Calvinist Flyswatter

Brother Bob L. Ross of Pilgrim Publications, who passed away last year, had a blog titled "Calvinist Flyswatter" (See here) along with a brother who is only known as "Charles." Bob did a lot of writing in this blog in his later years and in it are found all kinds of resources on Hyper Calvinism and Hardshellism. 

Bob Ross should be called Dr. Ross, even though he never obtained a degree as such from a seminary. Yet, his numerous writings, his books, show that the title belongs to him. He is not alone, for some of the ablest writers in the history of the church likewise had no formal letters of learning. Spurgeon never attended seminary and yet I have no reluctance to quote Spurgeon and call him Dr. Spurgeon. When some questioned the credentials of Dr. James White years ago, saying that his degree came not from an accredited school, he responded saying that his books should demonstrate that he is worthy of the degree or designation. Well, if that is the criteria, then surely we can call Bob "Dr. Ross" and Charles "Dr. Spurgeon." Further, if that is the definition (and I think it is a good one), then many others may legitimately have "Dr" before their names, even yours truly. 

Bob was a five point Calvinist and loved Spurgeon as I do. He was, however, an opponent of Hyper Calvinism and wrote many things against it. One was "the killing effects of Hyper Calvinism." He was also an opponent of Arminianism, especially of the Campbellite variety, writing numerous books on the errors of the followers of Alexander Campbell. He also wrote books against Landmarkism, and have been a source of much valuable information on that error. 

So, why would a five point Calvinist have a blog titled "Calvinist Flyswatter"? Should he not rather have a blog titled "Arminian Flyswatter"? Because of this blog title many thought (like James White, the nemesis of Ross) Ross had given up his Calvinism. But, that was not the case. Rather, it was a case of seeing the seriousness of the dangers of Hyper Calvinism. He was a vehement opponent of the born again before faith view and showed how such a view was not in agreement with the bible and not in agreement with the first Calvinists and Reformers, nor with the 1689 London Confession. Bob was constantly having to "swat" the flies of Hyper Calvinism and Hardshellism. So too do I. I oppose their interpretations of scripture, their logical reasoning on them, and see the evil of Hyper Calvinism as more dangerous than the evil of Arminianism. 

Bob did not swat the beliefs of historic Calvinism but the later corruption of it. So did Spurgeon. In fact, it may be truly said that Dr. Ross carried on the work of Spurgeon for Spurgeon was often swatting the flies of Hyper Calvinism. I too have carried on that work. In fact, James White said that I was simply a follower of Ross. 

I will continue to swat these flies. I have done plenty of swatting of Arminian flies through the years, as I did in the many debates I have had with those in the Campbellite movement. The focus of this blog has been to show how the so called Primitive Baptists today are not really primitive but a new denomination. I have shown how they are teaching grievous errors. I also of course write other articles on other subjects in this blog, which has become the place where I do the bulk of my writing now. 

Brother Ross told me one time, in answer to my question about his supposed turning away from the five points, that he just came to see how such was not "the pearl of great price" as do many who embrace the five points. I totally agree and this testimony has stuck with me all these years. Calvinism is not to be equated with "the gospel," nor with the pearl of great price. Our main business is not to try to get members from other churches, to proselyte, but to preach to those needing salvation. This is what Bob was correct to keep in focus.

Piper on how to preach to the dead

Dr. John Piper, in his lesson titled "How to Speak to the Spiritually Dead" (here) teaches against Hyper Calvinism and its denial that the gospel admonishes the spiritually dead to awake to spiritual life. He was teaching on Eph. 5: 14, a text I have discussed and written upon much over the years. 

Flavel on "Effectual Drawing"

GOD’S EFFECTUAL DRAWING by John Flavel (c. 1630-1691) (See here)

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44) 

"LET us consider the marvelous way and manner in which the Lord draws the souls of poor sinners to Jesus Christ, and you will find He doth it (1) gradually, (2) congruously,  (3) powerfully, (4) effectually, and (5) finally."

I agree that the preparations for regeneration are often gradual. I also agree that they are powerful and effectual, especially with the elect.

