"If you believe this theology [Calvinism], then you cannot win souls" - Dan Sweatt (4/7/2009 - FBFI Meeting, The Wilds, NC)
Pastor Sweatt said earlier in the sermon that people today were too interested in theology and not enough in evangelism.
Suffice it to say, I hardly know where to start. In fact, I fully realize that my comments on the topic are not in league with those who have already responded quite adeptly (Kevin Bauder and Dave Doran to name two) and that I will say up front that I agree with their perspectives on the issue.
What can I contribute, if anything? Well, I am one of the younger fundamentalists that perhaps Dan Sweatt is trying to "reach."
He isn't reaching me very well.
The vitriol of his comments is not appealing, but for argument's sake, let's look beyond that. What's at the core of his message? Young fundamentalists, or at least those who are open to it, are at a point where they are vacillating: stick with fundamentalism (be careful in how you define that) or jump ship and follow MacArthur, Piper, Mohler, Dever, or Driscol.
First of all, I don't agree with his grouping of categories. I would hardly put Driscol in the same category as MacArthur or Dever, however, I am even willing to look beyond that.
I think the discussion needs to start with his first premiss (chronologically), namely that people are more interested in theology than soul winning or evangelism. Let's deal with that one, then we can deal with the Calvinism statement.
I would like to posit a theory about why people might be more interested in the latter group of men than what Sweatt calls 'fundamentalism.' They might be more interested in it because those men are preaching the Bible. Dave Doran pointed readers of his blog to a link on preaching that is most insightful and asks the question as to what is more appealing (and let's face it, which is more biblical) - the video link of Piper's view of preaching, or what Sweatt demonstrated at The Wilds. No honest student of the Word, after viewing those two options would choose Sweatt's model of preaching and philosophy behind it over what Piper put forth.
Maybe, just maybe, the Word of God still has power and force behind it. Maybe young men and women today are actually interested in learning the deeper theological truths of the Bible and they are not finding it in fundamental circles and are branching out to some of the more popular expositors of the day.
I would like to respond to that. I consider myself fundamental and believe that there is a fundamentalism worth saving (though not Sweatt's brand) because I wholeheartedly ascribe to these historic tenants (I refer you to the Nick of Time series "Understanding Conservative Christianity" by Kevin Bauder). Furthermore, I believe that there are still plenty who fit this description of fundamentalism: Kevin Bauder, Dave Doran, Mark Minnick - to name a few leaders, and countless other pastors.
I also don't believe that I would be too far off to say that these men love their theology and that it is precisely that love of theology, that love of deepening their knowledge of the Scriptures and personal relationship with their Savior that would drive them to pursue evangelism! When a person is truly born of the Spirit and begins to grow in their knowledge of the Word and hungers for more, exposure to God's truth and more importantly, his commands for us in our day-t0-day living, will convict us of our need to share the good news with others.
Then, I feel compelled to address the comment on Calvinism. Not only does Sweatt assert that theology and evangelism are not compatible, but also, more specifically, that the theology of Calvinism is not compatible with evangelism. Dr. Bauder has already addressed the issue of Calvinism vs. Arminianism so that does not need to be revisited (essentially saying that good men are on both sides of the debate and that being one or the other doesn't equate to being saved or not). I take umbrage with this statement because being Calvinistic or not really has little bearing on one's view of evangelism - in other words, being Calvinisitic is not causal to one witnessing or not, it is a system through which one understands the Word as a whole and ties together truths that are found throughout the Bible. Arminianism understands some biblical truths differently and thus comes up with a different system or grid through which one views the Bible - neither system is a model for evangelism.
The fact is, that the more I learn of God and his miraculous working in people's lives, the more I stand in awe of him and even more, that he saved me. It is not the business of the creature to pry into God's secret will, for that will only be known after the fact - thus, to try and ascertain whether a person is elect or not is not for me to know. My responsibility is to follow God's revealed will which, in part, says that I am to be a light to this world and to share the gospel with every person. This command I must respond to and it is therefore my duty to lovingly share the good news of salvation, by grace, through faith in the blood atonement of Jesus Christ and his resurrection from the dead with this lost and dying world - Calvinist or not.
I am a fundametalist, but not because of Dan Sweatt. In fact, I would prefer to distance myself from men such as him and their labeling because it is not what I understand fundamentalism to be. I appreciate men such as Piper, MacArthur, Mohler, Dever, etc. because they preach the word but I am not about to jump ship, as it were because they have a penchant for preaching. I believe that true fundamentalism is a fundamentalism worth staying in and that there are many out there that would agree. I am not attaching myself to Dan Sweatt's version of fundamentalism and neither am I abandoning fundamentalism to follow Piper, MacArther, Dever, Driscol, et al. There are plenty of men worth following right here, right now.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Witnessing History
Yesterday (May 24, 2009) may very well prove to be an historic moment in conservative fundamentalism. What happened? Pillsbury Baptist Bible College graduated their 52nd and final class.
My wife and I attended the small graduation ceremony, which in itself was unique from other commencements of the like in that it was not held at their campus in Owatonna, MN but at a small church in St. Paul. There was a reason for this of course - the college campus was closed in December, 2008.
