Calvinism

The posts below are about the theology of Calvinism as opposed to Arminianism and other positions.

A Response to Jerry Vines on Calvinism and Southern Baptists

Friend and fellow Southern Baptist Joshua Breland has responded to Jerry Vines’ recent comments that Calvinism is one of the biggest challenges confronting the Southern Baptist Convention in his article: Maybe the Mayan Calendar Was Marking the End of the Southern Baptist Convention. One of the claims Joshua addresses is Vines’ charge that a move [...]

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Servetus Asked for Calvin’s Death

Geoff Ashley of The Village Church recently wrote an article on John Calvin’s role in the death of Michael Servetus.1 Ashley gives seven points to consider before “harshly judging Calvin a heartless tyrant.” While not absolving Calvin of any and all wrong doing for his role in Servetus’ trial it may be pointed out that [...]

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Calvinistic Methodist Influence on Early American Baptists

I recently shared an excerpt on Southern Baptist doctrinal conditions from a book by Victor Irvine Masters, D.D. (1867-1954).1 Masters was a past Superintendent of Publicity of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. In the last sentence of the section on doctrinal conditions Masters states, “The Baptists of 1815 in the South, [...]

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A 1915 Perspective on Southern Baptist Doctrinal Conditions

Victor Irvine Masters, D.D. (1867-1954) was the Superintendent of Publicity of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. In 1914 at the Southern Baptist Convention, Masters was asked by the Corresponding Secretaries of the State Boards to write a mission study book.1 He offered an interesting observation about Southern Baptists and their history [...]

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Free: Online Video Teaching Series by RC Sproul

Ligonier Ministries is offering several free online video teaching series by R.C. Sproul. Below is the first video from each series that are available to watch for free. The Holiness of God 1. The Importance of Holiness 2. The Trauma of Holiness 3. Holiness and Justice 4. The Insanity of Luthe Chosen By God 1. [...]

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The SBC and Calvinism: Three Reviews of Whosoever Will

The Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry, Spring 2010, is out. This issues deals with “Baptists and the Doctrine of Salvation.” There are three reviews of two recent books by Southern Baptists dealing with salvation. Whosoever Will: A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point Calvinism, editors David L. Allen and Steve W. Lemke, reviewed by: Gregory A. [...]

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Amazing Grace: The History & Theology of Calvinism – DVD Giveaway

I’m giving away the DVD set – Amazing Grace: The History & Theology of Calvinism. Check out the description below from Monergism Books. You can also read the reviews on Amazon. Description: Rich in graphics, dramatic vignettes, and biblical analogies, Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism features many of the finest reformed thinkers [...]

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Calvin the Evangelist

Reprinted by permission of Reformed Theological Seminary. This article was first published in the Reformed Quarterly Magazine Fall 2001. There are many popular misconceptions about John Calvin. Who is the true Calvin behind the image? Will Durant, the famous author of the eleven-volume series on the History of Western Civilization, said of Calvin: “We shall [...]

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Real Calvinism

Update: One of my facebook “friends” commented (seemingly at random): If a Pentecostalist, Arminian, Charismatic, Revivalist, or Anabaptist, please defriend or delete me. Or send me your name. I’ll help you. That is the unhelpful attitude the articles below address. There are two recent articles for the Calvinist to consider. The first is from the [...]

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Quote on Southern Baptist Cooperation

Matt over at SBCVoices wrote an interesting post called Arminio and Calvinito: Best Friends? In light of the recent Great Commission Resurgence, he lays out where some unnecessary Southern Baptist infighting takes place. Of course, the ultimate solution is the gospel. I was reminded of a quote that grabbed my attention from a book I [...]

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Could Molinism Support Universalism

Dr. William Lane Craig has an article called A Middle Knowledge Perspective on Biblical Inspiration. In this article he offers Molinism as the answer of how God can work with man to write inspired Scripture. This preserves man’s freedom while still giving God a level of control of the outcome. If this position is satisfactory [...]

