Soteriological Traditionalism
Soteriological Traditionalism is an interpretation within Evangelical Christianity that views an understanding of God's Plan of Salvation to include: Pursuit Unconditional, Own Guilt, Inclusive Atonement, Natural Responsibility, Spontaneous Regeneration, Election Available, Transparent Foreknowledge, True Freedom, Indestructible Security, and Almighty Gospel (POINSETTIA). This view differs from both Calvinism and Arminianism with respect to Soteriology. The most complete scholarly treatment of the statement is found in two sequential issues of the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry. The first volume addresses the first five articles of the statement, while the second volume addresses the second five articles of the statement. A prominent news portal for Southern Baptists called "SBC Today" has further articulated the view in their publications, along with other in depth publications from institutions like the Center for Theological Research.
History
This "Traditional Understanding of God's Plan of Salvation" originated from a non-Calvinist perspective that is popularly subscribed to in the Southern Baptist Convention. This perspective however can be held among Christians in multiple denominations around the world. Soteriological Traditionalism was formally made an official Soteriological view sometime between April 2012 and July 2013 as numerous Southern Baptist Ministers responded to New Calvinism by affirming the Traditional Statement. The document was originally endorsed by six former SBC presidents Morris Chapman, Jimmy Draper, Paige Patterson, Bailey Smith, Bobby Welch, and Jerry Vines, two seminary presidents Chuck Kelley of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and former SBC president Paige Patterson, who now serves as the president of the denomination's largest seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary), and five state executive directors (Jim Futral of Mississippi, David Hankins of Louisiana, Mike Procter of Alaska, John Sullivan of Florida, and Bob White of Georgia). The statement includes a Preamble and 10 articles of affirmation and denial as it relates to Christian Soteriology. Although the view was formalized between 2012 and 2013, it's beliefs have been accepted by Southern Baptists for much of their existence. Many who espouse the Traditonalist view have signed a formal statement indicating their affirmation. Traditionalism claims it's formulation to have been espoused over the past several decades by multiple renowned Southern Baptist Pastors such as E.Y Mullins, Herschel Hobbs, and Adrian Rogers.
Major Distinctions
Traditionalism differs from Calvinism in a more consistent manner than it does from Arminianism, however it does contain a major disagreement with Arminian Theology as it pertains to the doctrine of Eternal Security. The major disagreements that the Traditional View of Soteriology has with the Calvinistic View of Soteriology are summarized in a chart by Dr. Adam Harwood, a professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Differences to Classic Calvinism
With respect to Traditionalists believe that "all that occurs is caused or allowed by God" With respect to Original Sin Traditionalists believe that "people begin life with a sinful nature due to Adam's sin but become guilty only when they become morally responsible and knowingly commit a sin," while Calvinists believe that "people begin life guilty due to Adam's sin, even before they commit a sinful act." With respect to Spiritual Death Traditionalists believe that "unsaved people can respond to the gospel. God desires all people to be saved and, by His grace, enables all people who hear the gospel to freely accept or reject Christ," With respect to Election Traditionalists believe that "from eternity, God chooses to save anyone who believes in Christ. Anyone who hears the gospel can be saved," while Calvinists believe that "from eternity, God chooses certain individuals to be saved; non-chosen people cannot and will not be saved." With respect to God's Salvific Will Traditionalists believe that "God desires to save every person; He will save only those who repent of their sin and believe in Jesus," while Calvinists believe that "God desires to save only those whom He selected from eternity for salvation; only they will repent of their sin and believe in Jesus." With respect to the Atonement of Christ Traditionalists believe that "Christ died for the sins of the world, meaning all people," With respect to the Order of Salvation Traditionalists believe that "people are saved when and because they believe in Jesus," while Calvinists believe that "people believe in Jesus because they were saved." And lastly, with respect to Gospel invitations Traditionalists believe that "All people should be invited to repent of their sin and believe in Jesus because: we are commanded to do so in the Great Commission and anyone who hears the gospel can be saved," Because Soteriological Traditionalism began with Non-Calvinist Southern Baptists (Calvinism is fairly popular among Southern Baptists), many of the Traditionalist proponents focus their work on how Traditionalism and Calvinism differ, thus the distinctions are often explained by comparing Traditionalism to Calvinism.
