Hyper-Calvinism: Professor David Allen Responds to Critics

Update:  James White offered a response to this post here.  I offered some initial remarks toward White's response which I may, after a coat of polish, post on the main page in due time.

Since the John 3:16 Conference, there has been an excessive amount of attention to my comments concerning James White on the various Calvinist blogs. Allow me to set the record straight on three fronts: 1) what I said, 2) the context in which I said it, and 3) why I said it.

By Dr David Allen

What I said

The following is taken verbatim from the John 3:16 Conference recording: 

“This is important. Here is the reason why this stuff is important. Limited atonement creates a situation where there is a diminishing of belief in God’s universal saving will. Dr. Tom Ascol sums up the historic Calvinist position when he wrote ‘I believe that God desires for all people to be saved but has purposed to save His elect. I see two (at least two) dimensions in God's will: revealed and decretive. Failure to make this kind of distinction is a failure to read the Bible's teachings on the will of God accurately.’ This statement was made in 2006 just before the time when the debate with the Caner brothers was scheduled to take place and Dr. Tom Ascol was supposed to join forces with James White to oppose the Caner brothers.

Ladies and Gentlemen, James White is a hyper-Calvinist. By the definition of Phil Johnson in his A Primer of Hyper-Calvinism, Phil Johnson of spurgeon.org, who is the right hand man of John MacArthur, Phil Johnson tells you the five things that make for hyper-Calvinism, and James White by his teaching is a hyper-Calvinist. Now whatever we do in Baptist life, we don’t need to be teaming up with hyper-Calvinists. It’s fine for Calvinists to get together and have debates with non-Calvinists. Fine dandy and wonderful; let that happen all day long. But it is time for Calvinists within the convention to come out and say some strong words about hyper-Calvinism.

By the way, James White is a Baptist, he is not a Southern Baptist. On April 10, during a phone call on the “Dividing Line” web cast, James White scornfully denied there is any sense in which God wills the salvation of all men. That is the total opposite of what Tom Ascol said. By the way, Ascol is right that God wills the salvation of all men. White is the one who’s wrong. The denial of God’s universal saving will is a problem.”

Please note I did not insult James White or attack his character. I never suggested that the basis of my charge regarding White’s hyper-Calvinism was that he does not engage in evangelism or that he does not proclaim the Gospel.

Again, the actual basis of my charge was that White denies that in any sense does God desire the salvation of all by God’s revealed will. White did not answer the actual grounds of my charge in his replies. Rather, he evasively changed the basis of my charge, creating a straw man argument which he then sought to refute.

The Context in Which I Spoke

Here is a section in my paper which I did not use at the John 3:16 Conference due to time constraints. It immediately followed my comments about White and Ascol above:

“My point here is to help you see James White’s connection of his denial of God’s universal saving will to his view of limited atonement. White says, ‘What does it mean to say that God desires to do something he then does not provide the means to do?’” [This is a direct quote from White’s radio broadcast, April 10, 2008; see below.]

I continued:

“It is clear that he does not think there is a means in Christ’s death to save any of the non-elect. His strictly limited atonement view of God’s provision in the work of Christ on the cross seems to drive him to deny God’s universal saving will, which is one of the tenets of hyper-Calvinism.  When I speak of hyper-Calvinism, I am using the definition of Phil Johnson, a highly respected Calvinist. Hyper-Calvinism denies the universal saving will of God, without which there can be no well-meant offer of salvation from God to the non-elect that hear the gospel call.  Phil Johnson, in A Primer on Hyper-Calvinism wrote in a 1998 online article:

“I wrote and posted this article because I am concerned about some subtle trends that seem to signal a rising tide of hyper-Calvinism, especially within the ranks of young Calvinists and the newly Reformed. I have seen these trends in numerous Reformed theological forums on the Internet.  . . . . History teaches us that hyper-Calvinism is as much a threat to true Calvinism as Arminianism is. Virtually every revival of true Calvinism since the Puritan era has been hijacked, crippled, or ultimately killed by hyper-Calvinist influences. Modern Calvinists would do well to be on guard against the influence of these deadly trends.” [Emphasis mine.]

In his “Primer,” here is what Phil Johnson posted concerning hyper-Calvinism:

A hyper-Calvinist is someone who either:

1.    Denies that the gospel call applies to all who hear, OR
2.    Denies that faith is the duty of every sinner, OR
3.    Denies that the gospel makes any ‘offer’ of Christ, salvation, or mercy to the non-elect (or denies that the offer of divine mercy is free and universal), OR
4.    Denies that there is such a thing as “common grace,” OR
5.   Denies that God has any sort of love for the non-elect. [www.spurgeon.org]

I would encourage the reader to take a look at this Primer for himself. The Primer clearly leaves the reader with the impression, if not out and out states, that a denial of God's universal saving will is a component of hyper-Calvinism. Notice the Primer begins with a very obvious posting of Ezekiel 33:11: "As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die."

