Questions for Protestant Pastors
By what title would your Church identify itself, denominationally?
- Southern Baptist
Describe the authority structure of your church.
- Well, if you want to get specific:
Most church business is carred out by a "church council" composed of laymembers and all the staff. The church council creates committees of laymen (and a LOT of committees) to carry out specific church functions, such as financial, building maintenance, church constitution, personel, etc. These committees are sometimes "supervised" by an ordained pastor, or not, depending on the nature of the committee. These committees bring their proposals before the church during (usually) quarterly business meetings, during which all major church matters are decided and voted upon. Anything from budget to constitution/by-laws to major monetary donations. Also the deacon body (laymen, but ordained as deacons through a selective, biblical proccess) takes a leadership role when it comes to service. But pretty much the congregation holds the authority. All the baptist churches are completely autonomous, there is no govermnental "higher power" beyond the local church. There is a convention, and associations of which churches can be members, but these have no control over churches. They simply help churches work together better, largely with missions.
And obviously, everything is deeply rooted in prayer, so that God's will is followed in every decision, large or small.
As far as beliefs go, God's Word and Christ himself hold all the authority- no pastor is considered infallible or anything like that.
What is your definition of Predestination as you understand it?
- My personal definition of predestination is that God, being omnicient, knows who is and who isn't going to heaven, definately. Beyond that, I can honestly say I am still in prayer and searching. I do believe that god creates people who he knows will follow him, and some he knows will not. I do not want to say anything more as I am still seeking God's wisdom on that topic. I certainly, however, do NOT believe in calvinistic predestination where there is no free-will. The elimination of free-will makes us robots, and is completely unbaised and rediculous.
-If you wanted a non-personal definition, I was taught the T.U.L.I.P. accrostic by a friend.
The T.U.L.I.P. (calvinism) no, and no. I do not believe it, and my church certainly does not teach it.
My personal definition, yes I believe it, but am still searching. My church has no official stance on the issue (which i am aware of), but generally it is not taught.
What is your definition of Free Will?
- All humans have the capacity to choose their actions. We have the ability to choose right from wrong, and to choose to follow God, or not. God gave us this choice.
Do we have free will?
- Certainly.
If we have free will, how does this coincide with predestination?
- It does, somehow. Again, i'm still seeking God's wisdom on this subject. There is no real "predestination" in the truest sense of the word, so i suppose it doesn't matter?
How does your position on predestination effect missionary activity?
- It (my personal definition) gives me hope really, because it tells me that there are people who God has prepared to hear the gospel. Sure God doesn't say "hey you're gonna believe in me", but he certainly prepares people to hear his truth.
What
are the sociological effects of these doctrines, do you think people
behave differently, depending on where their church lies on the
spectrum between predestination and free will?
- Umm, yes and no. Obviously, on the extreme sides, it is probably a major factor in how they do things. However, believing neither extreme is correct, I don't think they contain the motivation to really change things much. I think the middle of the spectrum is where the truth is, and it's where God's spirit is at. When people find the truth, and the holy spirit is with them, then the truth affects their lives. I think in this issue, the truth affects people's behavior more than the lies (extreme sides) do.
Do
you think that there are any differences with how Calvinism is taught
and/or practiced today that differs from the original teachings of
Calvin? Why has it changed?
- Oh, I'm not a Calvin expert, but I would say yes. I think it has changed because of the legalism of people, aka satan's influence. People take what Calvin said and they magnify immensely out of porportion, and make it a central focus of what they do. It is similar to the "Luther" movie, when after Martin Luther was excommunicated and went into hiding, some rogue followers of his started a huge, violent, bloody rebellion against the Catholic Church, which was not at all what Luther wanted.
Are there any catechisms or confessional statements in your church, which codify the position of the church on these issues?
- yes, we do have a doctrine, as most baptist churches and institutions do.
http://www.fbcellisville.org/info_WhatWeBelieve2.htm (not the entire doctrine I don't think)
How is one justified?
- Through faith in Christ, and faith in Christ alone.
Rom 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Rom 3:28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
How is one saved?
- By believing in the one true God, believing and understanding that God sent his son Jesus, who is also fully God, to earth to die for our sins. Putting their faith in the fact that Jesus died for our sins, and then rose again on the third day, victorious over death. Repenting of their sin, and commiting their life to Christ and to righteousness.
God determines salvation based on the sencerity of the person. The criminal on the cross next to Jesus was truely sencere, and put his faith in Jesus, so thus he was saved. That is the simplest explanation of our beliefs.
What is sanctification, does it have a role in our Salvation?
- Sanctification is a result of salvation. If someone is "saved" but there is no sanctification, then they are not truely saved. Salvation grants us the capacity to become sanctified- or pure, and righteous. Someone that is not saved cannot be sanctified.
Can a person know with absolute certainty, that he/she is saved?
- Yes, when they know with absolute certainty that Jesus is the Christ who has saved him/her through his sacrifice, then they know with absolute certainty that he/she is saved.
Is Once Saved Always Saved true?
- Yes-
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Eph 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Since salvation is not attained by our own acts, then our own acts cannot repulse salvation. God does not take back his gifts, nor does he remove his seals.
Can a person lose his Salvation?
- No.
Does Hell exist? Who goes there?
- Yes. All who deny Christ, and do not put their faith in Him.
Does God create some FOR Hell? Predestinarianism (destined for Hell)
- Again, to be honest, i'm still searching about that one. I want to say no, but Romans 9 and 10 points to yes- I cannot deny that. I think, however, that Romans 9 and 10 is pointing out that God did create ("edured") people knowing they would go to hell, which I do believe.
How
do you react to the quote: “The only difference between the person who
goes to heaven and the one who goes to hell, is the horse God puts him
on to ride in on”.
- Totally unbaised and wrong. The difference is their decision. However, some of it may have to do with God's influence. Certainly not "which horse god puts him on".
Is
the grace which saves us, imputed to us or infused in us? In other
words are we declared righteous by God, or are made righteous?
- Yes, God "infused" the Holy Spirit into us, so that we may be righteous.
Eph 1:13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the
gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the
promised Holy Spirit,
Mar 13:11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Luk 12:12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
(the list could go on, but I will stop)
Hopefully that gives you some insights.
In Christ's Love,
-Kraig
