[25], So for Voddie, the gospel is eschatological equates to the Calvinist doctrine of the perseverance and preservation of the saints, that is, eternal security based on unconditional election. I think this is an integral part of the gospel if it is to be good news because any invitation or call to believe can only be genuine if one understands that this salvation is applicable to all who hear it without exception. But if we do not find these inconsistencies and contradictions between message and theology hermeneutically significant, then I submit that we have embraced a soteriological, theological and intellectual relativism that will cripple the church in the years to come. And God works that salvation, faith, etc. Furthermore, Voddies thinking is muddled in his attempt as a Calvinist to answer the question What is the Gospel? For instance, what could Voddie possibly mean when he says things are bad for you and will continue to be for you throughout eternity if you do not get God-centered like the gospel? What could he possibly mean by get God-centered like the gospel? How does one get God-centered like the gospel? I suspect he means that one must accept his definition of divine sovereignty as theistic determinism and his doctrine of unconditional election because nothing could be more God-centered than these doctrines. I will say this about the author, you are skillful in your employment of logical fallacies. That would to completely misunderstand the text here by imposing Calvinism upon it. They believe racism is a problem that can only be solved by doing the hard and slow work of individual transformation. And the difference is not trivial. Paul asks, Why? He answers, Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were by works.. Voddie Baucham I submit that Calvinist theistic determinism and unconditional election are incoherent with both the definition and the content of the gospel message understood as good news. As such, Calvinism is distorting and eroding the true biblical gospel as good news in our evangelical churches, some of which, being substantially influenced by Calvinist theology and soteriology, can no longer be called evangelical in the true sense of the word. This is a real problem, and Ive wanted to be able to wrap my head around it, and you helped me to wrap my head around it, he said. Baucham says he doesnt believe in white privilege.
Arguing that is essential for all Christians in today's complex world to take a stand for the truth, this strategic handbook draws parallels between committed Christians in our society and the New Testament writers Peter and John, examining He isnt, but he should be. Although we can agree with his theological points (except for his Calvinist interpretations at several points), the lack of good news in Voddies sermon is where it falls short of its title, let alone the fact that he never clearly answers the question What is the Gospel? Therefore, Voddie states, God has decreed that its the gospel that he will use to call forth his elect.[33], What gospel is Voddie talking about? So on these points we can agree with Voddie. These old guys going and finding these substitute daughters.. What is your gospel message? Again, I argue that this non-contradiction or coherence among the biblical writers is an essential hermeneutical principle. The book is a defense of Bauchams belief in Christian male supremacy and the importance of fathers being the ruling spiritual patriarchs of their families. This is the main fault line at the root of the current debatethe epicenter of the Big One that, when it finally shifts with all its force, threatens to split evangelicalism right down the middle. In other words, one may offer a coherent interpretation of a text or several texts and it still be wrong, but you can be certain that interpretations and/or theologies have gone awry when they show themselves up as incoherent, inconsistent and/or contradictory. Its sad to see how Voddie Bauchams remarks were all taken out of context I guess it makes a good article for all of the anti-Voddie Bauchams out there, Its sad to see how Voddie Bauchams remarks were all taken out of context.
Gods premundane decision that predestines only certain people to salvation trumps the cross of Christ as the event to which one may look to know Gods love and saving work on their behalf. Its a cheap substitute. Like Floyd, Timpa wailed and pleaded for help more than 30 times as officers pinned his shoulders, knees and neck to the ground, reported The Dallas Morning News in August 2016. But can you be assured you are among the elect? Many of them had recently come to the SBC and had been given platforms. What is that message? And given unconditional election there is no hope for the non-elect who supposedly hear the same gospel of hope. Yeah I am right now but it depends upon how firmly I hold onto this thing. And we laugh at that, but do you live like it? Doing what it takes to raise sons and daughters who walk with god. This description is inconsistent with Voddies Calvinist doctrines of grace. Note that his statements here are very similar to the content of the message he previously rejected as the gospel. If they say no one should concern themselves with the issue of their unconditional election then the whole doctrine becomes an irrelevance. But Paul has not left us in doubt here. The role that man plays in the gospel is the foil. Why? Maybe he didnt say that it is good news is because the message of the cross is offensive and it is not good news to most people. He has news to give them according to a theological exposition that he attempts to relate to the gospel. And he cannot expound on his Calvinist doctrines of grace which just are his doctrines of salvation because he knows that they do not contain good news to the hearers. That exegesis can be a good exegesis or, as we have here, a somewhat confused, poor exegesis which allows Voddie to play both theological sides of the issue. I cant do that, I wont do that. Baucham jr family driven faith. She lived up to the standard that men set for her of being chaste and Godly and in return, the man who demanded this of her sought women who were the opposite. He further pointed out that despite being evangelical, his positions have made him an outsider in the evangelical community. John T. McNeill, (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960), 926.
