Help! Lookin for more info

[leah-bygrace]

I'm so confused!

I've been browsing all the topics and (being a semi-new baptist) I just realized how clueless I am! I mean- I understand and completely agree with the 7 distinctives of baptists (posted by BT), but I'm clueless about most of the deeper topics (ie: how calvinism or arminianisn relates to baptist theology, what the true differences between baptists are, etc).

I know yall can't give me a college course in all this, so how about recommending some great books or websites? Your topics are very new to me and I'd really like to learn more about it (if not just for the sake of knowing what yall are talking about! )

TIA- Leah

 

[terry13]

Leah-

Some advice first - Don't lose sight of the forest for the trees. Folks have been arguing calvinism for half a millenia and I doubt that it is going to cease in the near future.

Having said that -Debating Calvinism: Five Points, Two Views
Dave Hunt & James White is a great place to start.

 

[GreenEyedLady]

Leah-
I try to stay out of discussions about Calvinsim and denomination stuff. It confuses me to! I understand it a little, but I am more intrested in doctrines that matter such as salvation, baptism, eternal security, etc. When you are witnessing to someone these are the 3 core things that you should read up on in your bible.
If you would like to know more just PM me about these doctrines.
GEL

 

[jcright]

I agree with Terry and GEL. Although those are very interesting subjects that people are bringing up, your first and main focus should be to God and I believe that's best done by studying the Word. IMO, secure your knowledge in this first, pursue other studies afterwards.

 

[SumTinWong]

I'm so confused!

I've been browsing all the topics and (being a semi-new baptist) I just realized how clueless I am! I mean- I understand and completely agree with the 7 distinctives of baptists (posted by BT), but I'm clueless about most of the deeper topics (ie: how calvinism or arminianisn relates to baptist theology, what the true differences between baptists are, etc).

I know yall can't give me a college course in all this, so how about recommending some great books or websites? Your topics are very new to me and I'd really like to learn more about it (if not just for the sake of knowing what yall are talking about! )

TIA- Leah

Hi Leah!
Most of what all of us "know" we have picked up along the way, and through the years we have weeded out things that either didn't make sense or haven't a single thing to do with our salvation and our walk with god.

If you are serious about learning though i would invite you to try out this free online course. You get no credit for it, it is just for you edification, and learning.

http://www.bible.org/docs/theology/theologyprogram/
I would echo what the rest have said and stick to the Bible for now, but if you must they have some great books in the first syllabus you should check out like Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem. Hope that helps!

 

[Sola Gratia]

The early Baptist confessions were "Calvinist" .
Many of the famous Baptists were Calvinists (like Spurgeon)

Over the years the churches became more Arminian . Because each church is independant both Arminians and Calvinists can proudly claim the name Baptist.

Here is a link that has the early confessions .

http://www.founders.org/misc/chlist.html

Here is the home page of the founders

http://www.founders.org/faq.html


The important thing to remember is that most all of us were not Calvinists when we were saved. Only after years of study did we come to agree with the early founders .

You are saved by Christ , not by Calvinism or Arminianism .
The purpose of doctrine is to help us understand the nature of God and His relationship to man.
It is the grace and mercy of God alone that draws us and gives us new life.

 

[BT]

I'm so confused!

I've been browsing all the topics and (being a semi-new baptist) I just realized how clueless I am! I mean- I understand and completely agree with the 7 distinctives of baptists (posted by BT), but I'm clueless about most of the deeper topics (ie: how calvinism or arminianisn relates to baptist theology, what the true differences between baptists are, etc).

I know yall can't give me a college course in all this, so how about recommending some great books or websites? Your topics are very new to me and I'd really like to learn more about it (if not just for the sake of knowing what yall are talking about! )

TIA- Leah

Hiya Leah,

Sorry. I hate to confuse people. I'd like to recommend to you the book of Ecclesiastes. I really mean it. That book changed my Christian walk when I studied it. It helped me understand so much.

After that I would recommend "Basic Theology" by Ryrie (I think that's the title), it's a simplified Systematic Theology.

Systematic Theology is a breakdown of all of the major systems (doctrines) of the Bible. They are separated one by one so that you can look up what you want to learn about and see what the Bible says. I think Lollard has a great idea, though I'm not familiar with the site myself. The "Debating Calvinism" might be a bit deep to start with. The Ryrie book is very simplified.. I'm going to double check that title.. I don't even have the book personally, a friend of mine does. If you get past Ryrie you should try "The Great Doctrines of the Bible" by William Evans, it is also a great basic theology. It's a 2nd year BTh course book (Bach. of Theology) but it is an easy read!

If later you want to get very deep let me know. I have a number of books that are a sure cure for insomnia

I'm also available to answer any questions (the best I can) that you might have.

Above all, read that Bible!!

 

[leah-bygrace]

I feel better now - for a minute there I thought that I might be missing something important!

You all gave really great recommendations and I will definitely have to save the responses for future reference. I plan to work my way up (as you all suggested), and then hopefully get into the deeper topics down the road.

I'm glad this isn't all stuff I'm suppose to know right away! Thank you all so much!

 

[Carrye]

I plan to work my way up (as you all suggested), and then hopefully get into the deeper topics down the road.

Great attitude Leah. One doesn't begin as a doctor, but he must start somewhere. You'll learn a ton from scripture, and will pick quite a few things up just by hanging around here. Oh, and ask questions. In my teacherly opinion, they're essential to good learning.

 

[TexasCatholic]

I don't know that a Ryrie book is necessarily a good recommendation. It's an okay recommendation as long as you understand that Ryrie's view is from a Dispensationalist point of view.

Would I be wrong to say most Baptists do not subscribe to Dispensationalism? I know I don't.

-James

 

[theseed]

Here is an SBC site that explains calvinism beliefs from a Baptist perspective.

http://www.founders.org/library/reis1/reis.html

 

[BT]

I don't know that a Ryrie book is necessarily a good recommendation. It's an okay recommendation as long as you understand that Ryrie's view is from a Dispensationalist point of view.

Would I be wrong to say most Baptists do not subscribe to Dispensationalism? I know I don't.

-James

I would say that most Baptists are dispensationalists. I could be wrong though...

 

[theseed]

I would say that most Baptists are dispensationalists. I could be wrong though...

Yes, that's the trend these days. Traditionally, Baptists are postmillennialists.

 

[TexasCatholic]

I don't think you have to necessarily be a Dispensationalist to be a Baptist. To me, dispensationalism is a radical point of view that makes God out to be something that he's not.

A discussion for another thread, though

I do suggest anyone reading Ryrie simply be aware that his views are from a dispensational point of view, not shared by a lot of other Christians, including many Baptists. This is the reason I ended up with a Zondervan NASB study bible instead of a Ryrie/Moody.

-James

 

[BT]

I don't think you have to necessarily be a Dispensationalist to be a Baptist. To me, dispensationalism is a radical point of view that makes God out to be something that he's not.

A discussion for another thread, though

I do suggest anyone reading Ryrie simply be aware that his views are from a dispensational point of view, not shared by a lot of other Christians, including many Baptists. This is the reason I ended up with a Zondervan NASB study bible instead of a Ryrie/Moody.

-James

Wow! I've never heard that before, not even from covenentalists (the opposite of dispensationalists).

 

[theseed]

don't think you have to necessarily be a Dispensationalist to be a Baptist

yes, the Baptist Faith and Message says that he is simply comming back.

To me, dispensationalism is a radical point of view that makes God out to be something that he's not.

yet, highly persuasive.


I have the Ryrie study bible. I read it for his systematic theology on other things, and commentary on lots of verses.

His premill. stuff does not dominate the his bible at all.