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Michael Horton Interviews Robert Schuller

A Conversation with Dr. Robert Schuller* The following are highlights from a two hour discussion between Dr. Robert Schuller and Dr. Michael Horton on the White Horse Inn radio broadcast, Nov. 1992. Michael Horton: Would you be willing to address your congregation as a group as sinners? Robert Schuller: No I don’t think I need [...]

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Southern Baptist Disclosure and Unity

So what do you do believe pastor? Do you hold to X-theology or Y-theology? Which is it Xism or Yism? If you hold to Xism we must have full disclosure! OK, those aren’t exactly real questions. Though it’s been said more than once in Southern Baptist life that if a pastor holds to X-theology, he [...]

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Happy 500 John Calvin

Today is John Calvin’s 500th birthday. (See cake at left) Whatever our disagreements with Calvin it cannot be denied that Protestants (everyone?) owe much to his theological study. God certainly gifted him in areas many of us only wish our minds could go. Calvin was more than a mind though. He had deeds along with [...]

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IssuesEtc on Free Will

This is an interesting discussion by some Lutheran pastors on free-will and salvation. They even discuss Roman Catholic and Protestant differences. One of the questions at about the 20 minute mark by email was concerning God’s foreknowledge. It was along the lines of if God knows what you’re going to eat for dinner is it [...]

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Advance09 Day One

I’m having a great time at the Advance09 Conference. A great time of learning and conviction. I’m rooming with a brother named Kris from NC who also put some notes up. I’m going to give you today’s line-up and some highlights from my notes. You can go over to DesiringGod.org and download The First Three [...]

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Unchangeable Free Will

I know that yesterday I am going to eat chocolate chip ice cream. That can’t change. It cannot change. It already happened. I ate the ice cream, and even though that’s not going to change, I had free will to not eat the ice cream. Even though I am telling you today that that I [...]

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Divine Rape and Forced Love

I recently heard a sermon by an SBC pastor. He was speaking on TULIP. One of his points was against irresistible grace. He basically calls the doctrine irresistible predestination. Then, goes on to say the following. Forced love is rape. And God is not a divine rapist. God offers His love. He desires that we [...]

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Irresistible Prevenient Grace

Motivated by C. Michael Patton’s post: A Brief Rejection of Arminianism or “Why Arminianism Does Not Work” I’m reposting one of my old articles below. I may be about a week late to the game, but Pastor Gary L. W. Johnson over at the Teampyro blog finishes his three part post entitled Arminianism: Semi-Pelagianism? I [...]

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A Song For A Calvinist Wife

Michael Dewalt posted a performance of the song I Think My Wife’s A Calvinist by its author Brandon Milan. Too funny! I’ve transcribed the lyrics below and here is an mp3 download of the song. I’m going to play it for my wife without telling her about the song. I can’t buy my wife roses [...]

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My Awesome Wife At Christmas

My awesome wife got me Richard Muller’s Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics for Christmas! Now, my wife isn’t awesome because she got me these volumes. It’s because she is awesome in more ways than I can count that she got them for me! What a great gift. For those not familiar with this set here’s the description [...]

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Christless Christianity Q and A With Michael Horton

On October 31 Michael Horton appeared live on washingtonpost.com’s Viewpoint. Horton was answering questions about his new book Christless Christianity that was released on November 1. The book has been doing well selling over 7,000 copies and the live chat at Viewpoint was the best so far. This is great news! It would be nice [...]

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Curt Daniel A Hardshell, Hybrid Or Hypo-Calvinist?

Dr. Curt Daniel, pastor of Faith Bible Church in Springfield, IL. is known for his book The History and Theology of Calvinism. This book is massive, unattractive and presently purely for geeks who want to read historical theological research. Daniel’s material was recently referenced in the blog world in order to clarify charges of hyper-Calvinism [...]