And given the above discussion, I take it that his Calvinism is a contributing factor as to why he could not do so. To the Jew that was offensive a stumbling block. To the Jews, God would never bring about salvation in this way, let alone include the Gentiles. Where is boasting then, Paul argues earlier on.
It is a God-centered proclamation of news, and it is a Christ-centered proclamation of news.[17]. What He Must Be: If He Wants to Marry My Daughter A Secular Sacrament: Why Mandates Violate Liberty of The Supremacy of Christ in a Postmodern World Good God: The One We Want to Believe In but Are Afraid to The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
Educate them. And heres what it sounds like. The Ever-Loving Truth: Can Faith Thrive in a Post-Christian Thats the gospel. [19], Well, now we are getting somewhere! Le Grand, if you agree that ones exegesis and interpretations, along with the theologies and soteriologies built upon them, must exhibit coherence, consistency and non-contradiction for them to be considered valid interpretations of the text, then I do not see how you can remain a Calvinist, for the Calvinist interpretations generate incoherence, inconsistency and contradiction. But in fact, Pauls intent is to show that righteousness comes by faith as opposed to a law. The Gentiles were not acquainted with the requirement of righteousness and righteous living in the way the Jews were. To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. 3:1, and then recalls the first Passover in which the blood was placed on the doorpost so the death angel, when he saw the blood, would pass by. Until Unity The gospel is grace-centered. That is the purpose and function of faith in relation to salvation. Christ died on the cross as a substitute for those whom the Father had given to the Son before the world began. This is in reference to John 6:37 and 39. Voddie Baucham In closing, lets return to the fundamental issues here amidst our alternative interpretations of the controversial passages you referred to. The Calvinist cannot avoid being hypocritical as to his soteriology and gospel presentation if he is going to present anything close to good news. In contrast to Calvinist soteriology, the content of the gospel, as good news, indicates that God loves all sinners, that Christ died for them and that the hearer has the responsibility and therefore the ability as the Spirit works through the true gospel message to simply trust, believe and receive the salvation offered to them or remain in unbelief and reject it to their own condemnation. This is an indication that the Calvinist doctrines cannot be put into the service of true gospel evangelism because they do not contain good news. Voddie has affirmed this over and over by avoiding the biblical definition of the word gospel which means good news. He has referred to the gospel merely as news. It is both sad and astonishing that in a sermon titled What is the Gospel? Voddie cannot let the words good news pass his lips.
When I started writing this post, I was looking through the book What he Must Be if he Wants to Marry My Daughter by Voddie Baucham . As Paul stated in 1 Cor 1:18: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is Gods power to us Therefore the critical theological question for our time is, What is the biblical gospel?, [1] Voddie Baucham, What is the Gospel? It behooves the Christian church to confront this fact, and no longer live in denial of it. His Calvinist doctrines of unconditional election and limited atonement are presupposed as biblical truth and hamper any expression of the gospel as good news.. I cant even imagine that yearning for attention from younger women could ever be right. The unconditionality eliminates anything a person can do, which includes believing or exercising faith. He states, First of all the gospel is news. But what kind of hope is it when no one knows who these unconditionally elect persons are. Now Voddie tells us that this verse has all the major elements of the gospel. This is encouraging. It requires a call to faith and trust in Christ as savior that the sinner either accepts or rejects. Salvation is all Gods doing. Young people abandon the church during their high school and college years. 1:27-31). The Spirit does not irresistibly cause the sinner to believe on the basis of their being unconditionally elected to salvation. To this day I am very confused about what is appropriate and whats not. This book is deceptive. God is the sole actor on the stage of history. But that does not negate the hearers responsibility to make a decision about the gospel message when they hear it. Cowering. (1:09:20), [33] Leighton Flowers, Critique of Voddie Baucham on Predestination and Election, July 24, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ0dfyzP4hw Accessed 8/19/2020.
