NOT A SILENT PEOPLE

    Baptists have quite often been known for controversies.  Walter Shurden, one of my former professors at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary wrote a book entitled NOT A SILENT PEOPLE.  His book has separate chapters on controversies waged by Southern Baptists:  debate about our history, arguing about missions, arguing over slavery and segregation, arguing about our relationships with other denominations, arguing about theology, and arguing about the inspiration of theBible.
     What is the current controversy in Baptist life?  Calvinism!  Calvinism has come to be known by an acronym:  TUIIP.  The five points can easily be remembered when students are ask to define Calvinism.  T--Total Depravity-- we are completely effected by sin.  U-- Unconditional election-- some are elected to salvation and others are not.  L-- Limited atonement-- Christ's sacrifice was sufficient for all but not "efficacious" for all.   I-- Irresistible grace-- When God calls his elect they cannot resist.  P-- Perseverance of the saints-- you cannot lose your salvation.
     Calvinism is based on the teaching of John Calvin (1509-1564).  The extreme opposite of Calvinism is Arminianism based on the views of Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609) who started out as a Calvinist but changed his mind.  In contrast to Calvin's emphasis on the sovereignty of God, Arminiam believed that God limited his control with man's freedom and response.  Conditional election is based on man's response not on God's determination of who will be saved or lost.  God's grace can be rejected because of free will and his grace extends toward everyone.  And persons can turn away or fall away from salvation.
     Another word for Calvinism is "Reformed."  Nearly equal numbers of pastors in the Southern Baptist Convention considered themselves Calvinist/Reformed or Arminian/Weslyan.  However, about 60% of pastors surveyed are concerned about the effects Calvinism may have on our denomination.  The rhetoric on both sides has been extreme and polarizing.
     To add some "reason" to the current controvery there is a conference in Louisville, KY, this month entitled "Calvinism:  Concerned?  Curious?  Confused?"  Historically, Southern Baptists have considered us neither Calvinist nor Arminian.  We have held to a unique approach not tied to either extreme.  Where will the current conflict go?  Who knows?  But Shurden was right.  We certainly are not a silent people.