Johnson, against the hyper-Calvinist tendency to blur the distinction between the secret will and the revealed will of God, appeals to John Piper who affirms the necessity of both within the Calvinistic system (with the latter aspect including a saving desire for all men). Johnson also appeals to the John Murray and Ned Stonehouse book, The Free Offer of the Gospel. These men say that “the real point in dispute in connection with the free offer of the gospel is whether it can properly be said that God desires the salvation of all men.”

Finally, notice Johnson’s reference to hyper-Calvinism’s denial that the gospel message “includes any sincere [emphasis mine] proposal of divine mercy to sinners in general.” If I was mistaken in reading Johnson’s Primer in the way I have, then I would be happy to drop my appeal to his Primer and simply go with the scholarship and very clear statements of Iain Murray and Curt Daniel instead on this very subject.

I will wait to see what Phil Johnson says about his Primer in this respect. Is he or is he not saying that a "sincere proposal" by God to all necessarily presupposes his willingness to save all, such that a denial of God's desire to save all is the same as denying the well-meant nature of the offer? It appears to me this is exactly what he is saying and I agree with him completely.

My point is this: if this is what Johnson is saying, it is not what White is saying. In fact, White is saying just the opposite. White denies the well-meant or “sincere” nature of God’s offer of the gospel to all men “in general.”

Notice that according to #3 above, by Phil Johnson’s criteria, James White is a hyper-Calvinist, based on what he himself has said. All I said at the conference was James White is a hyper-Calvinist based on the criteria for hyper-Calvinism laid down by White’s fellow Calvinist, Phil Johnson.

James White denies God’s universal saving will; namely, that God wills and desires to save the non-elect. Such a denial of God’s universal saving will also constitutes a denial of the well-meant gospel offer. This is clearly contrary to confessional Calvinistic orthodoxy. James White is a hyper-Calvinist on the issue of the well-meant gospel offer because he denies such an offer.

Prior to the John 3:16 Conference, I had listened to White’s radio broadcast “The Dividing Line” and read the transcripts carefully to make sure I was quoting White accurately. While the transcript is too lengthy to place here, I will list a portion of that exchange in White’s exact words.

I encourage the reader to go to here for the entire manuscript so the reader can see I am not taking White out of context. I have emboldened the crucial sections: 

White:  “Let's get to Jason over in the United Kingdom...What's up Jason?”

Jason: “Well, yeah, I have a question for you regarding your Reformed theology, and it has to do with the free offer of the gospel. My question is simply this: Does God offer Christ, salvation or mercy to the non-elect, and does he in any sense will their salvation?”

White:…“First of all, from the human aspect, the free offer of the gospel goes out to all people because humans do not know the identity of the elect. And since no one will have that knowledge other than God, the only way a human being can possibly answer the question is to say what scripture says; and that is, that any person who repents and believes in Jesus Christ will be saved. But I think the question as it is often--I think somewhat unnecessarily asked, because again it forces us into a similar situation as the last discussion of Adam [the previous call topic]--to ask the question, Well, if God has not eternally decreed the salvation of John Brown, then can we really say that there is a free offer of the gospel to John Brown?…

Jason: “But, I mean, there are Calvinist theologians such as John Murray and Phil Johnson, for example, who hold that view. Phil Johnson would even say that it's a hyper-Calvinist tendency to deny that God in some way offers salvation to the non-elect.”

White: “Again, if I just said that it is our job to offer salvation to the non-elect because we don't know who they are, then yes, the salvation is being offered to the non-elect. But when says [Jason: but the offer is being made...] someone in some way, then I need something more of a definition of in what way. Are we going to say, for example, that Christ gives, intercedes, or gives his life for the non-elect, even though it is not God's purpose to grant to them the freedom from their sins so as to accept this? When we say ‘some way,’ I interpret ‘some way’ as the free and open proclamation of the gospel.

Jason: “I think the understanding is that, although God has reprobated certain people, there is a desire on his part that they should be saved, even though he has a higher purpose. [Therefore] that doesn't happen. I think one example, one verse, that might indicate that would be Ezekiel 33:11, which says that, ‘As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I have no delight in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their way and live.’ And that's the claim for the whole of the nation of Israel, not just the elect within that community.”

White: “Yeah, and that's one of the problems I have with Ezekiel 18 or 33 being read into this particular issue, because I feel like we're being forced to somehow attribute to God some kind (for some reason)...some kind of an attitude or desire that I just never see, not only do I never see expressed, but it would likewise force us to say that God has an unfulfilled desire, but it's not really the same desire as he chooses to fulfill with other people. And we're left not only--you're not only left with the two-wills conundrum--now you've got multiple desires conundrums, which I don't, I just don't see a reason for it.

