There have been several questions asked about Bill Wagner’s comments in a recent SBC Today interview regarding Calvinists and their missional inspiration. The Founder’s Ministry blog picked up on these comments, as did the Calvinist Flyswatter.

The Founder’s Ministry commented:

Dr. Wagner seems like a very nice man. He has some thoughtful responses to the questions that he was asked. I appreciate his candor in responding to this one. My own experience has been far different from what he has described. Most of the Southern Baptists I know who are Calvinistic are very evangelistic, and most of the missional guys I know are rather Calvinistic. That holds true for those who are in the states and those who are serving in other countries.

Here is Bill Wagner’s formal response:

Of course the issue of Calvinism is a big one in the Southern Baptist Convention today and since I am running for president I want to make my stance clear. First. I am not against those who hold a Calvinist theology. I have worked in Europe for too long with many from that persuasion to be negative towards them. I also have studied the history of missions and know that many Presbyterians and other who are Calvinists have been very fruitful in missions. Second, I must say that my statement said that when a comparison is made I tend to find that those who are Calvinists are generally less missional. I have worked for many years in Switzerland, Netherlands and Belgium. At the Evangelical Theological Faculty many of my fellow esteemed professors are from the Reform persuasion. I have send many hour speaking with these leaders of the church. I have come away with a great appreciation of their position but still convinced that the doctrine of predestination has a tendency to blunt the sharp edge of evangelism and missions. I am speaking about both my studies in the past and my observations of contemporary missions . Today the Presbyterian Church and other reformed church groups are not on the leading edge of missions. The number of missionaries send by Presbyterians in the last fifty years have been rapidly decreasing. I wish this were not true. I might add that during and after the Calvin inspired reformation in Switzerland there was not a great missionary movement coming from that part of Europe.

There is always the possibility that I have been too much influenced by my 31 year European experience to view the present situation in the SBC. I am ready to learn. It is apparent that there is a place for Calvinists within the Southern Baptist Convention.

I have made my case. I stand to be corrected. If anyone feels that they can convince me that Calvinists are as missional as Armenians then I will change my stance. I world truly hope that the rise of Calvinist theology in the SBC will lead to a resurgence of missions and evangelism in the Convention. This would be great since my desire is simply to find ways to make disciples of all nations. Lets wait and see.