has made." This biblical system of truth is being seen by more and Southern Baptists who take the Word of God seriously. By God's grace, that trend will continue and increase.

Thoughts from a Young Preacher.

Lately, I have been questioning things that have been happening in the church of America. I become more discouraged everyday when I hear and see what is going on in churches across our land. I would go into detail, but that is for another day. The following is a Bible study I did on 1 Thessalonians at our church. This study caused me to ask a lot questions of myself and my church.

"remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, you election by God."                  1Thessalonians 1:3-4

These are the marks of  a called out church.

1. work of faith - Literally, this speaks of works, or service rendered to the Kingdom of Christ, that is produced by faith.   "True faith is busy!"
2. labor of love - True works are motivated by Love. That is why Kingdom work should always be a labor of love.
3. patience of hope - This statement indicates an endurance under trail that is motivated by hope. Hope that is in our Lord Jesus Christ.

These three characteristics of the Thessalonian church should be the marks of the church we serve at. We should strive to be the church that God has called to be. We can examine ourselves to see if our election is sure by looking at this verse.

So this poses some questions.

1. Do we want to pay the price to become the church God had in mind?
2. If we so, will we do it out of love or duty?
3. Can we hold the road when results do not come out the way we think they should?
4. Have we grown lazy as a church and labeled it "Spirituality"?

The church is the instrument that God has divinely called out, to go public with His Glory. Can we answer these questions openly and honestly, or are we going to continue to ignore the problems that we are facing? 

We desire that God stay true to His promise, but we do not want to become uncomfortable in the process.

"True faith will produce true works, false faith will produce false works; what is the difference? LOVE!"                               -James Clardy

Thank You for your patience. Soli Deo Gloria!

I'm proud to be an American... too much?

This is for all you who think revelance is the most important thing in the world. This is by Dr. Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The Cutting Edge Has No Edge

by amohler

Looking back farther than I would like to remember, I recall as a seminary student reading an article by Richard John Neuhaus (back when he was still a Lutheran) on the issue of relevance in ministry.  In essence, Neuhaus argued that the churches most determined to be relative at all costs were destined to be the churches which were actually least relevant of all.  Making an idol of relevance is a form of self delusion.  Authentic relevance is represented by the transforming Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the faithful witness of the church throughout time.

Mark, I really appreciated your words concerning “assumptions and pursuits.”  I think you are absolutely right in suggesting that the big division among evangelical pastors today is between those who pursue faithfulness, assuming that faithfulness will produce relevance; and those who pursue relevance, hoping that faithfulness will emerge out of that quest.  You have provided a wonderful description of how this is realized in the ministry of the local church.

So many of the issues we deal with today seem to be focused on those who, in their own way, argue that we should pursue relevance by putting ourselves and our churches out on the “cutting edge” of ministry.  If this means taking every opportunity to extend faithful witness and ministry in the name of Christ, then count me in. 

Regrettably, it often becomes a rationale for something very different in the end.  Repeating that slogan, many pastors and churches, along with an array of parachurch ministries, push themselves into modes of ministry that are based more on cultural analysis and pragmatism than in a clear biblical and theological understanding of the nature and purpose of the church – and the integrity of the Gospel. 

The other problem with the “cutting edge” is that it really has no edge.  The culture is moving at warp speed in so many different directions that absolute relevance is a mirage.  Faithfulness to the Gospel produces the only relevance that matters.  Of course, we use forms of language and mechanisms of communication that others can understand, but the basic structure of our ministry and the substance of our beliefs are unchanged and unchanging – and still ever relevant. 

Those who push themselves ever onward toward the cutting edge will find themselves falling off the edge.

Mark, thanks also for your beautiful testimony, “Why I Am a Southern Baptist.”  It really is a wonderful piece that reflects your heart and witness.  Lig, thanks for taking time out of your summer travels to join me on yesterday’s edition of the radio program.  Thank you for your bold witness concerning the recent General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA).