Calvinism As An Evangelizing Force

Sola Scriptura ^ | N. S. McFetridge

[Gamecock]

GRPL/Calvinist Swarm Ping

[Gamecock]

I often hear that Calvinist Theology hinders Evangelism.

As a preemptive strike I will offer up that my own corner of Calvinism, the PCA, has more missionaries in the field, per capita, then our beloved friends in the very Evangelistic oriented Southern Baptist Church.

[xzins]

A bunch of dead people. What have you done for me lately? Are we there yet? :>)

[Gamecock]

See 3.

[xzins]

I'm not sure about the position of the PCA....they are not the PCUSA (the liberal group.) Can you fill me in?

[Corin Stormhands]

The PCA church I attended was very involved in missions.

[Gamecock]

I'm not sure about the position of the PCA....they are not the PCUSA (the liberal group.) Can you fill me in?

Be happy to!

We broke off from the PC(USA) back in 1973 over perceived liberalism. One of the specific reasons was that our founders felt that the PC(USA) did not place enough emphasis on missions and evangelism.

We started with 260 congregations with a combined communicant membership of over 41,000 Christians. Today we have 1278 churches, and the last number I saw 400,000 members. In 2004 we baptized 2,505 adults and 5,400 infants. (So from an Evangelist perspective a bit more than 5% adult Baptism rate) We do not Baptize new members, only those without a Triune Baptism.

Mission to the World heads our efforts in other countries and has church plants as follows:

Five African Countries
Twelve Asian Countries
Nineteen European Countries
Eight Latin American Countries

We also have long and short term missionaries in 50 countries.

Mission to North American (MNA) heads up our domestic church plants and mission work on our continent. It might interest you to know that our Chaplain Ministries falls under MNA.

A recent example based on my experience: My home church in San Antonio was founded in 2002 and particularized (PCA talk for becoming self-supporting, self-governing) in 2004. Before we particularized we had mission trips to Peru and Belize as well as committing support to missionaries in Mexico and Belize. We also started multiple out reach projects into the barrios of San Antonio. We placed supporting missionaries and performing mission trips on equal footing to getting our church up and running.

[Gamecock]

I would guess that your PCA church was involved in both domestic and international mission trips as well as supporting several missionaries.

[Corin Stormhands]

I don't remember domestic trips. They did have a neighborhood outreach program.

And there was at least one organized international trip while we were there. There may have been more. I just remember the one.

[TrailofTears]

Looking at Calvanism as anything to do with evangelism is like watching a dog drive a suv. You think you see what your eyes tell you that you see, but you have a hard time believing that it can work.

Calvanism, by it's own beliefs, cannot offer to "the great unwashed masses" the opportunity to "get saved" because they believe in predestination, not "free election" of the lost. If you are lost, according to Calvanism, you cannot make a choice about your decision to be saved, you have to be "called" by God to make that decision. The act of deciding is not as it is with those that are not Calvanistic. The act of being called is totally up to God through you, and not you yourself.

Again, i see the dog driving, but i know that there is more to the eye than that.

[Corin Stormhands]

While I spent about three years in a Calvinist church, I am not a Calvinist. ;-)

[xzins]

It sounds like an exciting group to be a part of. I wouldn't (couldn't) criticize them at all. A few of my good friends when I was stationed in B-K went to the Presby church in K-town. We had a great time doing theology on our breaks.

Drive on. Fulfill your mission.

[Gamecock]

Hoo-ah.

[xzins]

My first assignment in the army as a 1LT Chaplain was under an engineer battalion commander named Wagonhurst. Any time I met with him, he'd close out with "go fulfill your mission."

Good line to remember with extremely broad application.

[Gamecock]

Why Evangelize if you risk violating someones precious free will?

The stress of always looking for some fresh angle, trying to make the Gospel relevant for today's world must be overwhelming.

And what if you say the wrong thing? What if you don't recite just the right words and that person spends eternity in torment jut because you didn't get it just right?

The pressure must be crushing.



____________________________________________________

OTOH, knowing that God, just as written in Scripture, will draw those who He will. I have babbled incoherently and people have professed Jesus as Lord. It was nothing I did, other than serve as the Holy Spirit's mouthpiece.

Conversely I have presented the Gospel with fervor and accuracy and people have looked at me as if I have three heads. I just did what I was commanded. I did it faithfully. They may come to Christ later, or they may not. It's up to God.

[Gamecock]

I'm going to use that!

I need a new shtick.

[Gamecock]

You will be. I have faith.

[winstonchurchill]

Headline: "Frozen Chosen to Mount New Evangelism Push; To Unlock One Church Door to Await Pre-Determined Arrival"

[xzins]

It served Col Wagonhurst well. He never got a star so far as I know, but he did get a brigade-level command, and I think he became the engineer branch manager before retirement.