Things Like That

Paige Patterson only said one thing about Calvinists in the SBC that bothers me, and I quote, “Any person who holds to five-point Calvinism will never be in any danger in this convention as long as he does not allow it to lead him to unscriptural conclusions -- such as we ought not to give invitations and things like that. (emphasis mine) When he gets to that point, either implicitly or explicitly, it has now become a hindrance to evangelism and missions.”

Now what does our President mean when he says “unscriptural conclusions?”  Does he mean conclusions that do not agree with the leadership of the SBC?  How can a three or four point Calvinist ever believe that a five point Calvinist has not come to an unscriptural conclusion?  The fact is five point Calvinists are suspect within Southern Baptist life.  Dr. P. H. Mell who was President of the SBC for 14 terms would not fit in the “new” SBC.  His book on predestination is not within the boundaries of pragmatic Southern Baptist theology.

When Dr. Patterson says “such as we ought not to give invitations” does he mean that a local church cannot decide for itself how it will conduct worship?  Has he forgotten that the local church is the highest level of authority within Southern Baptist life?  Does he mean that Southern Baptists now have it right and all our Baptist ancestors who didn’t give altar calls had it all wrong?  Does he approve of Rick Warren’s method of extending invitations?

 And what does our esteemed leader mean when he says “things like that?”  More “unscriptural conclusions?” According to whom? And what pray tell could they be? Does he mean the Doctrine of Unconditional Election?  Does he mean the Doctrine of  Limited or Particular Atonement?  Does he mean Holy Spirit Regeneration rather than human decisionism? 

 “Things like that” really leaves a lot of rope available to hang Calvinists.  If you ask me, I think the noose is already being fashioned.