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A Seminary Student’s Thoughts on the John 3:16 Conference-Update

Update: Todd Burus shares a great letter written prior to the conference. Read it: Calvinism in the SBC- An Open Letter to Johnny Hunt and Jerry Vines One of the people I was at the John 3:16 Conference with is a seminary student working towards an M.Div. He attends an SBC seminary and was asked [...]

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John 3:16 Conference 60 minute Q&A

John 3:16 Conference live blogging links in order Welcome Part 1 Part 2 (T) Part 3 (U) Part 4 (L) Part 5 (I) Part 6 (P) Part 7 And the downloadable handout from Dr. Allen with updated cleaner charts thanks to Tony Byrne. UPDATE: James White and Phil Johnson have answered David Allen concerning the [...]

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John 3:16 Conference Charles Stanley – John 3:16 to the World

Dr. Stanley starts telling that he grew up in a pentecostal holiness church. He wasn’t raised with the belief that we can have assurance of salvation. He then came to understand in the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ. Stanley doesn’t like this new move of talking about raising up “leaders” and such. Instead we need to [...]

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John 3:16 Conference Ken Keathley – Perseverance of the Saints

Quote from I.H Marshall – 2 Tim. 1:12 – Two components – One is presently saved – you can know that you are saved – One who in a state of grace will remain in the state of grace –>This is the perseverance What is the basis for assurance? Asahel Nettleton says “I think it [...]

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John 3:16 Conference Steve Lemke – Irresistible Grace

Desires to go forward in unity. Those these discussions are appropriate. References Dordt and it being a response to the Remonstrance. Reads some long quotes of God’s grace that man has not saving grace within himself, etc. that we can’t do anything that is good. All good deeds must be ascribed to the grace of [...]

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John 3:16 Conference David Allen – Limited Atonement

Dr. Allen starts with John 3:16. He plans on quoting only Calvinsts to prove his case against limited atonement. Calvinists are going to be “shocked.” What two things to these men have in common – Calvin, Bunyan, Bullinger, Watts, Brainerd, Hodge, Edwards, Shedd, Barnes, Strong, etc. etc.? (I couldn’t get them all) Dr. Allen wants [...]

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John 3:16 Conference Richard Land-Unconditional Election

Dr. Vines starts the morning explaining that disagreeing is not a bad thing. He has many Calvinist friends with whom he disagrees. He claims man can still make a choice and that though depraved not so much to as to say our capacity to chose is ruined. He does not mention God’s grace and how [...]

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John 3:16 Conference Paige Patterson-Total Depravity

The most hated doctrine in the world today is the exclusivity of Christ. The second is total depravity. He says thank God that our Calvinistic brethren for preaching the word of God. We have so much total depravity in our churches today because the word of God is neglected in preaching today. Dr. Patterson starts [...]

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John 3:16 Conference Jerry Vines-John 3:16

Dr. Vines, as far as I can tell, is preaching the same message on John 3:16 that he preached at SBTS chapel earlier this year. You can listen here: “The Inexhaustible Love of God” (John 3:16). Since you can go and listen I may not say too much on this. We’ll see. From what I [...]

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John 3:16 Conference Welcome Message by Johnny Hunt

As I blog through the John 3:16 Conference I will try to follow the schedule. Jerry Vines introduces the conference and Johnny Hunt. He says this conference is designed to be a biblical and theological response to five point Calvinism. Johnny Hunt gets a show of hands and about 90% of the attendance are pastors [...]

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John 3:16 Conference Questions

As many of you know (or maybe not) I will be attending the John 3:16 Conference this week. The very last item on the schedule is a 60 minute Q&A. So… I’d love to hear from blogdom out there as to what questions you’d like answered. Maybe, just maybe I could get to ask or [...]

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Reformation Radio

Friend and co-blogger James Swan will be on Chris Arzen’s Iron Sharpens Iron radio show. Schedule and Topics James will be on the show Wednesday (today), Oct. 29 and Thursday, Oct. 30 from 3-4pm. Wednesday James will cautiously tackle the problem of Martin Luther’s Antisemitism. Thursday’s topic will be: Martin Luther: Madman, Heretic, Prophet, or [...]