The POINSETTIA acrostic
Soteriological Traditionalism may be summarized using the acrostic POINSETTIA to describe its doctrinal viewpoints. This acrostic was developed by Dr. Rick Patrick, Founder and Executive Director of Connect 316, a ministry fellowship committed to the promotion of the traditional Southern Baptist understanding of God's plan of salvation. Other soteriological viewpoints such as Calvinism use acrostics to describe their doctrinal positions as well. The well known Calvinistic acrostic is TULIP which stands for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. The Traditionalist acrostic POINSETTA goes as follows:
*Pursuit Unconditional means, "God desires all to be saved and has made a way of salvation in Christ for any person."
*Own Guilt means, "fallen man inherits a sinful nature but is condemned only because of his own sin."
*Inclusive Atonement means, "the substitutionary atonement of Christ is effective and available for every person."
*Natural Responsibility means, "God's grace takes all the initiative in saving souls. Man's free response is not a work."
*Spontaneous Regeneration means, "any who repent and believe are regenerated at that point, not before or apart from it."
*Election Available means, "in election, God saves people without predetermining their souls for heaven or hell."
*Transparent Foreknowledge means, "God's sovereign omniscience does not mean He causes human decisions about Jesus."
*True Freedom means, "God gives to each person actual free will to accept or reject His call to salvation."
*Indestructible Security means, "when one is saved, God promises to complete the process, sealing their eternal fate."
*Almighty Gospel means, "as we share God's love, the gospel is the means of bringing any person to Christ."
Theology
Soteriological Traditionalism is realized in a formal outlay titled "The Traditional Statement," which was drafted by Dr. Eric Hankins, a Southern Baptist Pastor.
The Traditional Statement
The preamble discusses the concern among Southern Baptists that New Calvinism poses a threat to their traditional views on soteriology. It speaks of how Southern Baptists have been tolerant of Calvinism over the decades but that the aggressiveness of New Calvinism calls for a formal statement on Southern Baptist soteriology. The 10 articles of affirmation and denial address the gospel, the sinfulness of man, the atonement of Christ, the grace of God, the regeneration of the sinner, the election to salvation, the sovereignty of God, the free will of man, the security of the believer, and the great commission. Tom Ascol, a Florida pastor and executive director of Founders Ministries, a pro-Calvinist organization, called the SBC report on the Traditionalist's contentions with Calvinism a positive step. “It points the way forward,” he said. “The report acknowledges genuine disagreement, but it also affirms commonality in essentials, a commonality we didn’t have 35-40 years ago.” Ascol continued his response in writing 13 individual articles critiquing Traditionalism.
Notable Endorsements and Objections
The document was originally endorsed by six former SBC presidents Morris Chapman, Jimmy Draper, Paige Patterson, Bailey Smith, Bobby Welch, and Jerry Vines, two seminary presidents Chuck Kelley of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and former SBC president Paige Patterson, who now serves as the president of the denomination's largest seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary), and five state executive directors (Jim Futral of Mississippi, David Hankins of Louisiana, Mike Procter of Alaska, John Sullivan of Florida, and Bob White of Georgia).
The current President of the Southern Baptist Convention Albert Mohler expressed both agreements and disagreements with the statement saying "I wholeheartedly and emphatically agree with some of the statement’s most important declarations, such as when it denies “that salvation is possible outside of a faith response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ” and when it affirms that “the Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His church to preach the good news of salvation to all people to the ends of the earth.” I rejoice in its statement that “the proclamation of the Gospel is God’s means of bringing any person to salvation.” It is certainly correct in denying that any person is regenerated “apart from hearing and responding to the Gospel.”
That said, I could not sign the document. Indeed, I have very serious reservations and concerns about some of its assertions and denials. I fully understand the intention of the drafters to oppose several Calvinist renderings of doctrine, but some of the language employed in the statement goes far beyond this intention. Some portions of the statement actually go beyond Arminianism and appear to affirm semi-Pelagian understandings of sin, human nature, and the human will — understandings that virtually all Southern Baptists have denied."
Dr. Eric Hankins, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Oxford, Mississippi responded to Mohler's charge of semi-pelagianism in an article at a prominent news portal for Southern Baptists "SBC Today" saying, "First, we will never concede the charge of Semi-Pelagianism; it is patently false. Semi-Pelagianism is the view that man initiates his own salvation and that grace attends subsequently. Even a cursory reading of the Statement reveals that such an understanding of salvation could not be further from our intention. The language of the affirmation in Article Two is drawn almost verbatim from the BF&M. Most of the criticism has been directed at the “denial,” which is often divorced from its connection to the affirmation and criticized without respect to the rest of the Statement. Here is what we mean and what we will be glad to debate: We are all ruined by Adam’s sin. We are born with a sin nature. We all persistently, perniciously, and at every opportunity want to be Lord of our own lives. We cannot save ourselves. The power of the Gospel through the initiative and drawing of the Holy Spirit is our only hope, and it alone is sufficient to pierce our spiritual darkness and rescue us. But our real response to the Gospel of Christ in the power of the Spirit matters to God."
