Comments on: Baptist Press: Recent [SBC] grads 3 times more likely to be Calvinists http://shepherdtheflock.com/2007/11/29/baptist-press-recent-sbc-grads-3-times-more-likely-to-be-calvinists/ "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you...” Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:52:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 By: Andrew Lindsey http://shepherdtheflock.com/2007/11/29/baptist-press-recent-sbc-grads-3-times-more-likely-to-be-calvinists/#comment-1411 Andrew Lindsey Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:08:32 +0000 http://shepherdtheflock.com/2007/11/29/baptist-press-recent-sbc-grads-3-times-more-likely-to-be-calvinists/#comment-1411 re: "Now, with Calvinism making headway in the SBC, let’s start praying for other areas where the SBC needs serious reform as well…" -Amen. I think that this is a serious problem with many young "Calvinists" today. They view Reformed Theology as being entirely composed of "the five points," while failing to grasp the conviction of <em>semper reformanda</em>- that the Church must always be reforming (in all areas) according to the Scripture. re: “Now, with Calvinism making headway in the SBC, let’s start praying for other areas where the SBC needs serious reform as well…”

-Amen. I think that this is a serious problem with many young “Calvinists” today. They view Reformed Theology as being entirely composed of “the five points,” while failing to grasp the conviction of semper reformanda- that the Church must always be reforming (in all areas) according to the Scripture.

]]> By: Nathan White http://shepherdtheflock.com/2007/11/29/baptist-press-recent-sbc-grads-3-times-more-likely-to-be-calvinists/#comment-1414 Nathan White Thu, 06 Dec 2007 22:52:04 +0000 http://shepherdtheflock.com/2007/11/29/baptist-press-recent-sbc-grads-3-times-more-likely-to-be-calvinists/#comment-1414 Andrew, I couldn't agree more. While Calvinism certainly gets our focus back on God instead of ourselves, it's easy to try and convert the world (SBC world particularly) to this and then disappear as if that is the 'end all'. However, I trust that beginning with these small steps, the SBC will continue to examine areas of their faith and practice that are not in accord with scripture. I am encouraged. Andrew,

I couldn’t agree more. While Calvinism certainly gets our focus back on God instead of ourselves, it’s easy to try and convert the world (SBC world particularly) to this and then disappear as if that is the ‘end all’. However, I trust that beginning with these small steps, the SBC will continue to examine areas of their faith and practice that are not in accord with scripture. I am encouraged.

]]> By: slave2Messiah http://shepherdtheflock.com/2007/11/29/baptist-press-recent-sbc-grads-3-times-more-likely-to-be-calvinists/#comment-1429 slave2Messiah Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:45:19 +0000 http://shepherdtheflock.com/2007/11/29/baptist-press-recent-sbc-grads-3-times-more-likely-to-be-calvinists/#comment-1429 It's encouraging to see that they included the evangelism rates among Calvinists vs. non-Calvinists. As far as reasons why the attendance is less, that should be clear: Calvinists [should] tend to not compromise the methods of reaching the lost by appealing to the flesh. they should be preaching the truth of Scripture and letting the Sovereign God do the work of "bringin 'em in." And as for any Baptist who just looks for large numbers of baptisms: look to the history of your own denomination. In times past, we were very careful not to baptize anyone without due process of confirming their conversion. [Oh look, a rabbit!] This is one area in which we Baptists need repentance. Baptism used to be sacred. It used to be a necessary part of conversion [Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38]. Now it seems that baptism is either so un-sacred that anyone can and should be baptized, or that it's just not important to conversion at all. It’s encouraging to see that they included the evangelism rates among Calvinists vs. non-Calvinists. As far as reasons why the attendance is less, that should be clear: Calvinists [should] tend to not compromise the methods of reaching the lost by appealing to the flesh. they should be preaching the truth of Scripture and letting the Sovereign God do the work of “bringin ‘em in.”

And as for any Baptist who just looks for large numbers of baptisms: look to the history of your own denomination. In times past, we were very careful not to baptize anyone without due process of confirming their conversion.

[Oh look, a rabbit!] This is one area in which we Baptists need repentance. Baptism used to be sacred. It used to be a necessary part of conversion [Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38]. Now it seems that baptism is either so un-sacred that anyone can and should be baptized, or that it’s just not important to conversion at all.

]]> By: slave2Messiah http://shepherdtheflock.com/2007/11/29/baptist-press-recent-sbc-grads-3-times-more-likely-to-be-calvinists/#comment-1430 slave2Messiah Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:50:00 +0000 http://shepherdtheflock.com/2007/11/29/baptist-press-recent-sbc-grads-3-times-more-likely-to-be-calvinists/#comment-1430 One last note: I am NOT an advocate of baptismal regeneration. Only the Spirit can regenerate a man to salvation. But baptism is obviously more than just a routine ceremony, at least that's the way Scriptures present it [1 Peter 3:21]. One last note: I am NOT an advocate of baptismal regeneration. Only the Spirit can regenerate a man to salvation. But baptism is obviously more than just a routine ceremony, at least that’s the way Scriptures present it [1 Peter 3:21].

]]>