.. . But, I just don't, if someone can explain to me where the idea comes from that we have to attribute to God a desire that he then does not fulfill. And then in fact, evidently, causes him to have an unfulfilled desire, unhappiness, pain, or something. …I fully understand how given the means that God uses to draw the elect unto himself, that there is a free offer of the gospel, that I can never look at someone. . . I do not have the right to reprobate anybody. I can't do that. I have to proclaim to everybody. But, I have a problem then saying in my proclamation of the gospel to others means that I then have to affirm some kind of a partially salvific desire...cause it can only be partially salvific. If it's truly a salvific desire, and it's truly a desire of God, does he not do whatever he pleases in the heavens and the earth? . . .

And I know that there are those who look at 2 Peter 3:9, and they see there that universal salvific will. I think that I am giving a pretty consistent exegetical response to that, to say...well, ok. I have respect for men who have held that view, but I have not at any time seen any of those who take that view respond to what I said about the text” [James White’s radio broadcast, April 10, 2008].

Notice here how White denies 2 Peter 3:9 teaches God has a universal saving will! White resumes:

. . . And, I don't know how many times I have to say we don't know who the elect are, and therefore we proclaim the gospel to everybody. But there are some who would say, ‘…and if you don't add to that that God has a partially salvific desire . . . you can go ahead and differentiate that he has a truly salvific desire for the elect, but you have to have a partially salvific will’. . . I just go, what does that mean?! If you could tell me what it means, you know...is that common grace? Does that mean that God is kind to the non-elect?

Ok. I've said that a million times. But that's not what I'm hearing.  You know. And I just go, what does it mean to say that God desires to do something he then does not provide the means to do? What does that mean? And no one's ever been able to tell me. So, once somebody can tell me, then I can jump on the bandwagon I guess, if there is a bandwagon to jump on to. But if you can't tell me what it means, then...what can I say? Can't, can't go there. So, anyway, that's what that particular discussion was all about.” [Emphasis mine.]

It seems clear to me by these comments that James White is a hyper-Calvinist given the “sincere proposal” criteria stated by Phil Johnson in his Primer. I, therefore dispute that, with regard to Mr. White’s denial of a universal saving will for the salvation of all men, that this is just a matter of semantics.

Why I said James White is a Hyper-Calvinist

My main point, which seems to have been lost on so many people, was not to focus on James White and his hyper-Calvinism. My point was to show the unwisdom on the part of Tom Ascol in his willingness to team up with James White to debate within the Southern Baptist Convention. Many non-Calvinists within our convention are concerned not only about Calvinism, but about some hyper-Calvinistic tendencies in the convention.

We are consistently told by Calvinists within the convention that there are few if any hyper-Calvinists among us. It does not help the situation when Ascol is willing to team up with one in a debate within a Southern Baptist Convention context. That was my point.

Notice above the comments by Phil Johnson who has observed a growing tendency towards hyper-Calvinism in recent years with the resurgence of Calvinism in the overall evangelical world. If his warning, as a Calvinist, is valid, why would mine not be? Even if it could be shown that White is not a hyper, which still remains to be proven I might add, it would not negate the overall point I am making.

Has anyone noticed how many of the Southern Baptist Calvinist bloggers, including Founders Ministries, link to James White’s website? I say this because I am concerned that hyper-Calvinism is being allowed to slip into the convention because well-meaning Calvinists are not being discerning on this point. They are uncritically endorsing hyper-Calvinist bloggers and therefore their ideas are slowly filtering into the SBC.

For example, Ascol, on the Founders Ministries website, even links to Steve Camp, who also denies God’s universal saving desire, with the additional explicit denials of common grace and general love. Can anyone say that Steve Camp does not meet Phil Johnson’s criteria on hyper-Calvinism?

Here are my relevant comments verbatim taken from the audio of my presentation:

“Now whatever we do in Baptist life, we don’t need to be teaming up with hyper-Calvinists. It’s fine for Calvinists to get together and have debates with non-Calvinists. Fine, dandy and wonderful; let that happen all day long. But it is time for Calvinists within the convention to come out and say some strong words about hyper-Calvinism” (The John 3:16 Conference recordings).

Therefore, I see no evidence from White, Phil Johnson, or anyone else that disproves my statement concerning James White’s hyper-Calvinism. The grounds for the charge have not yet been addressed by James White. Therefore, with respect to my blogger critics on this issue, I stand by my statement.

 

 

I offer my gratitude to Dr. David Allen for taking the time from his crowded schedule to address this provocative but significant issue. 

With that, I am...

Peter

Comments

[peter lumpkins]

Byron,

To simply suggest "there are much better responses to Dr. Allen than I can give" is not acceptable in dialog. Either show why those sources respond adequately to Dr. Allen's assertion based on Johnson's primer, or else stop insinuating Dr. Allen has been answered.

Consequently, "false assertion" does not follow. With that, I am...

Peter

[peter lumpkins]

Byron,

I do not believe debates--formal or informal--necessarily arrive at the truth. Debating is only one way of gathering evidence. And, sometimes it gathers more about the debaters than what's being debated.

