How do you tell your Baptist Church is....

I was basing it off you saying you had only been to one. Of course you could have met people you never knew were Calvinists. I'm one and unless you bring it up to me, I don't discuss it. (that is speaking of in person and not the discussions here)

 

And there is an alter in the back where we worship John Calvin but the password to get in is "Sovereign" BTW, you can easily tell us from the others because we all think we are intellectually superior.

 

If you want folks to think you are intellectually superior, you need to learn how to correctly spell altar. Two a's and no e. :tongue3:

 

Always that constant temptation to slip that human element back into the equation .... very consistent:laugh:

 

No, he meant "alter", where sinners are "altered." It's a play on words, and a test, and only the intellectually superior would see and grasp this sense immediately.

:laugh: :thumbsup: :tongue3:

 

That was truly meant as a lighthearted joke, I make typos all the time. But the shot was there, so I took it. :tongue3:

You can probably tell if your pastor is a Calvinist when you visit his office and notice portraits of Calvin, Pink, Spurgeon... :laugh:

 

Ah yes.... you certainly have a theocentric perspective P4T which some others lack.:love2:

 

Oh, I see, only the altered would understand that altar really means alter. I get it. Does that mean I have now been altered?

 

Almost, yet, this is not horseshoes. :laugh:

 

Hmmm, wonder what "subliminal" message lies within "lacking a theocentric perspective?" :laugh: :laugh: :applause:

 

If you are looking for a "behind the back" way to discover it, here's what I would suggest:

Ask the pastor to recomend some authors/speakers/books for your theological study. Then see what kind of person he recommends. It's not foolproof, but it might tell you a few things. If he lists people like piper, macarther, sproul, driscoll, he may not be a full-fledged calvinist, but it will at least tell you he does not have a huge problem with them.

If he recomends mainly people like stanley, adrain rogers, jerry vines... he is probalby much less calvinistic.

 

Baptist churches that believe in the DoG come in a few different flavors. If the church is confessional, like mine, a cursory glance at the doctrinal statement will reveal what it believes. By confessional I mean a Baptist church that adheres either to the 1644/46 First London Baptist Confession of Faith or the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith. The more popular of the two is the 1689.

A second type are independent Baptist churches without a confessional subscription. Sometimes the only way to find out if one of these churches adheres to the DoG is to ask the pastor/elder; or listen to the preaching over a period of time. Also, look at their website. You can find clues there. You can also visit the 9 Marks website and use their church finder: HERE. 9 Marks is a ministry of Capitpl Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.; an SBC Founders Church. Mark Dever is the senior pastor. Churches that are on the 9 Mark website, more often than not, believe in the DoG. If you're looking for a DoG church, or trying to avoid one, this website is a big help.

 

Your Pastor may be a Calvinist...

10. If he refers to Romans 9 at least twice in every sermon.
9. If he always tags on the phrase "of the elect" to the word "all."
8. If he appears annoyed by the word "whosoever."
7. If he sounds like a school girl with a crush when talking about Charles Spurgeon.
6. If he owns at least three books written by John Piper.
5. If he prefers tulips over roses.
4. If he insists on having 5 points in every sermon.
3. If he prefers taking the train to driving a car because he'd rather be on a predetermined course controlled by someone else.
2. If one of his children or pets is named "Calvin."
1. If he thinks this post, and just about any unflattering comment made about Calvinists or their beliefs is a complete a totally misrepresentation.

:laugh:

:smilewinkgrin: Just joking guys!

 

OK....does he sport a beard? LOL

 

Oh, yeah, I forgot about that one! Good one! I seriously had a go-tee for the whole decade I was a Calvinist. I have no idea why that is... :applause:

 

Spurgeon Complex....did you smoke cigars?

 

I assume you have phones down under? Just call him and say "Hey would you describe yourself as a Calvinist?". It's quick, simple, and easy.

 

Ironically, no. But I do now. My best friend is a Calvinist and we usually smoke one when we get together. Nothing like a good fat cigar and an ale while talking about theology! :saint: