Jared Moore

Contrary to naive belief, the state of the Southern Baptist convention cannot be blamed on Calvinism, for Calvinism has not been the dominant theological system in Southern Baptist life for a long, long time.  Thus, the persistent decline of the convention: number of baptisms, church attendance, giving, etc. must be laid at the feet of non-Calvinists.  In other words, you broke it, not us.

Here is a list of 16 things to look for to “smoke out your Calvinist pastor” that some Southern Baptists were circulating in Western Tennessee; it’s called “Reformed Red Flags.”  There were two other documents circulated with this one as well named: 1) “Theological Differences between Traditional Southern Baptists and Extreme Calvinists” and 2) “Belief Statement and Pastor’s Pledge” (These geniuses wanted to help keep SBC churches from getting dirty Calvinist pastors; so, they provided a document for potential pastors to sign saying, “I do not hold to a Reformed or Calvinist doctrine…”).  Tom Ascol has written a good response to these conspiracy theorists here.  I however want to look at the 16 “Reformed Red Flags” mentioned in the first article.  Time for some fun…

If you want to recognize whether or not your pastor is a Calvinist, here are 16 things to look for:

1. “Lack of passion in the public invitations for the lost to repent and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior or no gospel invitation is extended.” First, the idea of formal invitations at the end of sermons where people come to the front of the church is foreign to the Bible.  I however don’t have a problem with inviting sinners to respond (during and/or after the sermon); for, I think this is thoroughly biblical.  Unfortunately, because of this revivalistic emphasis in previous SBC thought, in my experience, churches literally base the value of a worship service on how many people respond during these fake invitations.  I call them “fake” because they’re more about us feeling good about ourselves than about the glory of God.  Otherwise, why would we be concerned with a “lack of passion?”  Do you believe that the pastor’s passion induces repentance and faith in his hearers?  Also, what does a “lack of passion” look like?  I guess you get to arbitrarily determine the “correct” way to give an invitation?

2. “Lack of salvation sermons or evangelistic (revival) preaching.” Maybe we don’t preach revivalistically because we had rather preach biblically?  The whole concept of coming forward, praying a prayer, kneeling at an altar, asking Jesus into your heart, etc. is foreign to the Bible!  Show me some verses that back up such practices.  I was against this type of preaching before I went to the “dark side” and became a Calvinist.  BTW: Every sermon I preach, the gospel is included… historic-redemptive preaching… not decisionism.  My sermons/lessons are always gospel-centered.

3. “Use of the ESV Study Bible.”  Oh NO!  I don’t have an ESV Study Bible… I guess I’m NOT a Calvinist!  BTW: These were given away at the Tennessee Baptist Convention a few days ago…. maybe the dirty Calvinists are trying to take over the TBC through giving away dirty ESV Bibles!?  If the ESV Bible is part of the Calvinist conspiracy, then thousands of Tennessee Baptist pastors are on the fast track to becoming dirty SBC Calvinists!

4. “Lack of participation with other churches in evangelistic campaigns in their city, county, or region.”  Maybe we don’t participate in these things because they are foreign to the Bible!?  Can you show me anywhere in the New Testament where there was such an emphasis?  My entire ministry is spent trying to get my church, people that have sat under this revivalistic mentality for many years, to take the gospel with them as they go about their daily lives.  They don’t share the gospel because of what you taught them.  They think that people get saved in the church at the altar, or at a revival, etc.  You have taught them the opposite of Scripture, and we are reaping what you have sowed.  You are the reason for the decline in the SBC!  BTW: The church I pastor participated in Findithere last year; and we’re participating this year as well.  Personal evangelism must be the primary emphasis, not revivalistic meetings that emphasize “making a decision” for Christ.  Christians must continue deciding, or they never made a decision to begin with.

5. “Adding other belief statements or confessions to what their church believes, such as: 1st London Baptist Confession (1689), 2nd London Baptist Confession (1644), New Hampshire Confession, and the Abstract of Principles.” I’m surprised by this assertion, for aren’t you the same people that tried to encourage search committees to force potential pastors to sign an anti-Calvinist paper even though their local church had not voted on such a document?  Don’t you realize that by doing this, you are forcing potential pastors to “confess”‘ that they are not Calvinists?  Aren’t you being a hypocrite?

6. “Moving the church to become under elder rule.” Elder rule would be better than deacon rule, wouldn’t it?  At least elder rule has some biblical basis.  I’m not in favor of elder rule, but rather elder led, church approved, and deacon served.  Oops, I guess I’m not a Calvinist.