With that, I am...

Peter

[peter lumpkins]

John,

Dr. Allen used Johnson's primer, which is not being addressed. Someone needs to show precisely how Allen misinterpreted Phil Johnson.

With that, I am...

Peter

[peter lumpkins]

All

I apologize for the comment thread being confusing. I switched to a beta platform and it's obviously got some bugs in it. I'll keep working on it as time permits.

Please be patient.

With that, I am...

Peter

[Richie]

Peter,

My apologies--maybe it was just how the comment came across to me.

As for the second point, I will not argue for a position that I did not put forth. I never stated that total depravity must be understood before limited atonement can be understood. I stated that:

"apprehension of limited atonement is better served by a fuller grasp of our total depravity. (Couple Romans 3:10-18 with Romans 9:6-29)", which I am fully prepared to argue, but not here.

I will not belabor this any further, as it is not my intent to cause deviation from the topic at hand. I appreciate your blog and thank you for your indulgence.

In Christ,

Richie

[peter lumpkins]

Hey Richie,

Thanks. While you are correct you stated "apprehension of limited atonement is better served by a fuller grasp of our total depravity" you failed to note the first--not to mention significant--part; namely," I agree with Debbie that..."

Well, Debbie said this:
"I believe that until Total Depravity is totally understood, one cannot possibly understand the Reformed view of Limited Atonement."

That was the part to which I referenced and with which you then agreed. To now state "[you] will not argue for a position that [you] did not put forth" is fine. But is is also confusing, given your first comment to me.

With that, I am...

Peter

[JoeyHenry]

I think there is a confusion on what Dr. Allen meant by using the term "'God wills' the salvation of all men".

Some in this posts have used the term "universal will" or "sincere desire".

That term is very ambigous. When we say "God wills" -- does this mean that God effectively wills the salvation of all men? Maybe not because that will lead to universalism.

Does the term mean that God desires that the Gospel be preached to all men? Dr. White believes that everyone should rightly hear the command to repent and believe. The command goes to everyone but only those whom God has chosen will obey by grace through faith.

Does this term mean that God wills to save all men but then is frustrated to save them because He willingly gives the free will of these men the supremacy to determine their fate? I think, there is no biblical foundation on this.

Before Dr. Allen accuse Dr. White of hyper-calvinism, I hope he discussed first what he actually meant by "God wills (desires) all men to be saved." What does he actually mean by that?

This clarification is crucial because if he is going to accuse Dr. White of hyper-calvinism based on an undefined usage of a term, then he might be engaging in a strawman.

[Byron]

Yes, of course. Limited Atonement does not use the other four pillars as crutches with which to prop itself up. Rather, some can argue that it is simply the last step in a series of conclusions that becomes fully realized only where the others have been sufficiently understood. But the problem comes when people want to artificially separate this point (or any point) from the other four and use this limited context for a debating scope. Much more fundamental ideas must be addressed first, such as the Sovereignty of God, Holiness, Wrath, mercy, and all that. Before Limited Atonement can even be addressed, dependent truths must be considered.

[Byron]

Simple communication, whether it becomes formal debate or not, involves exactly the same exchange of information ideally that a formal, structured debate provides (only, minus the formal, structured part). Opposing positions will still be expressed and defended, and cross-examination will take place. The point is not to "arrive at truth" but simply express the truth and allow the "chips to fall where they may."

[Joe White]

Peter,

Thanks for posting Dr. Allen's response. I knew when I left the chapel in Woodstock, that Dr. Allen's lecture would be the one that generated the buzz. He spoke on point, used numerous sources (all Calvinist), and named names. As someone once said... "Generalities do not pierce the heart". Dr. Allen's lecture was anything but general. In my opinion, Dr. Allen is spot on. White is not a Southern Baptist and he is hyper. These 2 facts ought to cause one to pause as they consider the extent of cooperation that can be had. Thanks for allowing Dr. Allen to reassert "exactly" what he said, and for putting it in its proper context.

On a side note, I enjoyed meeting and speaking with you. May God bless.

[JoeyHenry]

The anthropomorphic sense of passages dealing with God's emotions must be carefully understood. There are similarities on how God and humans "desires". But there are also differences much as there are similarities when the Bible says that God repents but counter balances that God is not like humans who repents.

Dr. Allen may have simplistically assumed that these anthropomorphisms are not discussed within ligitimate Calvinism (not hyper-Calvinism) when dealing with the question whether God "desires" all to be saved.

So, it's not that those who disagree with the two-will perspective is a hyper Calvinist. I haven't seen Dr. White dismissed the fact that anthropomorphic language do convey emotions that may be similar to human experience. But there are streams of opinions within legitimate Calvinism on how similar and how dissimilar these expressions are to human experience especially when taken into the context of soteriology and reprobation.

