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Baptists Are More What? Calvainistic or Arminianistic?

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by CubeX, Jul 14, 2003.

  1. CubeX

    CubeX New Member

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    Like the topic says, what are Baptists primarily? I know that this probably changes for all of us, but what does the Baptist denomination say? i'm a Baptist, but I was never really told. Calvinistic or Arminianistic?

    -CubeX
     
  2. rsr

    rsr <b> 7,000 posts club</b>
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    Take your pick. The first Baptists were Arminian. But later most of the Separatists came out of the Calvinistic tradition.

    Southern Baptists, on the whole, were originally Calvinist, but Arminianism has made huge inroads, as Billy Graham exhibits. That's why the BF&M is so nebulous on the issue.
     
  3. CubeX

    CubeX New Member

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    You see, that's the problem for me. I'm a Southern Baptist, but I know for sure that I'm not Calvinistic on the whole of the matter, but I do know that I'm not also Arminianistic either. Oh the confusion of it all! Thanks for pointing that little piece out!

    -CubeX
     
  4. go2church

    go2church Active Member
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    I would say calvinistic, simply because of the fact that most baptists identify themselves by how many points of calvinism they follow. As an example, I would allow myself to be considered a 2 point calvinist, although I ultimatly prefer to modify those points to fit more precisely what I believe. But for general purposes this is a good starting point.
     
  5. Jeffrey H

    Jeffrey H New Member

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    From my part of the country, baptists in general seem to be a blend of both theologies. I definitely believe that we lean more towards Arminianism. :(

    go2church said:
    If you don't hold all 5 points, you're not a calvinist. You're probably typical of most baptists I know - not full Arminian and not full Calvinist.
     
  6. Pete Richert

    Pete Richert New Member

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    There is no one Baptist Denomination in which to align oneself, but many different groups and a huge spectrum of beliefs. If you believe Baptist history traces its roots straight to the apostles then Baptists were originally . . . well, that is being argued right now on the Calvinist/Arminian forum below to no end. If you trace Baptist history out of the reformation then Baptists were definitly dominated by Calvinists. Read the first and second London Baptist Confession of Faith 16?? and 1689 for more details. Since that time Baptists have become more and more Arminian until today, where I think Calvinistic Baptists are few and far between.

    I think a more specific quesion might be, how many dispensational bapstists are Calvinists? There seems to be quite a few on this board.
     
  7. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    I think more claim arminianism, but don't know what they're talking about. One pastor cracked me up, stood there slamming Calvinism for being "the evil misleading heresy from hell" then went on to describe what *HE* believed, perfectly describing a number of calvinist view points.
    It's soooo hard to be a woman in church and keep quiet! [​IMG]
    Gina
     
  8. Artimaeus

    Artimaeus Active Member

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    I'm a TP Calvinist and a ULI Arminian. In general conversation with people who are only vaguely aware of the difference, it seems to be generally thought that it is a difference between eternal security (Preserverance) and falling from grace. Of the five points THIS (preservation) is the biggest deal breaker for me.
     
  9. CubeX

    CubeX New Member

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    Yeah, I know I'm a P calvinist, where you can't lose your salvation.

    -CubeX
     
  10. Graceforever

    Graceforever New Member

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    If this is the definition, you can count me in..... [​IMG]
     
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