7. “Focused on creating the “true” church.” Isn’t this the point of all ministry, to produce disciples?  You make Calvinism sound like a cult or something.  Even though you’re an anti-Calvinist, don’t you still want your local church to be made up of the “true church”?

8. “Strict church discipline is sought to grow the church down to the “true” church.  Most SBC congregations can use a dose of church discipline; however what is the true motive?  Is it to help the straying Christian or to legalistically bring about the “true” church?” I don’t understand how biblical discipline can be “legalistic”?  It sounds like you’re basing your opinion of all SBC Calvinists on a stupid few.  Just because a Calvinist did something stupid does not mean that all Calvinists will do the same.  BTW: Do you realize how many non-Calvinist SBC pastors I’ve seen do stupid things?  Like you have done, maybe I should write an article titled “16 red flags for recognizing stupid non-Calvinist SBC pastors” and circulate it to other Southern Baptist churches in hopes of gaining support for my personal agenda?

9. “Member of the Founders Movement, and attends their annual meeting.” I’ve never been to the founders’ annual meeting; although, I would like to go.  I guess you’re simply proving yet again that I’m not a Calvinist.

10. “Look for the men they quote in their sermons; do they mainly quote Calvinists such as John Piper, R.C. Sproul, James White, Jonathan Edwards, and others?”  What about Charles Spurgeon, William Carey, Adoniram Judson, John Macarthur, J. Vernon McGee, etc.?  I would like to check the library of whoever wrote this “red flag” for, if they have a decent size library, they probably have many books by Calvinist authors.  So, I guess it’s ok to read Calvinists, we just can’t quote them?

11. “They will call other Calvinists to join them on their church staff as they reform the church.”  This may or may not be true.  With such animosity being encouraged by anti-Calvinists (like you), can you blame such decisions?  How would you like to have a vocal anti-Revivalist on your church staff?  BTW: I can name several non-Calvinist Southern Baptists that I would hire to serve on my church staff.

12. “They will methodically employ a strategy of “converting” members to the Doctrines of Sovereign Grace or Reformed Doctrine.  As the circle enlarges, the movement grows bolder within the fellowship.”  A pastor can only teach what he believes the text in front of him says.  I have yet to use a “strategy” to convert my church to the doctrines of sovereign grace.  I merely preach the text in front of me as it is written.

13. “Tendency toward a highly logical Systematic Theology where all the questions about life and God have answers and fit neatly and nicely in a theological box.”  The Scriptures command us to take every thought captive in obedience to Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).  Our thoughts either glorify God or they don’t.  Do you really want to encourage church members to not use their brains?  BTW: All questions in life have answers; and yes, we are to attempt answering all questions unto the glory of God.  Also, the theological box to which you refer is called “God’s truth.”  Shouldn’t every answer to every question fit in this box?  Doesn’t everything in life either reveal God’s glory or hide it?

14. “They love to write and blog about their Reformed theology and can form a theological swarm on the Internet blogging against anyone who speaks or writes against their Reformed theology.”  Now, isn’t this the pot calling the kettle “black”?  I’ve never circulated an “anti-non-Calvinist pastor” article.  I have however defended myself.  You know, now that I think about it… maybe Peter Lumpkins is a Calvinist!  He often blogs about Reformed theology, and tries to create a “theological swarm”… against it.

15. “Tendency to use their pastoral authority against any member that questions their reformed theology or their direction.”  I guess I’m not a Calvinist!  Most of the churches that I’ve served or attended, the pastors had very little authority to lead or do anything.  I imagine you are stereotyping all SBC Calvinists based on a few you’ve witnessed.  What you’ve witnessed however is not the “norm.”

16. “Tendency to be evasive about their theology during the pastor search process.  They will say things like: “I believe and preach the historic doctrines of Southern Baptists just like many of the great Baptist preachers of the past.”  Many laymen will be satisfied in hearing the statement, “I believe and preach the Bible.”  Without more intense questioning, the committee will not be fulfilling the sacred duty their church entrusted to them.”  You yet again stereotype SBC Calvinists based on a few.  I’ve interviewed with two Southern Baptist churches that knew I was a Calvinist (I’ve only been a Calvinist for a few years), and the only doctrine that they had a problem with was “Limited Atonement.”  I don’t even affirm this doctrine; so, although I am a Calvinist, few Southern Baptist churches have a problem with 4-point Calvinism.  I think the fact you circulated these articles proves that YOU are the one that has a problem with Calvinism, and YOU are trying to get other churches to agree with YOUR PERSONAL agenda.

What are your thoughts about these “red flags”?  Do you see Calvinism as a threat to the SBC?  Why or why not?

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