For Dr. Allen to assert that Dr. White is a hyper-calvinist, he must demonstrate that Dr. White dismisses any similarities of anthropomorphic languages such as "desire or sorrow or repent" to the human experience such that there is "no true expression of God's heart whatsoever in His Optative exclamation".

That is why, Dr. White correctly asks the question: What do you mean when you say God "desires"? He does not deny that there is a true expression of this anthropomorphic language. He only wants to define it. From there, he offers his perspective.

I think this accusation is wanting on this point.

[Byron]

Peter, with all due respect, I've been down this road with you before (and others have too). I cannot simply post links, and if I try to adequately address the topic(s) the comment becomes too lengthy. That leaves me with two options, to agree, or remain mute. I cannot help my opinion. It is what it is. If you or Dr. Allen believe you can convince us otherwise, then by all means go for it. That's the whole point of dialog, and true, I don't always measure up to that.

[Byron]

Peter, a quick comment. Unless I misunderstood, James White was addressing the hyper-Calvinists when he wrote "In case Dr. Allen is unaware of this, hyper-Calvinists do not call all men to faith in Christ. That is why they don't like me and attack me at every opportunity." I did not read this as an attack by J136C against White.

[Stephen M. Garrett]

Dear Peter:

Is Dr. White a Hyper? I believe he is. See my post here

Does God "will" and "desire" that salvation of all? See my post here

Hyper Calvinism denies that the gospel is a means in the new birth, that it must be accomplished first before one can repent or come to Christ in faith.

Yes, Dr. White and other neo "Reformed" Calvinists will say that they believe in the gospel as a means in regeneration and new birth, yet they really do not believe this, for if they did they would not be saying one must be born again before the gospel can be of use to him.

This is why White does not want to debate this issue with other five point Calvinists. Bob Ross and I have issued challenges to him to debate this point.

White challenges anyone to debate that can help him promote himself. He picks and chooses who to debate, and his criterion is as I have mentioned. Will it help promote White?

These neo "Reformed" Calvinists, if they really wanted to "bridge the gap" then they would become evangelistic like Spurgeon, quit having so many Calvinism conferences, and put their money and efforts into "crusades for Christ," like Billy Graham, and win lost souls to Christ. If they were great soul winners, like Spurgeon, no one who is opposed to Calvinism would have anything to criticize.

I get tired of hearing the same old argument that these Hypers use, which says "we preach to all because we do not know who are the elect."

What they are saying is - "did I know that such and such a person were of the non elect, then I would not preach the gospel to him"!

Did Jesus not know who were the elect? Did he not preach the gospel to those whom he knew were not chosen? How would White answer this question - "would you preach the gospel to a person whom you knew was non elect?"

God bless and take care.

Stephen

[Debbie Kaufman]

I believe this was all addressed at the Building bridges conference. These messages can be accessed online. At least I think they still can. www.Monergism.com or John Piper's site. Put Unlimited atonement in the search, then show me where what James White said in Dr. Allen's quote is any different than Calvinists believe. That is the question. James White's quote is standard Calvinism.

[Debbie Kaufman]

I'm sorry that should be limited atonement. Unlimited would be Universalism.:)

[volfan007]

Hyper Calvinism is an ugly monster that eventually kills Churches...like it did to Primitive Baptist Churches in the South.

Peter, dont you think that there are varying degrees of Calvinists in the SBC today? There are Calvinists, and then there are extreme, aggressive Calvinists, and then there are Hyper-Calvinists. So, do you agree with Dr. Allen that Dr. White is a hyper-calvinist? Or, could he just be an extreme, aggressive Calvinist?

Something else, I've always been amazed at how hyper-Calvinist seemed to be a dirty word to five pointers. I mean, if you want to wave a red sheet at the bull, just say that a five pointer is a hyper-Calvinist. Woooo hoooo....you'd have thought that you just called thier momma ugly and stupid.

David

[volfan007]

Stephen,

I do find it interesting that Dr. White will not debate with Bob Ross....correct? I mean, if he wants to truly take on someone who will expose his erroneous thinking of "regeneration before faith and repentance," or "that a person gets saved before they get saved" thinking, then Bob Ross would be the man to debate with. But, you're saying that Dr. White will not debate Bob Ross? Why not?

Also, does Bob Ross say that Dr. White is a hyper-Calvinist?

David

[Dave Miller]

I find "hyper-calvinism" a difficult concept to grasp. Phil Johnson's definition is interesting, but not necessarily authoritative.

However, after reading this essay by Dr. Allen, I think one conclusion is undeniable:

He had a good-faith, reasonable basis on which to identify Dr. White as a hyper-calvinist.

He used a prominent calvinist's definition of hyper-calvinism. He demonstrated that Dr. White met the test of hyper-calvinism set forth by Phil Johnson.

I don't know if Phil Johnson's definition is right and his definition is authoritative.
I don't know a lot about Dr. White.