History
This "Traditional Understanding of God's Plan of Salvation" originated from a non-Calvinist perspective that is popularly subscribed to in the Southern Baptist Convention. This perspective however can be held among Christians in multiple denominations around the world. Soteriological Traditionalism was formally made an official Soteriological view sometime between April 2012 and July 2013 as numerous Southern Baptist Ministers responded to New Calvinism by affirming the Traditional Statement. The document was originally endorsed by six former SBC presidents Morris Chapman, Jimmy Draper, Paige Patterson, Bailey Smith, Bobby Welch, and Jerry Vines, two seminary presidents Chuck Kelley of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and former SBC president Paige Patterson, who now serves as the president of the denomination's largest seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary), and five state executive directors (Jim Futral of Mississippi, David Hankins of Louisiana, Mike Procter of Alaska, John Sullivan of Florida, and Bob White of Georgia). The statement includes a Preamble and 10 articles of affirmation and denial as it relates to Christian Soteriology. Although the view was formalized between 2012 and 2013, it's beliefs have been accepted by Southern Baptists for much of their existence. Many who espouse the Traditonalist view have signed a formal statement indicating their affirmation. Traditionalism claims it's formulation to have been espoused over the past several decades by multiple renowned Southern Baptist Pastors such as E.Y Mullins, Herschel Hobbs, and Adrian Rogers.
Major Distinctions
Traditionalism differs from Calvinism in a more consistent manner than it does from Arminianism, however it does contain a major disagreement with Arminian Theology as it pertains to the doctrine of Eternal Security. The major disagreements that the Traditional View of Soteriology has with the Calvinistic View of Soteriology are summarized in a chart by Dr. Adam Harwood, a professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Differences to Classic Calvinism
With respect to Traditionalists believe that "all that occurs is caused or allowed by God" With respect to Original Sin Traditionalists believe that "people begin life with a sinful nature due to Adam's sin but become guilty only when they become morally responsible and knowingly commit a sin," while Calvinists believe that "people begin life guilty due to Adam's sin, even before they commit a sinful act." With respect to Spiritual Death Traditionalists believe that "unsaved people can respond to the gospel. God desires all people to be saved and, by His grace, enables all people who hear the gospel to freely accept or reject Christ," With respect to Election Traditionalists believe that "from eternity, God chooses to save anyone who believes in Christ. Anyone who hears the gospel can be saved," while Calvinists believe that "from eternity, God chooses certain individuals to be saved; non-chosen people cannot and will not be saved." With respect to God's Salvific Will Traditionalists believe that "God desires to save every person; He will save only those who repent of their sin and believe in Jesus," while Calvinists believe that "God desires to save only those whom He selected from eternity for salvation; only they will repent of their sin and believe in Jesus." With respect to the Atonement of Christ Traditionalists believe that "Christ died for the sins of the world, meaning all people," With respect to the Order of Salvation Traditionalists believe that "people are saved when and because they believe in Jesus," while Calvinists believe that "people believe in Jesus because they were saved." And lastly, with respect to Gospel invitations Traditionalists believe that "All people should be invited to repent of their sin and believe in Jesus because: we are commanded to do so in the Great Commission and anyone who hears the gospel can be saved," Because Soteriological Traditionalism began with Non-Calvinist Southern Baptists (Calvinism is fairly popular among Southern Baptists), many of the Traditionalist proponents focus their work on how Traditionalism and Calvinism differ, thus the distinctions are often explained by comparing Traditionalism to Calvinism.
The POINSETTIA acrostic
Soteriological Traditionalism may be summarized using the acrostic POINSETTIA to describe its doctrinal viewpoints. This acrostic was developed by Dr. Rick Patrick, Founder and Executive Director of Connect 316, a ministry fellowship committed to the promotion of the traditional Southern Baptist understanding of God's plan of salvation. Other soteriological viewpoints such as Calvinism use acrostics to describe their doctrinal positions as well. The well known Calvinistic acrostic is TULIP which stands for Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints. The Traditionalist acrostic POINSETTA goes as follows:
*Pursuit Unconditional means, "God desires all to be saved and has made a way of salvation in Christ for any person."
