Civility and Calvinism (Part Three)

Stereotypes often hinder honest dialogue between those holding to Reformed Theology and those who do not within the Southern Baptist Convention. This past week (Nov. 26-28), at the “Building Bridges” Conference, Dr. Charles Lawless, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Mr. Nathan Finn, instructor of church history at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, addressed those stereotypes.

Here is a summary of Dr. Lawless’ address regarding stereotypes about non-Calvinists:

“Non-Calvinists are more concerned about numbers than theology.”
Because the SBC is a denomination which uses numbers (e.g., baptisms, membership) to evaluate progress and because many churches are theologically weak, this claim could be made about most Southern Baptist churches, regardless of their position on Calvinism. All Southern Baptists should be concerned when the Gospel is diluted in the name of outreach. Concern should also exist when numerical questions are never asked and when people rest upon their theology and never reach anybody for God’s glory.

“Non-Calvinists promote pragmatic church growth.”
Critics of the church growth movement sometimes use extreme examples to unfairly criticize the whole movement. Contextualizing a presentation of the Gospel to fit a listener’s culture is not the same thing as pragmatism. Critics must be careful not to confuse the two.

“Non-Calvinists used faulty approaches to evangelism and are unconcerned about regenerate church membership.”
Southern Baptists should be concerned about poor approaches to evangelism, but not all uses of gospel tracts, invitations and calls for decisions should be dismissed. Donald McGavran, the “Father of Church Growth,” clearly tied evangelism to discipleship and responsible church membership.

“Non-Calvinists do not like Calvinists.”
It is not Calvinism or Calvinists that concern many non-Calvinists, but rather the accusation made by a few Calvinists that non-Calvinists are less than gospel preachers.

Here is a summary of Mr. Finn’s address regarding stereotypes about Calvinists:

“Calvinism is a threat to evangelism.”
Many prominent Southern Baptist Calvinists have been very active in promoting evangelism. One of the first actions taken by Dr. Al Mohler when he became president of Southern Seminary, was to establish the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Church Growth.

“Southern Baptist Calvinists are opposed to invitations.”
While some “Calvinists” are uncomfortable with the “easy believism” of some altar calls, they are not opposed to public invitations when it is made clear that walking the aisle and praying a prayer are not equivalent to regeneration and repentance.

“Calvinism is more or less equivalent to hyper-Calvinism.”
The latter is an aberrant view of Calvinism that embraces several doctrines which stifle evangelism. Contemporary Southern Baptist Calvinists uniformly reject hyper-Calvinism as a perversion of the doctrines of grace and are regularly frustrated that so many non-Calvinists confuse the two.

“Authentic Baptists are not Calvinists.”
Whether or not Calvinism is biblical is a point worthy of debate, but the influence of Calvinism among Baptists in general and Southern Baptists in particular is a matter of historical record that cannot be disputed. Far from being semi-Presbyterians, Southern Baptist Calvinists have been defenders of distinctive Baptist doctrines.

Finn asserted that bridges can be built between Calvinist and non-Calvinist Southern Baptists through common commitments to the Gospel, distinct Baptist doctrines, and laboring together in Great Commission efforts. He also affirmed, “If we are to move toward a more cooperative future, we must all be committed to defending and commending our particular convictions, but never at the expense of either our cooperation with each other or our personal sanctification.”