What is a "Traditionalist" Baptist...

I know you asked for "Traditionalists" to share how their beliefs differ with Particular Baptists (a.k.a. Calvinists), but I want to go on record as stating that "Traditionalist" is a contrived term that serves no other purpose than to provide cover or legitimacy to certain Baptists that disagree with Calvinism. Perhaps they use the term to establish the legitimacy of their beliefs and that they are of old? If that is the case, it is a term that Calvinists and non-Calvinists can use. The term does nothing to indicate what these certain Baptists believe. I know this is going to come off as a poke in the eye of those who consider themselves "Traditionalists" but I do not mean it to be like that. Like you, I want to know what these Traditionalists believe. Can they bullet point their beliefs to make it easy for everyone to understand their doctrinal distinctives?

 

I'm not certain but I think the term "Traditionalist" is used within the SBC to indicate that person is not a Calvinist.

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Actually, if true that is pretty funny. I have friends (Calvinists and non-Calvinists) in SBC churches and I have never heard of the term outside of the Baptist Board. I guess I need to get out more.

 

Leighton Flower's website. The devil (excuse the pun) is in the details. A Calvinist can agree with each one of the above points, albeit with qualification.

 

So "reformed" Baptist? If so it would just seems like Calvinism under another name to me...Dr.James White if I'm not mistaken belongs to a reformed Baptist church. What's different between Particular and 5 point Calvinist? Serious question because I have never heard of Particular...well anything as far as denomination.

 

Right, same terms different dictionary.

 

Agreed, it is a made up term to give the reader a leaning that "Oh, that must be the correct position if it is traditional." It is a deceptive tactic.

 

Doubtful since the SBC is historically Calvinist.

 

Confessionalism and Covenant Theology. Not every Calvinistic Baptist is the same. James White subscribes to the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith as a doctrinal statement. He is also a Covenant Theologian as opposed to a Dispensationalist. Those Baptists that refer to themselves as "Reformed" believe similarly. But there are many Calvinistic Baptists who are Dispensational. There is your difference.

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Then some, like Albert Mohler and myself, believe you have to have pieces of Covenant Theology and also Dispensationalism to be biblically sound

 

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

 

Most of SBC is not Calvinist. I have not personally met any Baptists which have identified as Calvinist - although I have met Presbyterians and Episcopalians. So, no word is usually used.

Armenian, however, is a misnomer. Arminianism is subset of Calvinism. The Council of Dort was a Calvinist spat - only Calvinists were invited. This is why the label "traditionalist" was likely created. As for the history, I believe one would be correct that the very first Baptist churches in America were Calvinist.

"Traditionalism" grew exponentially as the number of Baptist churches grew. By the late 19th Century, "Traditionalists" far outnumbered Calvinists.

 

Dockery: Calvinism has roots in SBC history

 

As far as the self-professed "Traditionalists" this article sheds some light on that topic. The FAQs: Southern Baptists, Calvinism, and God’s Plan of Salvation It truly is just a name the assigned to themselves and has no merit on the actual traditions of the Baptist Denominations.

 

Based on what? Traditionalists didn't even really occur until the 60's....the 1960's

 

From the founding of the SBC there have always been particular baptists (calvies) and general baptists (everyone else). When someone says that the SBC has been "historically Calvinist" they do not know what they are talking about.

 

Definitely wrong.

TULIP is not listed in 1925 BFAM.