They list in parallel fashion beliefs, morality and liturgy; or creed, code and cult; or words, works and worship as the key features of a recognizable religion. In Joyfully at Home, Jasmine writes with verve and transparency about her own struggles and triumphs as a young woman, encouraging other girls to embrace a vision for the home as a hub of ministry and discipleship and as a training ground It is important to realize that the Calvinists definition of the divine eternal decree and sovereignty are deterministic in a way that encompasses all things down to the minutest detail (universal) and makes God out as the cause of all that occurs (causal), including evil. To put off this question is to leave many, if not most churches, without the true gospel of good news. Without the true gospel message being preached, attending church becomes a mere formality, spiritually powerless, intellectually unsatisfying, and with little transformative effect. Calvinists become saved by hearing a different message than their own theology. Hes 100% right on every item. In contrast, Calvinist determinism turns the good news into merely news and results in a lack of assurance of Gods salvific will for the individual sinner. Voddie Baucham says that middle aged men should turn to their teenage daughters to get the attention and fulfillment they would otherwise look for through an affair with a young secretary.. I believe most Christians would have thought that he would have said, The gospel is about how bad things are for you and will continue to be for you throughout eternity if you do not believe in Christ or The gospel is about how bad things are for you and will continue to be for you throughout eternity if you do not trust in Christ as your personal savior and appropriate the salvation God provided for you in the cross of Christ. In fact, Voddie seems to be talking in circles when he says The gospel is about how bad things are for you and will continue to be for you throughout eternity if you do not get God-centered like the gospel. On page 233 he writes, The Jew-Gentile divide was far more significant than the black-white one. (Note that i say the elect sinner because to the non-elect sinner the gospel is not the good news of their salvation. Her parents have utterly, utterly failed her. We see the gospel as just how people get saved. God has already accomplished the work of salvation and faith is simply a response of surrender to Gods work in Christ. Anna Duggar was taught that her sole purpose in life, the most meaningful thing she could do, was to be chaste and proper, a devout wife, and a mother. Scripture witnesses to this call and dynamic of faith as integral to Gods dealings with man, especially where the preaching of the good news of salvation is concerned. Sounds to me like Voddie Baucham is someone I should listen to. Addendum: Selection from Delgado and Stefancics Critical Race Theory: An Introduction, for comparison with Voddie Bauchams use of the text:.
Therefore, on Calvinism, the gospel would not include an invitation or challenge to the hearer to believe, let alone a request to act on a decision to believe (e.g., coming forward).
Voddies sermon is an example of this problem. First, Calvinists often say Well, we dont know who is elect and who is not elect so we preach the gospel to everyone. And if there should be consistency between ones soteriology and gospel message, and two mutually exclusive soteriologies and gospels cannot both be the truth of Scripture, then the very heart of the Christian message is at stake in this controversy. This is her best effort yet . . . a must read." J. P. Moreland, distinguished professor of Philosophy, Biola University and author of The God Question "Nancy Pearcey is unsurpassed in the current generation of Christian thinkers . . . If that were the case, I have no eschatological hope. The reality is that you are predestined to be one or the other. If there are two incompatible gospels in evangelicalism today we obviously have not arrived at a consensus regarding the truth of the gospel (Gal.
2:7, 8) What God did for his own glory did nevertheless involve his love for us. There needs to be an invitation to the hearers to accept the message of Christ by faith so they can be saved. I would want to know whether that is true or false. However, this particular article appeared far more serious in its magnitude. DOH! The sinner is not involved in their eternal destiny in any way.
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