Featured Victims of Soteriological Dishonesty

"...This whole new Calvinism thing is new to my area and it seems to be infiltrating my church and no one seems to be noticing. We’ve had several guest speakers now that are most certainly reformed in their theology and without voting for it we are now using reformed resources for Bible study materials. My church is not even batting an eye. Most people aren’t even noticing...."

Wow, sounds like things were churning along right peacefully; I suppose you'll do whatever in your power to put a stop to that!

 

I agree.
Christ certainly did not do his teaching in secret.
Neither did Paul.
Personally, I would rather have 5 out of 500 follow me out from error, than use stealth to teach truth just to maintain "numbers".

 

The heart is extremely deceitful to say the least. Even sometimes from those who claim to be of God.

Off topic a bit but I once attended a small church where the new pastor proposed a New and up-to-Date set of by-laws. He passed his proposal(s) out for review and then requested all the copies be returned to him.

The church then voted for the proposal. All seemed well.

A few weeks later we were all issued copies of the new by-laws with different language basically turning all control over to the pastor. In short, he owned the church.

...I had made a copy of the original copy and kept it.

Okay, back on topic of the thread.

 

The soteriology isn't to blame. Sounds like a dishonest man to me, and the strategy employed seems to be one of the purpose-driven stealth strategies.

 

I agree 100%. As someone who has experienced this very thing within the last 5 years. Churches should have conversations about where they stand soteriologically. Perhaps some open honest debate conducted by Association Missionaries who make all attempts to be "fair and balanced" in presentation of the comparisons and contrasts to different views of theology. Then the people of each church, after some personal preparations can make informed decisions about what they wish to communicate, and how much "diversity" they will permit within their own congregation. Nothing is lost having a conversation on such matters.

My personal experience was that approximately 100-150 families departed the church for other local SBC churches, and many to the church that we settled in, Wiregrass Church.

 

What's "peaceable" about lying to the congregation? Can you tell us how you feel about the pastor's apparent dishonesty in revealing his theology during candidacy?

I believe, indirectly, it is to blame. The pastor obviously didn't believe he would be called if it were known he is a Calvinist. Therefore, he knew his soteriology is unpopular. Therefore, the lack of general acceptance for his soteriology is to blame for his dishonesty.

 

My question is, How stupid was the congregation for not checking this guys background more thoroughly & asking more pointed questions of the man? I'm sure with some do diligence, it could have been exposed. But perhaps there are elements of the congregation, seems more so the group selection committee, that have some of their own unrevealed agendas to put the church on the track.
This only happens in blended churches like the SBC anyway......serious Calvinists need to get their own church & stop messing around.:smilewinkgrin:

 

I believe in the Doctrines of Sovereign Grace but I am not a Calvinist. It is certainly plausible that a Baptist pastor would make the same distinction that I do.

Of course Southern Baptists Churches are getting as close to baptizing infants as possible so who knows!

 

Out of curiosity, how does a pastor take over ownership of any given church. I mean if its a congregational organized with trustees. Right.

 

My experience is that most people will not ask a candidate anything about his beliefs. I have never served on a search committee for a pastor but many, many years ago I was on a search committee for a youth pastor. When I started asking potential candidates about their beliefs certain other members "secretly" asked the pastor to sit in on our interviews. In fact we had one candidate to which the committee extended a call. He refused the call because he did not like my questions!

I have an elder brother in the Knoxville area who has served on pastor search committees. He has had the audacity to ask candidates about their conversion experience much to the "horror" of other members.

 

In the SBC it seems that pastors can usually do as they please unless they mistakenly offend one or more of the "power brokers" in the congregation!

I can say from personal experience that those who oppose the pastor on any issue quickly fall out of favor in the congregation.

 

How can they claim to have done their due diligence if they don't ask about the candidates' beliefs?? That's the height of stupidity, in my opinion.

 

Sounds like something that happened at Dauphin Way Baptist Church in Mobile a few years back. The new pastor came in with a hidden agenda and nearly destroyed the church. He went so far as to say that if you didn't adhere to the five points then he doubted your salvation as if the Romans 10:9 says, "That if thou shalt call on the name of the Lord Jesus and believe.....and, oh, by the way, adhere to T.U.L.I.P., thou shalt be saved.

I respect the man's choice of theology but not his dishonesty. He will answer for his subterfuge, not to me, but before the Lord God Almighty. All pastors need to be careful as to how they handle Christ's bride.

 

I obviously was not one of the "power brokers". However, the pastor that I would sometimes oppose stated, correctly, that the congregation could get more upset over cutting down a dead tree than they would over a theological issue.

About the only thing many SBC members will get upset about is if you question the pre-trib rapture.

 

These are SBC churches you are referring to correct?

 

It does go back to the pastor being dishonest, and he ought to be banned for life from being a pastor. However, it is the sacred duty of the Search Committee and congregation to completely vet the candidate to whatever degree is necessary. Also, if he gets past that and has lied, the congregation needs to boot him out the front door. All it takes is one vote.

 

Why, isn't the guy human and just as apt as anyone to sideways up? If he does, then who holds him accountable ....or does he get a pass? Seriously are we not headed into the bizzaro world of the RC church where the priest can do nothing wrong and he isn't accountable?