SALT RIVER BAPTIST ASSOCIATION (MO) CALVINIST AND NON CALVINIST (PROVISIONIST)

 The Salt River United Baptist Association, Missouri, formed in 1823 evidently intended to avoid any splits or surprises. In its constitution from the very first day of its founding, Article 7 states "Two thirds of the association concurring therein may withdraw from any church in the union that is heterodox in principle or disorderly in practice. But no member shall be questioned for believing in or promulgating, the doctrine of election, or a general provision in Christ for all men." (page 212, A History of the Baptists in Missouri by R.S. Duncan)

Elder Vardeman , a preacher in the Salt River Assn, is described as a "moderate" Calvinist. On page 225 of  A History of the Baptists in Missouri by R.S. Duncan, it says of him, "His views of the atonement corresponded with those of Andrew Fuller in his Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation. He delighted to defend the essential divinity of the Son of God -the trinity of persons in the Godhead-God's sovereignty and man's free agency and accountability-the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross, with all other leading doctrines of the Gospel held by the denomination to which he belonged."

We might ask what was meant by "moderate Calvinist".  Generally, a "Calvinist" was a 4 or 5 pointer, a "moderate Calvinist" a 3 pointer, and a "low Calvinist" a 2 pointer, historically speaking. However, today a 2 or 3 pointer is no longer considered a Calvinist, because they would deny limited atonement and irresistible grace. Having done so, "total depravity" and "unconditional election", and sometimes "perseverance" had to be defined differently from the the 5 pointer. Without irresistible grace, a condition of faith must be required, so "unconditional" became a "come as you are" phrase, while both 2 and 3 pointers softened total depravity to mean, "unable to remedy the lost state, but ABLE to recognize it and ask for salvation". Any Non Calvinist today can totally affirm the description of Elder Vardeman's views. General atonement, the divinity of the Son of God, the trinity, God's sovereignty, and of course man's free agency/accountability, and the vicarious atonement of Christ  has never been in question among Non Calvinists/Provisionists.

 
 


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