My Take On "A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God's Plan of Salvation"

If you haven't noticed there has been a dust up within the SBC over A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God's Plan of Salvation posted in SBC Today back in May 31.  The statement represents many years of tension between Southern Baptists over the issue of soteriology (doctrine of salvation).  The fact that their is tension isn't necessarily a bad thing.  After all, how one is made right before a righteous God is at the top of the perennial questions.  So while some would like to take the "pious" stand on not "major on the minors" a blatant disregard for such a perennial question could be very problematic.  Thus this should not be treated as an issue that is neither here nor there.  This is an important issue and should be dealt with in a humble and respectful manner.

What is the controversy about?  Over the past three decades there has been a significant interest over the issue of "Calvinism" within the SBC.  One recent survey conducted by Life Way Christian Books (the publishing arm for the SBC) showed that 10% of Church leaders identify themselves as "Calvinists" and 30% of newly graduated SBC seminarians also identify themselves as "Calvinists."  These figures are so staggering that "non-calvinists" within the denomination feel the need to stake their claim.  That is not to say these figures precipitated the statement, only that increased interest in "Calvinism" has given some reason for concern.

Conversely there are some in the SBC with a more "Calvinistic" understanding who find certain claims in the statement to be problematic for all Christians.  Having reviewed some of the concerns I would have to say they are warranted.  However, while this is an important dialogue and will hopefully result in fruit the tendency within the SBC (my denomination) is to raise the question, dialogue about it, and in the final analysis  let sleeping dogs lay.