Critical Response to The Traditionalist Statement: Part 8 (Article 7)

By Mark W. Christy, PhD

This article is the eighth in a series designed to carefully consider the theological position against Calvinism taken by those who have signed what is called A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation (released in 2012). In short form, this document is commonly known as the Traditionalist Statement (TS) among Southern Baptists. Presently, comments will be made in response to Article 7 of the TS:

“Article Seven: The Sovereignty of God

We affirm God’s eternal knowledge of and sovereignty over every person’s salvation or condemnation.

We deny that God’s sovereignty and knowledge require Him to cause a person’s acceptance or rejection of faith in Christ.

Genesis 1:1; 6:5-8; 18:16-33; 22; 2 Samuel 24:13-14; 1 Chronicles 29:10-20; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Joel 2:32; Psalm 23; 51:4; 139:1-6; Proverbs 15:3; John 6:44; Romans 11:3; Titus 3:3-7; James 1:13-15; Hebrews 11:6, 12:28; 1 Peter 1:17”

TS Article 7 begins with what seems to be a theologically sound statement on God’s sovereignty that aligns to an extent with the BFM2000 which declares, “God is all powerful and all knowing, and His perfect knowledge extends to all things.”[i] This position fits well within the teachings of Scripture where God’s sovereign control is shown to cover even the most mundane events: “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father” (Matt 10:29).[ii] The Psalmist speaks of the Lord’s sovereignty in this way: “Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain” (127:1). Isaiah goes even further when he drafts the Lord’s own words: “I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’” (Is 46:9b-10). Here, the prophet pronounces that God Himself declares the “end from the beginning.”

Whereas the BFM2000 follows the clear teaching of Scripture by upholding God’s complete sovereignty, TS Article 7 limits its discussion of God’s sovereignty to “every person’s salvation or condemnation.” This limitation in and of itself is not wrong so long as the framers are only making it to focus on a particular area within God’s sovereign work. This, however, does not seem to be the case because the TS composers limit His sovereign dealings when it comes to the human response to gospel proclamation.

In support of their limitation, the TS framers offer multiple biblical references which fail to demonstrate any biblical truth which supports their denial. In the Bible, God is frequently credited with the actions taken by people who were making their own decisions. For example, Joseph credits God for the evil actions of his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Gen 50:20). In Isaiah 53:10, the prophet says the Lord had already decided to kill Christ: “But the Lord was pleased [t]o crush Him.” This decision is depicted in the New Testament as playing out through the decisions of Judas, the Jewish leaders, Pilate, the crowd, and the soldiers.

Given these examples (and many others throughout Scripture), it should be made certain that God’s sovereignty extends even over the freewill of His creatures. While it remains a mystery, the freewill response of people to God never escapes his control. Therefore, no one can respond to Him in way that He has not sovereignly chosen.

[i]Baptist Faith and Message 2000, Available at: https://fbctlh.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Baptist-Faith-Message-for-web.pdf. This resource is available across the web, so if the link breaks a search for it will render another site that offers the same document.

[ii]All Scripture references are taken from NASB1995.