But I think any reasonable person would say that Dr. Allen argued theology, not personality. He made a cogent case. Someone could argue on the other side, but at least his case is well-made.

[peter lumpkins]

Byron,

First to suggest about the Atonement that "Much more fundamental ideas must be addressed first" to me seems absurd. What is more fundamental to the Gospel than "Christ dying for our sins according to the Scriptures"?

Thus to avoid such, in the face of the nature of the Gospel redemption itself, arguing for more "fundamental" truths cannot be seriously considered.

Incidentally, for one who has a track record here, Byron, of defending Scripture alone, your insistence on a rigid, scholastic approach to the DoG hardly squares with your record. At least, that's how I view it.

Secondly, to bind the 5 points into a nice, neat package bundle is precisely what is at issue in the debate proper. That Baptist Calvinists insist that 5 point Calvinism is the gospel, with which you appear to agree, remains the concern non-Calvinists possess.

Thus, to assume such appears to beg the question, not to mention misses any point of Dr. Allen's words here.

With that, I am...

Peter

[Debbie Kaufman]

Peter: You are debating right now, right here. Debates are not a bad thing as Byron has pointed out. Even Paul was able to address his accusers.

[Debbie Kaufman]

Dave: I would ask you to show where James White's statement is hyper-Calvinistic. Tom Ascol has again denied that James White is a hyper-Calvinist in his post today.

[Debbie Kaufman]

Not even according to Phil Johnson's definition which I find to be spot on.

[volfan007]

Peter,

Your new format is too confusing. I dont like it.

Also, I posted a comment, and I cant find it????

David

[peter lumpkins]

Byron,

You write "Simple communication, whether it becomes formal debate or not, involves exactly the same exchange of information...To the contray, Byron, debates once again are not designed for "simple communication." Debate itself, in many respects, works as an art form. Sometimes the most skilled debater does not necessarily possess the truth. Any view of the debate medium which leaves out the competetion factor seems to me do not understand the nature of debate itself.

Now, you are welcome to disagre all you wish. I must move on.

Grace. With that, I am...

Peter

[Richie]

Sorry for the confusion, brother. Peace to you.

In Christ,

Richie

[Byron]

Peter, I am sorry but I must nitpick here. In your statement "Christ dying for our sins according to the Scriptures" from 1 Corinthians 15:3, itself references fundamentals by the phrase "according to the Scriptures" because fundamental concepts must be explained of who Christ is, what it meant for Him to die, what sins are, the self-referential integrity of the Scriptures, et cetera. This is part of my reason why I say that Limited Atonement itself (alone) is not a fundamental. Whether or not someone agrees with it, there are other foundational concepts involved, as demonstrated by the verse you give concerning salvation itself.

(BTW, sorry if I have confused anyone. I have posted as Byron when not logged in to TypePad, and Byroniac when logged in. Byroniac is my username, but Byron is my true name). I'll post as Byron this time.

[peter lumpkins]

Byron,

Here's the deal: If you cannot state why a point is not well taken in a reasonable amount of space, then maybe it's best you not comment.

As for providing links, you are correct: links offer nothing unless the links point to a credible document that overturns an assertion. Yet, even then, one need not make a link if the link does not specifically deal with the specific point in question.

And, if you cannot state how the link addresses the issue particularly, for my part, don't bother giving it to me. I do not have time to read long posts which are offered as evidence with me, at best, merely guessing how you think the author addresses and overturns a particular point. Frankly, to expect such is a similar approach to a frequent commenter here who merely says ""read Calvin, "read Gill", "read Asco" ad infinitum.

Finally, as for you statement if I or Dr. Allen "believe [we] can convince [Calvinists] otherwise, then by all means go for it" you need to know my purpose is not necessarily to convince any Calvinist of anything I might say or believe (I think Dr. Allen would agree).

Most are not persuaded to leave what has been irrevocably forged into their belief system. Only a miracle of God's spirit can tear down strongholds--including doctrinal strongholds--in our minds/ hearts.

My purpose is more toward assisting Non-Calvinists both to understand Calvinism and to offer support to those who seem to be squashed by overly-aggressive Calvinists who appear to accept that 5 Point Calvinism is the gospel.

Interestingly, no one yet addresses Dr. Allen's major point.

With that, I am...

Peter

[peter lumpkins]

Joey,

Dr. Allen carefully defined every nuance of positions--including hyper-Calvinism--in his paper. Moreover, he did not have to call James White since White has been clear that he holds that God has no universal salvific will/desire for all to be saved.

Indeed not even White disputes that Allen understood him. White's contention is, Allen mistook his belief for hyper-Calvinism.

With that, I am...

[peter lumpkins]

Joe,

Thanks, my brother. And I very much enjoyed our short time together.

I am anticipating White's response to Dr. Allen's entire lecture. He plans to address it on his radio program.

