Lessons Learned: Seven truths

When I entered Liberty University in 2006, I knew nothing about Calvinism, but I knew I didn't like it. It was there, at the school where Jerry Falwell was founder and Ergun Caner was President of the Seminary, that I became a full (five-point) Calvinist. (Don't confuse full Calvinism with hyperCalvinism).  Although Falwell and Caner didn't personally encourage me to embrace it, they helped.  MY RA, Bryan Rhodes, was a committed Calvinist who greatly influenced me.  A fellow student also encouraged me to think through true Calvinism rather than the caricature in my mind. As I studied more Scripture and read authors who embraced Calvinism, I found myself fondly drawn to it, almost as though it were irresistible. During my time in college, I read J. I. Packer’s, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, which I found persuasive.

As a young college student, the more I studied Calvinism, the more these great biblical truths resonated in my heart.  I discovered seven great truths which are found in the teachings of Calvinism.

1)      Happy, hedonistic Calvinists pursue their joy in Christ

One of the greatest things that the Reformed perspective has given me, especially as popularized by John Piper, is a hot pursuit of all that God is for me in Jesus (Ps 73:25-26; Mt 11:27-30; Jn 14:6). Happy Christian hedonism involves a radical faith in God's supremacy in all things (Ps 46:1-3), and a belief that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him (Ps 100:1-3; Jn 4:14). Abundant joy comes to those who pursue all that God is for them in Jesus (1 Pet 1:3-9).  I'm not insinuating that only five-point Calvinists can possess joy, but there is something about the principles within Reformed theology that keeps me hungering after God's heart in a way that I don't think I would with another theology. I'm also not saying that I've cornered the market on joy. Like other believers, I have my own pet sins and weaknesses. At times, too, I have difficulty accepting all that God wills into my life. But I believe that Calvinism, rightly understood in the Reformed tradition, sets a Christian free to know Christ in the deepest, fullest joy ever given to redeemed man.

2)      The cash of Calvinism works well as mission currency

When I pursued missions, rather than become inconsistent, I embraced all that Calvinism offers in Jesus--a heart for God's glory, and that means a heart for others to praise him. Having become Southern Baptist, the flower of evangelism had already blossomed as an integral part of my theology, but as I fully embraced Calvinism, I became a complete Calvinist. In my mind, a full Calvinist is a five-point Calvinist, and a complete Calvinist is one who pursues God's heart for the nations. In other words, Calvinists should do missions too, as should any true Christian. Full Calvinists should step into missions especially because they cling to the supremacy of Christ in all things.  Who better to face worldly darkness than those fully persuaded that God has everything under control (Ps 44:5; Rom 8:29-31; Heb 13:5-6)?

3)      Calvinists can get along with others, too

By the grace of Christ, unity can thrive among those who disagree about Calvinism. For instance, most of my friends aren't five pointers.  I work with many, presumably, non-five-point Calvinists. In fact, my good friend disagrees with me on some points, but it doesn't stop us from worshipping together, and evangelizing.  Calvinists tend to love doctrine. Unfortunately, Calvinists don't always translate their love for doctrine into a love for Jesus and others. Yet this is what true doctrine and discipleship, along with the Holy Spirit, are supposed to do. A professor used to point out to his class, that although Calvinists believe in total depravity, they seemed to be the last ones willing to admit that they could be wrong. Guilty as charged! In fact, who are the most difficult people you know, Calvinists or Armenians? It probably depends on who you hang out with. Every group has people who double as sandpaper. Nonetheless, as Calvinists we should get along better with those who disagree with our beloved doctrine.

4)      Knowledge should guide our theology not ignorance

One of my problems with some modern SBC people is that they raise their eyebrows at Calvinism, while basing their objections on caricatures of it.  Some think that full (five-point) Calvinism means hyper (non-evangelistic) Calvinism. Those who equate the two are simply misinformed. One can hold to a five-point system without qualifying as a hyper Calvinist. As a missionary, the only way I become a hyper Calvinist is when I drink coffee and a Coke on the same day. All parties in the discussion should represent other views accurately.

5)      Non-five-point Calvinists should not fear us

Since the SBC has a rich heritage of Calvinism, others should not fear its resurgence. The Lord has used many Calvinists to spread his glory throughout the world. Therefore, SBC Calvinists should not hide in a closet like it's something immoral. I'm glad a place exists for us at the table within some Southern Baptist seminaries, especially at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. But Southern Baptists would do well to study church history along with their Bibles before rejecting Calvinism outright. Even if they finally disagree with Calvinism, they can still extend a hand of unity to Calvinists.

