DORT: Predestination & Evangelism

There is both a predestinarian theology and an evangelistic emphasis within the Canons of Dort.
Those who label "Dortian Calvinists" as "Hyper-Calvinists" or as "non-evangelistic" are in error.

First Head of Doctrine - Divine Election & Reprobation
Article 2 - But in this the love of God was manifested, that He sent His only begotten Son into the world, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life (1 Jn. 4:19; Jn. 3:16).

Article 3 - And that men may be brought to believe, God mercifully sends the messengers of these most joyful tidings to whom He will and at what time He pleases; by whose ministry men are called to repentance and faith in Christ crucified. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they are sent? (Rom. 10:14-15)

 

Second Head of Doctrine - The Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Man Thereby

Article 5 - Moreover, the promise of the gospel is that whoever believes in Christ crucified shall not perish, but have eternal life. This promise, together with the command to repent and believe, ought to be declared and published to all nations, and to all persons promiscuously and without distinction, to whom God out of His good pleasure sends the gospel.

Article 6 - And, whereas many who are called by the gospel do not repent nor believe in Christ, but perish in unbelief, this is not owing to any defect or insufficiency in the sacrifice offered by Christ upon the cross, but is wholly imputed to themselves.

 

Third & Fourth Heads of Doctrine - The Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof

Article 9 - It is not the fault of the gospel, nor of Christ offered therein, nor of God, who calls men by the gospel and confers upon them various gifts, that those who are called by the ministry of the Word refuse to come and be converted. The fault lies in themselves; some of whom when called, regardless of their danger, reject the Word of life; others, though they receive it, suffer it not to make a lasting impression on their heart; therefore, their joy, arising only from a temporary faith, soon vanishes, and they fall away; while others choke the seed of the Word by perplexing cares and the pleasures of this world, and produce no fruit. This our Savior teaches in the parable of the sower (Mt. 13).

Article 10 - But that others are called by the gospel obey the call and are converted is not to be ascribed to the proper exercise of free will, whereby one distinguishes himself above others equally furnished with grace sufficient for faith and conversion (as the prous heresy of Pelagius maintains); but it must be wholly ascribed to God, who, as He has chosen His own from eternity in Christ, so He calls them effectually in time, confers upon them faith and repentance, rescurse them from the power of darkness, and translates them into the kingdom of His own Son; that they may show forth the praises of Him who has called them out of darkness into His marvelous light, and may glory not in themselves but in the Lord, according to the testimony of the apostles in various places.

 

Gisbertius Voetius, a professor at the University of Utrecht who vigorously opposed both Roman Catholicism and Arminianism, was an expert on Roman Catholic missionary literature and borrowed heavily from it. A leading figure at the Synod of Dort, he gave the first lectures on missiology at a university, entitling them DE PLANITITORIBUS ECCLESIASTICIS (THE PLANTING OF THE CHURCH). In these works he declares thta the first goal of missions is the "conversion of the pagans," the second is the "planting of the Church," and the supreme and ultimate goal is "the glorification and manifestation of divine grace."

 

Robert:

Do you know international evangelist Leslie Smith (also from the UK)? Just curious. Bro. Leslie has spent his life winning hundreds of people to Christ, all the while trusting the omnipotent grace of our Lord.

Rev. G

 

In keeping with the spirit of this thread, and since there has been come recent discussion regarding Founders Ministries, I thought I would add these links to this thread.

Calvinism, Evangelism & Founders Ministries
http://www.founders.org/FJ45/contents.html

Christian Missionaries and Missionary Christians
http://www.founders.org/FJ37/contents.html

How Does Doctrine Affect Evangelism?
http://www.founders.org/FJ33/contents.html

Are Calvinists Hyper?
http://www.founders.org/FJ30/contents.html

Law and Gospel
http://www.founders.org/FJ28/contents.html

If he were your son...(Calvinism & Hyper-Calvinism)
http://www.founders.org/FJ24/contents.html

Evangelism & Missions
http://www.founders.org/FJ05/contents.html

 

For Bro. Leslie's website, go to:

www.solaministry.org



Rev. G

 

In keeping with the spirit of this thread, I'd like for my "Reformed" brothers to list "Reformed evangelists/missionaries". It might be helpful to see some of these names.

 

Any Reformed folks want to reply to the "missionary" post?

Any Arminian folks want to say, "I'm really glad that Calvinists spearheaded Protestant missions! Thanks for letting us know that the guys at the Synod of Dort were soul-winners, also!"?

Rev. G

 

My pleasure. I just wish more people would pay attention to what is actually believed rather than being frenzied by the rhetoric.

Rev. G