So, how did they graduate this 52nd and final class when their campus closed? The small graduating class of '09 had been there for three and a half years and the school wanted them to be able to not only have a PBBC diploma, but also to be able to have a commencement together because the class had split up to various Bible Colleges throughout the country to finish their last semester. This in itself was momentous, that all the colleges of like faith and practice would open their doors and absorb these students in an hour of great need. Actually, it is not that surprising, for what else is a sister college to do when a dying institution is in need?
The thing that got me to thinking about this was the closing prayer by Dr. Julian Suarez. In this prayer, Dr. Suarez mentioned the fact that this was the 52nd and final class and that for the past 50 years the world had been feeling the effects of PBBC graduates who have gone into the ministry, and now, with this final class, if the Lord would tarry, those who walked across the platform yesterday would have the opportunity to make the final impact on the world for Pillsbury. Obviously it is understood that they would make an impact for the Lord, but the point is that they received their Bible training at this institution.
There has been discussion about the causes leading up to PBBC's closing and whether or not it could have been prevented. That need not be addressed here for it is 'water-under-the-bridge' so to speak (unless one is discussing the current institutions and strategies to survive in the present economic situation). The fact is, what Dr. Suarez said is true, that for the next 50 years, if the Lord tarries, these young men and women will be able to be a testimony of the value of training at a Bible college, and more specifically, at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College.
Only eternity will fully tell the impact that these 52 graduating classes will have had for Christ, and my prayer is that it is widespread and meaningful.
Churches will come and go, and so will academic institutions, but the Word of God will never pass away. I am thankful for the vision of such men as R.V. Clearwaters, the first president, to Greg Huffman, who presided over the school in its last days (see a brief history here, though Dr. Huffman is not mentioned - he succeeded the presidency after Dr. Crane and his tenure was extremely short).
My last musing on this topic occurred as we drove away from the commencement, namely that it is too bad that schools don't do more together, especially those who are on the same page doctrinally. Upon further reflection, this will probably never take place, and that's okay, but bear with me. I realized that when I went through my undergraduate, at what is now Northland International University, I didn't know many people from the other institutions. I suppose that is largely unavoidable due to geographical differences as well as the focus (which should legitimately be there) on academics and study, but it is encouraging to see other young men and women who are passionate to serve the Lord in ministry graduating from these other schools.
Pillsbury Baptist Bible College has now passed into history, but its story is still being written as its students go into the ministry and continue to share the gospel, preach the word, and be a light in a dark and dying world.
My wife and I attended the small graduation ceremony, which in itself was unique from other commencements of the like in that it was not held at their campus in Owatonna, MN but at a small church in St. Paul. There was a reason for this of course - the college campus was closed in December, 2008.
So, how did they graduate this 52nd and final class when their campus closed? The small graduating class of '09 had been there for three and a half years and the school wanted them to be able to not only have a PBBC diploma, but also to be able to have a commencement together because the class had split up to various Bible Colleges throughout the country to finish their last semester. This in itself was momentous, that all the colleges of like faith and practice would open their doors and absorb these students in an hour of great need. Actually, it is not that surprising, for what else is a sister college to do when a dying institution is in need?
The thing that got me to thinking about this was the closing prayer by Dr. Julian Suarez. In this prayer, Dr. Suarez mentioned the fact that this was the 52nd and final class and that for the past 50 years the world had been feeling the effects of PBBC graduates who have gone into the ministry, and now, with this final class, if the Lord would tarry, those who walked across the platform yesterday would have the opportunity to make the final impact on the world for Pillsbury. Obviously it is understood that they would make an impact for the Lord, but the point is that they received their Bible training at this institution.
There has been discussion about the causes leading up to PBBC's closing and whether or not it could have been prevented. That need not be addressed here for it is 'water-under-the-bridge' so to speak (unless one is discussing the current institutions and strategies to survive in the present economic situation). The fact is, what Dr. Suarez said is true, that for the next 50 years, if the Lord tarries, these young men and women will be able to be a testimony of the value of training at a Bible college, and more specifically, at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College.
Only eternity will fully tell the impact that these 52 graduating classes will have had for Christ, and my prayer is that it is widespread and meaningful.
Churches will come and go, and so will academic institutions, but the Word of God will never pass away. I am thankful for the vision of such men as R.V. Clearwaters, the first president, to Greg Huffman, who presided over the school in its last days (see a brief history here, though Dr. Huffman is not mentioned - he succeeded the presidency after Dr. Crane and his tenure was extremely short).
My last musing on this topic occurred as we drove away from the commencement, namely that it is too bad that schools don't do more together, especially those who are on the same page doctrinally. Upon further reflection, this will probably never take place, and that's okay, but bear with me. I realized that when I went through my undergraduate, at what is now Northland International University, I didn't know many people from the other institutions. I suppose that is largely unavoidable due to geographical differences as well as the focus (which should legitimately be there) on academics and study, but it is encouraging to see other young men and women who are passionate to serve the Lord in ministry graduating from these other schools.
Pillsbury Baptist Bible College has now passed into history, but its story is still being written as its students go into the ministry and continue to share the gospel, preach the word, and be a light in a dark and dying world.
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