Flavel continued:

"First, this blessed work is carried on by the Spirit gradually. [It brings] the soul step by step in the due method and order of the gospel to Christ: illumination, conviction, compunction prepare the way to Christ. Then faith unites the soul to Him. Without humiliation there can be no faith: “Ye…repented not afterward, that ye might believe him” (Mat 21:32). It is the burdensome sense of sin that brings the soul to Christ for rest: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden” (Mat 11:28). But without conviction, there can be no compunction, no humiliation. He that is not convinced of his sin and misery never bewails it nor mourns for it. Never was there one tear of true repentance seen to drop from the eye of an unconvinced sinner. And without illumination, there can be no conviction; for what is conviction, but the application of the light that is in the understanding or mind of a man to his heart and conscience? (Act 2:37). In this order, therefore, the Spirit (ordinarily) draws souls to Christ: He shines into their minds by illumination, applies that light to their consciences by effectual conviction, breaks and wounds their hearts for sin in remorse, and then moves the will to embrace and close with Christ in the way of faith for life and salvation."

Notice that Flavel speaks of embracing and closing with Christ. This was a common expression among the old Puritan writers. This was the point where union with Christ was effected by faith and from union came moral transformation, regeneration, renewing and sanctification. This act of union with Christ by faith was the culmination, however, of the work of God in bringing the sinner to that final act of union.

Flavel said:

"Secondly, He draws sinners to Christ congruously and very agreeably to the nature and way of man. So He speaks, “I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love” (Hos 11:4). Not as beasts are drawn, but as men are inclined and wrought to compliance by rational conviction of their judgments and powerful persuasion of their wills."

It is sad that our Hyper Calvinist and Hardshell brothers do not understand this truth. This is because they have defined total depravity to mean lacking the physical power or faculty to believe or repent. But, it is not a physical inability but a spiritual inability that deals with the will of the sinner.

Flavel said:

"Thirdly, the drawings of the Father are very powerful. “The arm of the LORD” is revealed in this work (Isa 53:1). It was a powerful word indeed that made the light at first shine out of darkness, and no less power is required to make it shine into our hearts (2Co 5:14). That day in which the soul is made willing to come to Christ is called, “the day of his power” (Psa 110:3). The Scripture expresseth the work of conversion by a threefold metaphor: that of a resurrection from the dead (Rom 4:4), that of creation (Eph 2:10), and that of victory or conquest (2Co 10:4-5). All these set forth the infinite power of God in this work, for no less than almighty power is required to each of them; and if you strictly examine the distinct notions, you shall find the power of God more and more illustriously displayed in each of them."

Notice that Flavel, like the older Calvinists and Baptists too, defined regeneration as including conversion.

Flavel said:

"Fourthly, the drawings of God are very effectual. There is indeed a common and ineffectual work upon hypocrites and apostates, called in Scripture a “morning cloud” and “early dew” (Hos 6:4). These may believe for a time and fall away at last (Luk 8:13). Their wills may be half won, they may be drawn half way to Christ and return again. So it was with Agrippa: “Almost (within a very little) thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Act 26:28). But in God’s elected ones, it is effectual: their wills are not only almost, but altogether persuaded to embrace Christ and quit the ways of sin, [no matter] how pleasant, gainful, and dear soever they have been to them. The Lord not only draws but draws home those souls to Christ: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me” (Joh 6:37)."

A regeneration that does not involve conversion, does not involve knowing, loving, and trusting in Christ, is no regeneration at all.

Flavel said:

"It is confessed that in drawing home the very elect to Christ, there may be and frequently are many pauses, stands, and [delays]. They have convictions, affections, and resolutions stirring in them, which, like early blossoms, seem to be nipped and die away again."

The Hyper Calvinists however has concluded that there are no preparatory workings of God in the sinner prior to regeneration, for he has defined regeneration as "the first work God does in a sinner to bring him to spiritual life."

Flavel said:

"Fifthly, to conclude, those whom the Father draws to Christ, He draws them finally and forever. “The gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom 11:29). They are so, as to God the giver; He never repents that He hath called His people into the fellowship of His Son Christ Jesus. And they are so on the believer’s part: he is never sorry, whatever he afterwards meets with, that he has come to Christ."

Where there is no coming to Christ there is no spiritual life. It is that simple. If you have come to Christ then you have eternal life. If you have not come to Christ, have not believed in him, then you are spiritually dead.