As for cooperating with Calvinists like White, I do not think Southern Baptists in general will be tempted to do such. Dr. Allen's challenge has largely been overlooked here which calls on SBC Calvinists to distance themselves from the Calvinism like White embraces. Tom Ascol has apparently just answered with a resounding "no way."

Grace, brother Joe. With that, I am...

Peter

[Byron]

With all due respect, this is probably why exchanges like this wind up (perhaps devolve in the perspective of some) into the format of formal debates. I understand your points, but this is where some agreement on terms and definitions must come into play, including on concepts such as "reasonable amount of space" and "fairness" and so on. Part of what makes communication so difficult outside of a formal setting on controversial issues is disagreement over how it should take place and what it should involve in the first place. I believe you see glimpses of necessity for more formal and prepared interaction even by informal exchanges such as blog commentary.

[peter lumpkins]

Joey,

I addressed this above. White denies God has any salvific desire to save the non-elect. That is not in dispute.

Nor is it fair to assert that "Dr. Allen may have simplistically assumed..." Why should we suppose Dr. Allen "simplistically assumed" anything? Is he not given the benefit of doubt White receives for "anthropomorphic" possibilities?

With that, I am...

Peter

[Byron]

Oh, furthermore, in Dr. Allen's case, the burden of proof rests on the one making the accusation, not on the one defending himself from it (or in my case, disagreeing with it). Dr. Allen knows this and though I disagree with his viewpoint, I respect him for taking the time to explain his viewpoint more thoroughly. Lastly, James White on his blog says: "But who I am is irrelevant: I challenge David Allen to stand before the students and faculty of the School of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and engage me on one battleground only: the inspired, inerrant, living text of the sacred Scriptures, the Bible." I see this as a very reasonable challenge: go to the "home base" of the opposing side and engage in dialogue using only the text which both sides agree on completely (the Bible) to argue from, and not from philosophical or theological works.

[Byron]

Is Spurgeon a hyper then? This sounds like to me the same thing James White is saying. How is it different?

If God would have painted a yellow stripe on the backs of the elect I would go around lifting shirts. But since He didn't I must preach `whosoever will' and when `whosoever' believes I know he is one of the elect.
- C.H. Spurgeon

http://www.credenda.org/issues/2-1.php

[Byron]

Also, I'm not sure how you would define "great soul winners." If Calvinism is true (I'm not arguing that specifically here, but seeking to illustrate a point from a logical conclusion), then since it is God who determines the elect and sees to their salvation, a "great soul winner" may have far fewer numerical successes than whatever evangelical threshold is required of his ministry. The quality of his ministry is not determined by the quantity of converts, if God is Sovereign in salvation as Calvinism proposes. So, that leaves a determination of how "evangelistic" someone is as opposed to how "successful" they are, which from simple, unbiased observation is not a problem in James White's ministry.

[Timotheos]

All this name calling would be kinda funny - if we were children.

Dear brother Volfan, do you know why James White will not debate Bob Ross? I will hazard a guess from my own experience - because, among other things, Mr. Ross is simply infantile in the tone of his exchanges with those who don't subscribe to his (and his alter-ego, the seemingly mythical "Charles") hermeneutical views. In my own hapless exchanges with Mr. Ross, it did not take long for the conversation to deteriorate to name-calling and mockery (in which I at first shamefully participated). For Mr. Ross, the practice is something of a modus operandi which he is unable, or unwilling, to resist. This is not to mention some of Mr. Ross' inamenable (in my view) handling of parts of Scripture, all of which would undoubtedly make debate with Bob Ross at best, Pyrrhic.

Dr. Allen had to know the unavoidable effect of raising the bogeyman "Hyper-Calvinist" in this setting. He is a learned man and in the employ of a Convention currently in a tizzy over the very issues raised by this conference. One could easily conclude the word choice was calculated to further the "tizziness." I would say the effort is proving "fruitful."

Dr. Allen, at least, made clear his objective in speaking, which is non-participation (i.e. "fellowship") with the likes of such men as James White, and God knows who else. Such dismissive treatment of members in Christ's body is beneath men of Dr. Allen's station, and, I think, finds not the littlest sanction from heaven's court, as Paul, one would suppose, makes plain in passages like I Corinthians 3.

More mercy, please,

Timotheos

[peter lumpkins]

David,

Thanks. I do believe there are "Calvinisms" in the SBC. There always have been. History demonstrates such. History also demonstrates that the brand of Calvinism White embraces is a spliter. Baptists last saw such in the Anti-Missions movement of the 19th century.

As for hyper-Calvinism and James White, no one on the this thread has overturned Allen's point about White; namely, a) Johnson's primer clearly states that one of the criteria is the denial of universal salvific love (mercy) b) based upon such, he argues White is hyper. Unless such is addressed adequately, I do not see how White cannot legitimately be viewed as hyper-Calvinistic--according to Phil Johnson's criteria.