*Own Guilt means, "fallen man inherits a sinful nature but is condemned only because of his own sin."
*Inclusive Atonement means, "the substitutionary atonement of Christ is effective and available for every person."
*Natural Responsibility means, "God's grace takes all the initiative in saving souls. Man's free response is not a work."
*Spontaneous Regeneration means, "any who repent and believe are regenerated at that point, not before or apart from it."
*Election Available means, "in election, God saves people without predetermining their souls for heaven or hell."
*Transparent Foreknowledge means, "God's sovereign omniscience does not mean He causes human decisions about Jesus."
*True Freedom means, "God gives to each person actual free will to accept or reject His call to salvation."
*Indestructible Security means, "when one is saved, God promises to complete the process, sealing their eternal fate."
*Almighty Gospel means, "as we share God's love, the gospel is the means of bringing any person to Christ."
Theology
Soteriological Traditionalism is realized in a formal outlay titled "The Traditional Statement," which was drafted by Dr. Eric Hankins, a Southern Baptist Pastor.
The Traditional Statement
The preamble discusses the concern among Southern Baptists that New Calvinism poses a threat to their traditional views on soteriology. It speaks of how Southern Baptists have been tolerant of Calvinism over the decades but that the aggressiveness of New Calvinism calls for a formal statement on Southern Baptist soteriology. The 10 articles of affirmation and denial address the gospel, the sinfulness of man, the atonement of Christ, the grace of God, the regeneration of the sinner, the election to salvation, the sovereignty of God, the free will of man, the security of the believer, and the great commission. Tom Ascol, a Florida pastor and executive director of Founders Ministries, a pro-Calvinist organization, called the SBC report on the Traditionalist's contentions with Calvinism a positive step. “It points the way forward,” he said. “The report acknowledges genuine disagreement, but it also affirms commonality in essentials, a commonality we didn’t have 35-40 years ago.” Ascol continued his response in writing 13 individual articles critiquing Traditionalism.
Notable Endorsements and Objections
The document was originally endorsed by six former SBC presidents Morris Chapman, Jimmy Draper, Paige Patterson, Bailey Smith, Bobby Welch, and Jerry Vines, two seminary presidents Chuck Kelley of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and former SBC president Paige Patterson, who now serves as the president of the denomination's largest seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary), and five state executive directors (Jim Futral of Mississippi, David Hankins of Louisiana, Mike Procter of Alaska, John Sullivan of Florida, and Bob White of Georgia).
The current President of the Southern Baptist Convention Albert Mohler expressed both agreements and disagreements with the statement saying "I wholeheartedly and emphatically agree with some of the statement’s most important declarations, such as when it denies “that salvation is possible outside of a faith response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ” and when it affirms that “the Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His church to preach the good news of salvation to all people to the ends of the earth.” I rejoice in its statement that “the proclamation of the Gospel is God’s means of bringing any person to salvation.” It is certainly correct in denying that any person is regenerated “apart from hearing and responding to the Gospel.”
That said, I could not sign the document. Indeed, I have very serious reservations and concerns about some of its assertions and denials. I fully understand the intention of the drafters to oppose several Calvinist renderings of doctrine, but some of the language employed in the statement goes far beyond this intention. Some portions of the statement actually go beyond Arminianism and appear to affirm semi-Pelagian understandings of sin, human nature, and the human will — understandings that virtually all Southern Baptists have denied."
Dr. Eric Hankins, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Oxford, Mississippi responded to Mohler's charge of semi-pelagianism in an article at a prominent news portal for Southern Baptists "SBC Today" saying, "First, we will never concede the charge of Semi-Pelagianism; it is patently false. Semi-Pelagianism is the view that man initiates his own salvation and that grace attends subsequently. Even a cursory reading of the Statement reveals that such an understanding of salvation could not be further from our intention. The language of the affirmation in Article Two is drawn almost verbatim from the BF&M. Most of the criticism has been directed at the “denial,” which is often divorced from its connection to the affirmation and criticized without respect to the rest of the Statement. Here is what we mean and what we will be glad to debate: We are all ruined by Adam’s sin. We are born with a sin nature. We all persistently, perniciously, and at every opportunity want to be Lord of our own lives. We cannot save ourselves. The power of the Gospel through the initiative and drawing of the Holy Spirit is our only hope, and it alone is sufficient to pierce our spiritual darkness and rescue us. But our real response to the Gospel of Christ in the power of the Spirit matters to God."
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