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Calvinism or Just a John 3:16 Kind of Guy III

Calvinism or Just a John 3:16 Kind of Guy Part III This is the third and final installment of this series. This will finish up part I and part II and my review of Dr. John Compton’s sermon “What is Calvinism?” I want to take a look at Dr. Compton’s three concerns, his theology of [...]

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Calvinism or Just a John 3:16 Kind of Guy II

Calvinism or Just a John 3:16 Kind of Guy Part II This is a continuation of the previous post. We start this section with the claim of the over-emphasis of God’s sovereignty above man’s free-will. An assertion based on what? We aren’t told. A side observation is that rarely are objections raised when a preacher [...]

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Calvinism or Just a John 3:16 Kind of Guy I

Calvinism or Just a John 3:16 Kind of Guy Part I Fellow SBC blogger Timmy Brister linked to a sermon telling us why it’s important to combat false representations of Calvinism within the Southern Bapitst Convention. Note: If you want to see why it is so necessary to publicly debunk errors by Lemke and others, [...]

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Calvinism, Hyper-Calvinism and Arminianism

I thought this might be a good suggestion for the week with the continuous talk of Calvinism and Hyper-Calvinism, etc. This is a revised and updated version of this book written in 1985. Description: Confused about the differences between Calvinism and Arminianism? Tired of uneducated clergy and layman confusing “classical Calvinism” with the error of [...]

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Hyper-Calvinism and Southern Baptists

Many times in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) we hear concerns over Calvinism and how it can split a church or destroy evangelism. And just as many times the Calvinist answers that those charges are not true. But are they true? Well, theology in the hands of sinful men can do much harm to a [...]

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T4G 2008 MP3s – Together for the Gospel

T4G 2008 wishing I were there… Session I – Ligon Duncan MP3 Sound Doctrine: Essential to Faithful Pastoral Ministry: A Joyful Defense and Declaration of the Necessity and Practicality of Systematic Theology for the Life of Church Session II – Thabiti Anyabwile MP3 Bearing the Image: Identity, the Work of Christ, and the Church Session [...]

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Become A Better Calvinist

Joel Osteen has decided to help Calvinists, especially, the ones who miss the big picture. —————————————————— Question: For Calvinists, what is your advice for how they can slow things down and find peaceful moments and smile? Answer: What Calvinists need to realize is that their predestination is the key. See, what Victoria and I have [...]

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Dr. Hargrave addresses Southern Baptists & Calvinism

An astute reader informed me of this video. As the screen shots tell us, yet again, Calvinism and hyper-Calvinism must be distinguished from one another for SBCers. Gene Bridges recently addressed this same issue. Dr. Hargrave gives an important message to consider in the SBC. Dr. Hargrave talks about labels and being honest about them. [...]

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Calvinism, Arminianism and John 6:44

I’ve been a little busy lately, but I wanted to share some food for thought with some folks. Brian Bosse has written on his blog A Logical Analysis of John 6:44. He also provides a link to the .pdf file of his paper which is here. It’s a very interesting and maybe a somewhat difficult [...]

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Extra: Baptists to Debate Calvinism at Liberty!

A debate on Calvinism is scheduled to be held in a month at Liberty University. You read right, at Liberty! Is this the debate we’ve been waiting for between James White and Ergun Caner? Well…no, unfortunately, it won’t be. However, it will be between two Liberty students who are good friends and hold each other [...]

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Southern Baptists Building Bridges: Reflections

The Building Bridges Conference was a great experience. By now most people probably know that the audio is online at Lifeway.com and presentations are available at Ed Stetzer’s blog. I would have gotten to this sooner, but I could not get my friends router to connect with my wireless card. I decided not to try [...]