Grace. With that, I am...

Peter

[Byron]

OK. I think you got me on that point.

[Byron]

I think this new format is really interesting. It's a little hard to tell exactly what is new except by looking at the right-hand sidebar. Which brings up a point: I wish that the links for each comment worked in the sidebar, as that would make finding new comments easier (though I am not sure that is possible). Always a nice looking blog, though.

[Stephen M. Garrett]

Dear Byron:

No, Spurgeon was no Hyper.

See my post here

God bless

Stephen

[Stephen M. Garrett]

Dear Byron:

All the apostles were great soul winners. So was Spurgeon. I think that is defintion enough.

It seems that the ones who decry judging a ministry by the number of its converts are the ones who dislike the criterion!

Where are the Calvinist soul winners today?

God bless

Stephen

[Stephen M. Garrett]

Dear Volfan007:

White uses as an "excuse" for not debating Bob Ross is supposedly the journalistic tactics of Ross. Yet, I find it is just a "smokescreen"! White knows he cannot defend his born again before faith view by either scripture or by the Baptist confessions and so he would rather debate the Arminians and the Muslims, and such like.

What I find interesting is that White uses the same verbal tactics as does Ross! (which I do not see any violence in from either one - if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen)

White wants to debate the "big boys," men in the SBC and elsewhere who are well known. Only by debating these types can White further his promoting of himself.

White enjoys being the leading apologtist for the "Reformed" group. Others have been content to let White hold this position and he enjoys it. So many promote him and consider him their "champion."

To debate Bob Ross would not further White's "career," and so it is no wonder he does not want to debate Ross.

God bless,

Stephen

[Byron]

Well, we are getting off-topic. Yes, I dislike that criterion because God is in control of those numbers, and we are not. To criticize a ministry as less successful because its numerical converts fall below an acceptable threshold is not necessary from a Calvinist perspective which places sovereign election in God's hands and not man's. It is unreasonable to assume if you agree with Calvinism that a person is unsuccessful simply on this basis. So the Calvinist soul winners are where they have always been throughout history: wherever the Lord has placed them, with the ministry He has given them, accomplishing His pre-determined purpose to His own glory, often unseen and unappreciated by the world and unknown to his or her Christian brethren.

[volfan007]

Peter,

I hate this new format. I cant follow all the conversations. It's confusing.

David

[J. Matthew Cleary]

Why doesn't Dr. Allen (or perhaps the author of this blog) contact both Tom Ascol and Phil Johnson to confirm whether on not James White is a hyper-calvinist in their view? Would this not be the simplest way to see if Dr. Allen's comments are accurate?

[Bill]

James White has put it out there:

"I challenge David Allen to stand before the students and faculty of the School of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and engage me on one battleground only: the inspired, inerrant, living text of the sacred Scriptures, the Bible"

Should I start making travel plans to Southwestern soon?

[peter lumpkins]

Byron,

You cannot seem to acknowledge the competitive dimension to debate but then you make this statement: "I see this as a very reasonable challenge: go to the "home base" of the "opposing side" and engage in dialogue..."

In debate, there is a "winner" and a "loser." When these type of stakes are thrown in, the medium changes from sharing of views to attempting to trap the other in a dilemma. If that is not clear, I do not know how to make it clearer, Byron.

Nor is a blog even remotely similar to a formal debate. Interaction and feedback are not necessarily debate.

With that, I am...

Peter

[Doug]

Dr. Allen said, "My point was to show the unwisdom on the part of Tom Ascol in his willingness to team up with James White to debate within the Southern Baptist Convention."

I wish that he would have commented on the WISDOM of the Caner brothers decision to back out of that planned debate.

Doug

[peter lumpkins]

J. Matthew

You query: "Why doesn't Dr. Allen (or perhaps the author of this blog) contact both Tom Ascol and Phil Johnson to confirm whether on not James White is a hyper-calvinist in their view?"

My question is, Why? First this post is not about whether Tom Ascol thinks J. White is a hyper-Calvinist. Therefore a call to him is moot.

Secondly, Dr. Allen employed Johnson's primer that seems very clear in what it affirms. If Johnson desires to clarify and say, "Well, that's what my primer says but that's not what my primer means" fine. Then we can deal with that.

However, do not think Allen's case stands or falls on just Johnson's definition. Allen used Johnson, I am confident, because Johnson is a well-known Calvinist, whose primer is quoted frequently. According to Iain Murray & Curt Daniels, White fits the mold for hyper-Calvinism as well.

You can read for yourself what P. Johnson wrote. If you think Dr. Allen has misread him, great. Please show how he has. That challenge, by the way, has not once been taken up here--Not once!

With that,

I am...

Peter

[peter lumpkins]

Doug,

If you'd like to make a point about the paper, by all means you are welcome. But there's no reason whatsoever to bring up the Caner brothers here, and that in a very demeaning manner.

With that, I am...

Peter