Depravity In The Apocalypse

The Book of Revelation would probably be the last place to teach upon the subject of the depravity of fallen man. Yet, as I will show, it is there seen clearly.

"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." (9: 20-21)

"And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds." (16: 8-11)

When I read these prophecies I am amazed at the people in the Apocalypse who are suffering under great tribulation and the wrath of God and who react the way they do. What do they do? They blaspheme God, express their anger towards God's anger, and "repent not." Rather than condemn themselves, they condemn God who is bringing the Apocalyptic evils upon them for their sins. This shows just how evil will be the final generation who experience the divine judgments of the Apocalypse. They certainly do not react in the same way Nineveh did when judgment was given against them by God. Here is the record:

"And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not." (Jonah 3: 4-10)

The Ninevites repented upon the mere prophetic message before any destruction began. Yet, the sinners in the Apocalypse have the destruction ongoing and yet fail to repent. Our Lord spoke of other communities who, like the Apocalyptic sinners of the last days, failed to repent even when it was clear to them that God was exacting vengeance upon them. The record is:

"Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee." (Matt. 11: 20-24)

The Bible speaks of the "hard and impenitent heart" (Rom. 2: 5) and of the "wrath" that they "store up" for themselves. This is the depravity of man. He will not turn from his sins, will not justify God, will not confess his sins and the justice of God in condemning him and his crimes. This is because they are "haters of God" (Rom. 1: 30), completely anti God. (See Rom. 8: 6-8). This is the attitude we see in billions in the world today. They are like Nietzche. 

This reminds us of the time in Israel's history when they were suffering widespread death by divinely sent plague of serpents. God, in the midst of his execution of wrath, showed mercy by allowing Moses to take one of the serpents and to place it on a pole so that all who looked at the crucified serpent would be spared the judgment of death. Jesus referred to this and said:

"As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3: 14-15)

But, none in the Apocalypse look to Christ to save them. They do not accept his atonement and forgiveness.

"The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God." (Psa. 9: 17)

"You Are But A Dead Man"

"But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife." (Gen. 20: 3)

The words "you are but a dead man" was said by God to a man that was still alive. But, God said to him that he was dead. The meaning is "you have sinned in taking Sarah, Abraham's wife, into your tent, and this will be the reason for my killing you." He was dead because "the sentence of death" had been given in regard to him. (II Cor. 1: 9) He was "on death row" as it were. He was "appointed to death" (Heb. 9: 27; Psalm 102: 20; I Cor. 4: 9), and was therefore as good as dead. So too are the lost, those who are perishing. They are dead, appointed to death, and in the "throes of death." They are also on "death row," and are walking "the green mile" and can hear the words "dead man walking." The lost are like zombies, dead men walking.

To such men we preach Christ as "the life" (John 14: 6),  and say to spiritually dead men that the only way to find life, eternal life, is in Christ and so we say "whoever has the Son has life." (I John 5: 12) The dead sinner must come to Christ for life. (John 5: 40)

Is Elder Pyles Being Inconsistent?

In a writing titled "Why You Should Believe the Bible" by Elder David Pyles (here), pastor of Grace Primitive Baptist Church in Pearl, Mississippi, he attempts to convince all that the bible is the word of God. But, why does he attempt to do this seeing that most men are spiritually dead and therefore cannot believe the bible or understand his reasons for believing the bible? Who is the "you" in the title? Is it just those who are spiritually alive or to those who are spiritually dead?

Hardshells Act Like Nicodemus

Nicodemus came to Jesus "by night" (John 3: 1) because he did not want it to be known that he came to Jesus. Many Hardshells visit our blog and read what we write, but they do not want any to know that they do. This is why they do not become a visible "follower" of this blog but will be anonymous followers. They also love to make comments under the heading "anonymous." What are they afraid of? The same thing as Nicodemus?

Dead Batteries Need A Jump

When my car battery is "dead," this means that it lacks power, or does not have enough power to start the vehicle. What do we do? Do we say "well, it is dead so I can do nothing to bring the battery back to life"? No, we rather give the battery a "jump start." Some power outside of the battery must revive it. The gospel message is that means for jump starting a dead heart. 

We might also use the metaphor of a patient whose heart has stopped. So, medical saviors attempt to jump start the heart by electrical shock. Again, the gospel message is like a defibrillator.