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Piper responds to Witherington

John Piper responds to Ben Witherington about God being a narcissist. Piper says that Witherington’s conclusion is “astonishing for five reasons”. Read it. God’s Loving Self-Exaltation: A Response to Ben Witherington It’s encouraging that pastors like John Piper take time to respond to criticism such as this. Mark

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What some fear about Southern Baptists and Calvinism

What am I talking about? The fear that there is a movement of sorts in the Southern Baptist Convention to remove those who hold to the Doctrines of Grace from serving. Just as Calvary Chapel did with Daniel Cassady in which his embracing of the DoG resulted in his Ordination Removal. It’s a very interesting [...]

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Are Southern Baptists more Arminian than Calvinist?

I came across this quote below from an Arminian. In his book, The Trouble With Tulip, Page argues that Baptist need to embrace a biblical theology that is not labeled with either Calvinism or Arminianism. In essence though, Page takes what he likes from Calvinism (which would be total depravity and perseverance of the saints, [...]

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The T in TULIP

This is not a pleasant story to read. Just the word “castration” gives me the creeps, but a ring of this kind of homebased activity? I don’t know what is more disturbing; that something like this exists or that the participants were wanting, willing and then some. And some say there is no such thing [...]

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What are the most common objections to Calvinism?

For imformational purposes I’d like to get some of your input. I am not looking for a debate though. A. Total Depravity B. Unconditional Election C. Limited Atonement D. Irresistible Grace E. Perseverance of the Saints And if you would like to add these additional items that would be great too. – Brief Presentation of [...]

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Please welcome the Reformed Baptist Fellowship

This new blog features contributors Richard Barcellos • Mark Chanski • Bob Gonzales • James Renihan • Jim Savastio • Geoffrey Thomas • Sam Waldron • James White. I look forward to reading and learning from these men. This is a welcomed addition to the blogosphere. Thanks guys, Mark

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George Bryson, Doug Wilson & Calvinism: Selective Quoting

I just finished listening to James White on The Dividing Line webcast. He was reviewing audio of George Bryson speaking against Calvinism. At one point Bryson quotes a person whom wrote approvingly of Bryon’s book The Five Points of Calvinism. This theologian, Bryson said, was touted by R.C. Sproul as one of the sharpest minds [...]

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A Conversation on Calvinism

I was talking to an old friend from high school recently and we talked of many things about church. I’ve run into this old friend in the church we now attend which is some 250+ miles away and 15+ years ago from High School. We caught up a little bit on old friends and old [...]

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Calvinists are Evangelical

Below is a response I sent to The Christian Index in reply to a reader’s recent submission entitled Evangelical Calvinism is an oxymoron. Let’s see if it gets published. Calvinists are Evangelical I can’t believe some who professes to be Protestant know all that the original Protestants professed. If Southern Baptists wish to continue to [...]

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Dear Emir and Ergun Caner: A Calvinist History Lesson

To Emir and Ergun and those who fall inline with their anti-Calvinist, I’m a Southern Baptist not a Calvinist position. It’s been a long weekend and I’m tired so I won’t write much. Someone from my local state SBC paper wrote out some factual points very well. So please read Baptist Identity and Calvinism. Since [...]

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Politically Liberal Calvinist

Yes, I can certainly hear it now from the anti-Calvinist Southern Baptists like Falwell and whosoever else shall speak. Calvinists may now be put in the party of the liberal democrats in an attempt to further discredit our theology. Below is a quote from one of Eric Sapp’s posts in which he claims his Calvinism. Sapp formerly worked [...]

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Prevenient Grace is Irresistible

I may be about a week late to the game, but Pastor Gary L. W. Johnson over at the Teampyro blog finishes his three part post entitled Arminianism: Semi-Pelagianism? I am not here to argue that Arminianism equals semi-pelagianism either directly or practically. I think Greg Welty argued well and reasonably that it doesn’t. I [...]

