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Reformed Baptists
- Thread starter Zenas
- Start date
In a nutshell:
One places the burden of other’s eternal destiny on the backs of the saints, the other does not.
“Slacking soul winners send people to hell”.
Silverhair
Well-Known Member
You mean that the person gets to choose whether they will trust in God or not just as the bible says.
Having that choice is not a burden KY it is a God given right.
No, I mean:
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
There could be no heavier burden placed upon US than the responsibility of other’s eternal destiny. Christ didn’t put that burden on us, radical evangelism did.
Kai
Active Member
Reformed Baptist churches are generally distinguished from the SBC by their commitment to Calvinist theology, particularly the doctrines of election, predestination, and irresistible grace. They also typically practice covenant theology and hold to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.
The SBC, on the other hand, is a much broader denomination that includes both Calvinists and non-Calvinists, with many churches holding to a more traditional, non-Calvinist understanding of salvation. Both groups practice believer’s baptism by immersion, but they can differ significantly in how they understand salvation, God’s sovereignty, and the covenants in Scripture.
The SBC, on the other hand, is a much broader denomination that includes both Calvinists and non-Calvinists, with many churches holding to a more traditional, non-Calvinist understanding of salvation. Both groups practice believer’s baptism by immersion, but they can differ significantly in how they understand salvation, God’s sovereignty, and the covenants in Scripture.
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
I used to belong as a member of a Southern Baptist church.
Now I am attending, and hoping to join, an Independent “Baptistic” Bible Church.
I have attended Assembly of God, Nazarene, Catholic, Presbyterian, Church of Christ, Methodist, Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox churches.
This independent Bible church is the most suitable church for me, even though they are of Reformed theology, and I am very opposed to TULIP Calvinism.
I love how they preach from the Bible and sing out of hymnals!
Now I am attending, and hoping to join, an Independent “Baptistic” Bible Church.
I have attended Assembly of God, Nazarene, Catholic, Presbyterian, Church of Christ, Methodist, Lutheran, Russian Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox churches.
This independent Bible church is the most suitable church for me, even though they are of Reformed theology, and I am very opposed to TULIP Calvinism.
I love how they preach from the Bible and sing out of hymnals!
Kai
Active Member
I used to go to a church affiliated with the SBC, and while they didn't identify as reformed, they did lean on the work of Calvinist theologians like John MacArthur and Warren Wiersbe during our Bible study sessions. Eventually, the senior pastor decided to step down, and his son-in-law took the helm. Even though I thought he was a nice guy, unfortunately, I found his sermons to be lacking in substance, so I made the decision to move on and find a different church home.
Kai
Active Member
Where I'm not now, but they are independent.
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Is not the 'Founders' Movement part of SBC? Is it not Reformed in its theology?
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
The Founders Movement (centered around Founders Ministries) is a Reformed Baptist movement within and adjacent to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
KenH
Well-Known Member
There are also Sovereign Grace Baptists, such as the church I attend - Grace Baptist Church of Ruston, Louisiana.
The entry in Wikipedia on "Reformed Baptists" has this section on "Sovereign Grace Baptists":
"All of these groups generally agree with the Five Points of Calvinism - Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. Groups calling themselves "Sovereign Grace Baptists" have been particularly influenced by the writings of John Gill in the 18th century. Among American Baptists who have revived such Calvinist ideas were Rolfe P. Barnard and Henry T. Mahan, who organised the first Sovereign Grace Bible Conference in Ashland, Kentucky, in 1954, though groups designated as Sovereign Grace are not necessarily connected to them."
It is from Henry Mahan that the pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Ruston, Louisiana, first heard the gospel of Christ, and then I heard it from him in 2021.
The entry in Wikipedia on "Reformed Baptists" has this section on "Sovereign Grace Baptists":
"All of these groups generally agree with the Five Points of Calvinism - Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. Groups calling themselves "Sovereign Grace Baptists" have been particularly influenced by the writings of John Gill in the 18th century. Among American Baptists who have revived such Calvinist ideas were Rolfe P. Barnard and Henry T. Mahan, who organised the first Sovereign Grace Bible Conference in Ashland, Kentucky, in 1954, though groups designated as Sovereign Grace are not necessarily connected to them."
It is from Henry Mahan that the pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Ruston, Louisiana, first heard the gospel of Christ, and then I heard it from him in 2021.
atpollard
Well-Known Member
I have never encountered a Southern Baptist Church that was 100% General Baptists (no Particular Baptists … the Baptist term for Reformed since we do not spring from the “Reformation” tree). So I see no “either/or” to choose between. I have been in Baptist (and non-Baptist) churches with both “Calvinistic” and “Arminian” leaning pastors. The CHURCH (assembly of believers) almost without exception contained both (and many shades in between).
I put the matter here because a lot of Southern Baptist churches are taking on reformed characteristics--elder-lead congregation, use of Crossway literature including the ESV, legally binding commitment of new members to the church's statement of faith, etc. It seems there is nothing about reformed theology or practice that would be anathema to the SBC. So why do they tend to remain independent?
Kai
Active Member
I think the main reason is that Reformed Baptist churches often want to maintain a distinct theological identity, particularly regarding Calvinism and covenant theology. The SBC allows considerable theological diversity, so a church can be Calvinistic and remain Southern Baptist. But some Reformed Baptists prefer the autonomy and doctrinal consistency of being independent, rather than working within a convention that includes both Calvinists and non-Calvinists.
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
How can a statement of faith be “legally binding”?
Silverhair
Well-Known Member
God did not make us responsible for another's eternal destiny, that is each persons responsibility.
Evangelism does not remove that responsibility. We can present the gospel but we cannot make them trust in Christ Jesus for their salvation.
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
We are not responsible for another person’s eternal destiny, but we are responsible for trying to persuade men to be reconciled to God.
2 Corinthians 5
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Wow Silv! That’s kinda what those mean ol’ Calvinists believe!
Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
Nope. Calvinists do not believe “God did not make us responsible for another's eternal destiny, that is each persons responsibility.”
They believe the person has no responsibility, God does everything, including putting repentance into them.