WEST FLORIDA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION (FL) NOT CALVINIST

 The West Florida Baptist Association was formed in 1847 and was the third association formed in the state of Florida. I won't be concentrating too much on Florida, because it was very late in having many Baptists, Methodists or Presbyterians, since it was controlled by Spain until 1819. Being anything other than Roman Catholic was against the law. So I will only report on the first four associations which were Suwannee, Florida, West Florida and Alachua. I will have articles on all but Suwannee, as no records still exist that I know of. Most of Florida's early Baptist churches belonged to associations in Georgia at first. The Suwannee Baptist Association was the first in the state, but disappeared fairly quickly after declaring itself to be anti mission. I will assume by this declaration that it was Calvinist, or hyper Calvinist if you prefer. Articles of Faith for the West Florida Association are as follows:

1) We believe in the existence of only one true and living God: and that he has made himself known to his people under the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. The same in essence and equal in every divine perfection.

2) We believe the scriptures of the old and new testaments are the word of God and the only rule of faith and practice. 

3) We believe in the doctrine of election; that God chose his people in Christ before the foundation of the world; that they should be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestined them to the adoption of children, by Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will.

4) We believe in the doctrine of original sin.

5) We believe in man's impotency to recover himself from the fallen state he is in by nature, by his own will and ability.

6) We believe that sinners are justified in the sight of God only by the imputed righteousness of Christ.

7) We believe God's elect shall be called, regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Ghost.

8) We believe that nothing can separate true believers from the love of God, that they will be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

9) We believe baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of Jesus Christ, that true believers are the only subjects of these ordinances, and that immersion only is baptism.

10) We believe in the resurrection of the dead and a general judgement.  

11) We believe that the punishment of the wicked will be everlasting, and that the joys of the righteous will be eternal. 

12) We believe that no minister has a right to administer the ordinances, unless he is called of God, and come under the imposition of hands by a presbytery, and is in fellowship in the church of which he is a member. 

First, these articles of faith are extremely similar to the Coosa Baptist Association articles of faith, which is another proven Non Calvinist association. You can read about the Coosa Association here. In my research, every time you see "chose his people in Christ", with no "definite number" clause or reference to particular atonement, that association has turned out to be Non Calvinist. There is however the mention of "original sin". Did the west Florida Association interpret that to mean imputed guilt? I don't know. Did they interpret it to mean inability to contribute to one's salvation? Absolutely. we see this clearly in article 5. Did they interpret it to mean inability to recognize and respond to the call of God? Absolutely not, as we shall see by the proofs below. Notice also that they chose the phrase "kept by the power of God" over "perseverance". 

 The next clue is that this association was a sister association to the Florida Baptist Association, the second oldest association in Florida, who was also Non Calvinist. How do we know the Florida Association was Non Calvinist? Because they were spawned from the Bethel Association in Georgia which is proven to be Non Calvinist. You can read about the Bethel Association here. You can see pics of the 1843 minutes of the Florida Association, showing their greetings to the Bethel Association from which they sprang below. But there is one more clue.

In a doctrinal sermon by Elder B.M. Roberts in 1852 just two years later, he preached "Is the atonement limited?" His answer "Yes indeed". Then he asked, "but who is it that limits the atonement, God or man? Those who hold forth that Christ died for individuals chosen above others maintain that it is limited by God's intention. We reject that notion as a novelty unknown to scripture. Yet we believe it is limited! It is limited by application. It's efficacy applies only to those who believe. Oh sinner do not stand before the throne of God on that day and wail that God limited anything, withheld anything from you! You stand guilty of limiting his great offering by your refusal to fall under it, for it was open wide for you to stand therein yet you chose to remain outside its bonds. Oh sinner, run today and place yourself within its fold, for the Great Doctor of your soul has dispensed the medicine your soul needs to live! Will you take it?"











 

















 

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