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Blog bites: Emir Caner vs. Apostle John

Emir Caner recently spoke at Thomas Road Baptist Church. You can download it at – A Gospel Worth Preaching. Paraphrasing Emir he said that God doesn’t send people to hell for their sins, but for their rejection of Christ. John wrote at 16:8-9 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and [...]

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Blog Bites: Appealing to Free Will

I was flipping channels the other day and came across something on Daystar. I think it was Daystar. Anyways, it was some sort of Bible teaching and I was just thankful that it was the ole health and wealth stuff that is often on as Bible teaching. Well, I hear a statement that went something [...]

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Frank Page: Calvinism Manmade Not Bible-based

Just scroll down to the bottom of the article Frank Page discusses SBC theological issues. Many felt that Dr. Page would be a great moderate voice towards the Calvinists in the SBC despite his book The Trouble with TULIP (reviewed here). You can read an interview with Dr. Page in which he states, I have [...]

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Sovereign Over Sovereignty?

I read that Roger Olson has a new book out called Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities. (Not to be confused with Gordon Olson who I’ve blogged about.) I searched and found in The Baptist Standard an article written by Roger Olson entitled God is sovereign over his sovereignty. What does that even mean? Is this [...]

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James Swan responds to Ray’s comment from this blog

I posted one of James’ articles before he pleasantly suprised us by starting his own blog. The article was essentially about Norman Geisler, Gordon Olson and Calvinism. Someone named Ray commented on my original post of James’article and now James has responded on his blog.

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Blogging issues etc.?

I really don’t understand Todd Wilken who hosts the Issues, Etc. radio show. Recently, on one of Paul McCain’s anti-calvinist blog posts Wilken shared a few of his anti-calvinist ideas. “Jesus” When you read that word, a picture popped into your mind, right? The iconoclastic Calvinist or Zwinglian cannot escape THAT image. Lutherans are comfortable [...]

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Beyond Geisler & Olson by James Swan

This guest article is posted with permission by friend James Swan. All I came up with was the clever title. I thought about this article which James emailed me a while back after the recent talk about Gordon Olson on atleast one or two blogs. James has also written some other good articles definately worth [...]

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The Mohler – Patterson “discussion”

When I first read that Al Mohler and Paige Patterson were going to “debate” Calvinism I was excited. I was glad a prominent Calvinist was finally going to correct and properly represent the Calvinists positions and all of its misrepresentations. I thought, “Finally, an answer!” The more I thought about it the more I wonder [...]

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Thanks Dave Hunt. Glad I was a Calvinist afterwards! Whew!

In Dave Hunt’s recent Berean Call newsletter we find the question and the end of the answer below. Question: In the July ’05 Letters section,“TF of Ireland,” a self-proclaimed “Calvinist,” acknowledged that Tom and Dave are saved. Is it possible for someone who believes only in the soteriology of Calvin to be saved? Specifically, that [...]

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God is merely trying to save everyone?

These are some quick thoughts I had in the past that I typed out, saved and just found again. I was thinking about how some people view God as trying to save people rather than actually saving them. This thought process lead me think of God being a failure since He tried to save all, [...]

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Quote of the Day

“But let me ask: If it be so very absurd, to worship the work of other men’s hands what must it be, to worship the works of our own hands? Perhaps, you may say, “God forbid that I should do so.” Nevertheless, let me tell you, that trust, confidence, reliance, and dependence, for salvation, are [...]

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Poisoning Calvin’s Well

The attempted argument against Calvinism goes something like this, “Was the burning of Michael Servetus a justified, godly thing to do?” The person making this argument is usually trying to blame John Calvin as a person who single-handedly convicted, tied-up and lit the match that started the burning of Servetus. Then, the conclusion which is [...]

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Ponderings on William Lane Craig’s molinist position

On Dr. William Lane Craig’s website he has an article called A Middle Knowledge Perspective on Biblical Inspiration. Taking Craig’s conclusion on the inspiration of the Bible and applying it salvation seems to offer no valid reason why all are not saved. The first paragraph below are Craig’s actual words. The second is my re-written [...]

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