A PROBLEM PROPOSED FOR
BAPTIST PREACHERS
written by Rolfe Barnard
There is no
logical intermediate between Calvinism and Arminianism that is capable of combining both systems.
It is impossible to say: (a) That a man is both totally and partially depraved.
(b) That election is both conditional and unconditional. (c) That regenerating
grace is both irresistible and resistible. (d) That redemption is both limited
and unlimited. (e) That perseverance is both certain and uncertain. Nor can
there be a modification of one by the other. One or the other of the above
mentioned points must overcome the other. It is impossible to blend the two,
which is a requisite in order to a modification. History records such efforts in
the past; but despite the efforts the two will not mix, nor can they walk
together in peace. Nor can those holding either system force the other to their
own view.
The endeavor by
the Arminians in Holland, in
the 17th Century, to modify the Belgic Calvinistic Creed (the chief Spirit of
which was Calvin) and of the Calvinists to suppress the Arminian creed by the Civil
power, resulted in one of the most bitter conflicts in Church history, and
filled both parties with an unchristian spirit. Had there been no union of Church and State at that time,
neither of these two theological divisions would have interfered, by civil and
military power, with the doctrine and practice of the other and mutual respect
would have characterized both. Whenever the endeavor is made to mix the
unmixable and to fuse two types of theology that exclude each other, hypocrisy
and the pretence of being what one is not are liable to prevail. A Calvinist is a dishonest disorganizer if he poses as an
Arminian, and so is an Arminian if he pretends to be a Calvinist.
The
above-mentioned facts (and they are facts) pose a tremendous problem for Baptist
preachers. Whichever system of theology (of the two) be correct, or the nearest
correct, is not my concern as I -thus write. Here is the problem: Every confession of Faith of Baptists, all standard books on theology written by
Baptists, all doctrinal statements of our schools,
without (I am informed) exception; confess, proclaim and expound the great
Calvinistic system. At the same time, a Calvinist is not acceptable in Baptist
pulpits for the most part.
In both message
and method Baptists are more and more becoming Arminian. My contention is this:
In order to be honest, new statements of belief, new confessions of faith, new doctrinal standards for
schools ought to be formulated and published. Baptists ought frankly to be told
by their pastors and leaders that our forefathers were wrong and that what
Baptists used to believe is just not so. The trouble today is that a present-day
Baptist has nowhere to find out what a Baptist believes as to doctrine. If he
goes to the books of theology or the old confessions of faith, he soon is informed that they are
no longer held to be true.
To add to the
dilemma, suppose by accident (?) a Calvinist comes along and preaches what he
believes the Bible teaches, a fight is started at once. The Calvinist is branded
as a disturber and a Non-Baptist. I know, from twenty-five years of holding
meetings for Arminian Baptist preachers, whereof I speak.
Is it not time, in
all honesty, for Baptist preachers to return to the old paths doctrinally or
formulate new statements of
Faith? I respect, honesty demands one or the other of these.
It is high time
that preachers cease bragging about not being theologians. It is not a matter to
brag about. This generation knows little of the character of the true God, nor
of the condition and danger of mankind. We need some preachers who believe
something, not just some cheerleaders for a program.
I see no
discernible hope that Baptist leaders will either come back to the old beliefs
or honestly frame new doctrinal beliefs, but as for me I am a Baptist who still
believes in the doctrines and Christ of Sovereign Grace. If I could, I would
call my brethren back to them.
We want no new
convention or denominations, but we will not apologize for, in however poor way
we are able, preaching the grand old truth that Whitfield and Spurgeon preached.
If not in Baptist Churches now constituted, we will preach them in tents and
chapels and new Churches. Thus . . . we earnestly solicit the prayers . . . of
every preacher who believes in the old truths once held by and preached by
Baptists and the many hundreds of God's dear sheep who hold membership in an
Arminian Baptist Church , who long to hear the old truth preached again! We say
that such ought to help support our small beginning and that without apology. We
ought to support and bid Godspeed the preaching of what we believe to be the
truth as it is in Christ Jesus.
By: Rolfe Barnard
(1904-1969)