SBC pastors polled on Calvinism and its effect

[mandym]

...The survey revealed that 61 percent of SBC pastors agree (35 percent strongly; 26 percent somewhat) they are "concerned about the impact of Calvinism in our convention." Thirty percent disagree (16 percent strongly, 14 percent somewhat) with the statement. Nine percent chose "Don't know."

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38105

 

[jonathanD]

Nearly equal numbers of pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention consider their churches as Calvinist/Reformed as do Arminian/Wesleyan, although more than 60 percent are somewhat or strongly concerned about the effect of Calvinism on the denomination, according to a new survey from LifeWay Research.

Interesting...

 

[Havensdad]

Having spoken to many of these "Pastors" I would say half of the dissenting voices don't even know what Calvinism is, only what they have heard from others. One pastor I spoke to, said, "Isn't Calvinism where you don't believe in evangelism?"

The poll is more an indictment on the doctrinal education of our pastors, more than it is a position statement.

 

[SolaSaint]

OK, I read the BP article and I still have not found what this "concern" is about Calvinism in the SBC. They state all kinds of questions but no statement of what the specific concern is?

I was concerned that 4 % of participants did believe a Christian can lose salvation. Very scary.raying:

 

[Iconoclast]

Having spoken to many of these "Pastors" I would say half of the dissenting voices don't even know what Calvinism is, only what they have heard from others. One pastor I spoke to, said, "Isn't Calvinism where you don't believe in evangelism?"

The poll is more an indictment on the doctrinal education of our pastors, more than it is a position statement.

Sadly this is the case to often, and if the truth be known many of these persons have ran ...but God has not called them;

20 The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.

21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

23 Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?

24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.

25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;

27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.

28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.

 

[SolaSaint]

I wonder if a similar survey was done 50 years or more ago. I would love to see the comparison. But I think we all know what it would reflect. I've seen and read some works from the past SBC stand on soteriology and it is heavily Calvinistic, but I have yet to see any works touting Arminiamism from the past? Please someone set me straight.

 

[Thousand Hills]

It was torture reading this article, I feel sorry for the poor pastors that had to be interviewed.

Seventy-eight percent of pastors responded they personally are not five-point Calvinists, while 16 percent agreed (8 percent somewhat and 8 percent strongly) with the statement "I am a five-point Calvinist." This compares to 32 percent of pastors who agreed with the statement in last year's survey of Protestant pastors.

LifeWay Research asked a similar question in a 2006 SBC survey, which revealed 85 percent did not consider themselves five-point Calvinists and 10 percent affirmed that they were five-point Calvinists.

So if my math is correct, the hostile "Calvinist" takeover is growing at an alarming rate of nearly 1% per year, so in about 85 more years the SBC will be completely overun by them there evil "Calvinist", thats assuming they can also convince the "Don't Know's".

P.S. - Please let me know if you somewhat agree or strongly agree with my post. Thank you. :laugh:

 

[Yeshua1]

Having spoken to many of these "Pastors" I would say half of the dissenting voices don't even know what Calvinism is, only what they have heard from others. One pastor I spoke to, said, "Isn't Calvinism where you don't believe in evangelism?"

The poll is more an indictment on the doctrinal education of our pastors, more than it is a position statement.

exactly!

many even hear assume that being a cal refers to hyper cal, no need to do missions, and that humans are just robots, God as the puppet master!

 

[kyredneck]

I wonder if a similar survey was done 50 years or more ago. I would love to see the comparison. But I think we all know what it would reflect. I've seen and read some works from the past SBC stand on soteriology and it is heavily Calvinistic, but I have yet to see any works touting Arminiamism from the past? Please someone set me straight.

FYI, 50 yrs ago the SBC I grew up in was very strongly synergistic; I suppose 4 point Arminian would describe them.

The Primitive Baptist 5 point message of grace was like sweet music to my ears; what good news it really was.

 

[Yeshua1]

FYI, 50 yrs ago the SBC I grew up in was very strongly synergistic; I suppose 4 point Arminian would describe them.

The Primitive Baptist 5 point message of grace was like sweet music to my ears; what good news it really was.

perhaps, but is it biblical?

 

[kyredneck]

Old School Doctrine of Grace


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Primitive Baptist Doctrine and Practice