Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Are Baptists historically “Calvinist”? BY James R. Beller PART ONE of SIX

Thomas E Kresal Admin · 9 hrs April 7, 2020

Baptist History, Heritage and Distinctives – Are Baptists historically “Calvinist”? BY James R. Beller PART ONE of SIX

When the ana-Baptists began to rub elbows with the reformers in the16th century, the history of the actions of the reformers against the Anabaptists makes me lose respect for the reformed, to wit:

• The retaining of infant Baptism by the reformers and allowing the idea of Baptism as a means to grace as part of certain reformed doctrine.

• The evidence in Mennonite history of the hoodwinking of the Waldenses by the reformers of Switzerland. The evidence shows that the reformers (Zwingles’ supporters) convinced them that their doctrine was “reformed”. How could their doctrine be reformed, since their doctrines of grace existed long before Calvin or Luther were ordained Catholic priests?

• The martyr’s deaths at the hand of the reformed in Germany, England and especially Switzerland.

• The exclusion of Baptist people from the bounds of orthodoxy in England in the 17th century.

• The beatings and banishments of the Baptists in America’s New England in the 17th century.

Are Baptists Historically Calvinist? How can we know the answer? We must turn to the most noted Baptist historians for the answer. This we will do. I suppose the most irritating thing about the whole issue is the tendency of the majority of Calvinists to want to have it all or nothing. Either you are Calvinist or Arminian, period. If you choose to be neither, you fall into a category based on an examination of your beliefs about the availability of the atonement, free will, etc. In short, you get labeled. Labels are handed out such as: Calminian, Amyraldist, Semi-Pelegian, Paleontologist, Antibleboludicristjunkola and etc. I ask, have Baptists always been one or the other? What is the record of our forefathers?

Thomas Crosby and Thomas Armitage on the London Confession of Faith

One argument on the part of modern Calvinists to convince the ignorant Baptist public about their Calvinist roots is the signing of the London Baptist Confession of Faith in 1643. The London Confession is a grand document, expounding clearly the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ. It sets in concrete the fact that these early Baptists were committed to believer’s baptism by immersion. It is Calvinistic on election and grace, predestination and particular redemption. But was it a document categorically adapted by the Baptists of England?

Thomas Crosby, the oldest English Baptist historian, in commenting about the London Confession and Particular (Calvinistic) and General (non-Calvinistic) redemption said,

“And I know that there are several churches, ministers, and many particular persons, among the English Baptists, who desire not to go under the name either of these heads; because they receive what they think to be truth, without regarding with what human schemes it agrees or disagrees.” Thomas Crosby–History of the English Baptists, Vol. I p. 174. 1740.

Continued tomorrow with Thomas Armitage

Presented by Thomas E. Kresal from: Published article on the now defunct forum: “Garbage Truck Forum” July, 2000