6)      John 3:16 doesn't settle the debate

Some non Calvinists quote John 3:16 as though it ends all discussion on full Calvinism. As a Calvinist, I also quote John 3:16 and feel no discontinuity in my theology. I don't contend, as some Calvinists, that God doesn't love the whole world. He does. Whosoever believes in Jesus will have everlasting life. I believe, however, that the "whosoever" of John 3:16 includes only the elect.

7)      All believers should evangelize and participate in missions

Why spread the gospel? Good news was meant to be shared. Too often as SBC people, we talk about the importance of spreading the gospel without talking about the gospel. Jesus died on the cross and rose again to redeem all who would call on him in faith. The greatest gift God can give is Himself. He seeks the greatest good for the elect by bringing more attention--that is, glory--to Himself. He deserves exaltation because he is man's best good. In fact, he is man's only hope of goodness (Ps 16:2).

The thought of spreading his glory keeps me going as a SBC Calvinist and as an IMB employee (Ps 96:3; Acts 20:24). I pray that more people join me in this adventure.

Monday Morning Humor

How do you know Jesus rose from the dead?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. As the apostle Paul said, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins" (1 Cor. 15:17). But Christianity is not a "blind faith." God has given us "many infallible proofs" of Jesus resurrection and invites us to examine the evidence.


His resurrection was foretold. Jesus Himself said that He would be killed and on the third day rise again. The risen Jesus spoke to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, telling them, "These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled" (Luke 24:47). The suffering death of the Savior was foretold in numerous Old Testament prophecies, down to minute details, all of which were precisely fulfilled.


Jesus died. Some skeptics have proposed the "swoon theory"-that Jesus didn't really die on the cross but instead passed out and later revived in the tomb. But He was brutally beaten, flogged with a cat-o-nine-tails tearing His flesh, hung on a cross with thick spikes driven through His hands and feet, then-to ensure that He was dead-He was pierced in the side with a spear. The Roman solidiers were professional executioners who knew how to do a thorough job. No one in this condition could have survived, then awakened to roll away a two-ton stone and slipped by the Roman guards posted at the sealed tomb. That Jesus died and was buried is reported even by secular sources of the time.


The tomb was empty. Even Jesus' enemies did not dispute that the tomb was empty. Instead, they claimed that the body was stolen while the guards slept-even though the guards faced execution if they fell asleep on the job. It would have been impossible for the cowardly disciples, who fled upon Jesus' arrest, to overpower a squadron of professional soldiers. And why would they? They faced persecution and death for their eyewitness testimony, fully convinced that Jesus Christ rose from the grave. What would they gain by dying for a known lie? The Jewish leaders certainly wouldn't have stolen the body. Their goal was to stop the spread of Christianity, so having people believe in Jesus' resurrection was the furthest thing from their minds. If the body could have been found anywhere, they surely would have searched until they produced it and put this new religion to rest.


He was seen alive after the resurrection. These were not "hallucinations" or brief sightings-Jesus ate, drank and spoke at length with His diciples. Jesus appeared at least 11 times over a 40-day period, and to over 500 witnesses! In writing this ammazing testimony, the apostle Paul noted that "most of them remain to the present." With witnesses still alive for cross-examination, skeptics could have easily verified the truth of the claim.


Lives are radically transformed. Overnight, the fearful disciples became bold, fearless witnesses, proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus Christ. After seeing the ultimate proof of Jesus' diety, thousands of Jews abandoned centuries-old religious rituals to follow the Messiah. Truly, the Son of God has power over life and death, and He is alive to transform lives today.

All who repent and trust in Him will "know Him and the power of His resurrection"-they too will encounter the risen Lord and be given eternal life.
*Ray Comfort: Evidence Bible

Monday Morning Humor

Help with evangelism

I have had the privilege of engaging in hundreds of Gospel conversations. I have shared with atheists, agnostics, and individuals from every major world religion. I have been asked to leave malls, talked to by police officers, and even escorted off a college campus. Needless to say I love sharing my faith. I have found though, that a lot of Christians do not share my excitement when it comes to evangelism. Most would love to share their faith but they simply don't know how. Below is the RCCR method of evangelism which I keep in mind when sharing my faith...

Relate: Most of us can strike up a conversation with a stranger in the natural realm. It may be a friendly "How are you doing?" or a sincere "Good morning!" If the person responds with a sense of warmth, we may then ask, "Do you live around here?" and from there develop a conversation.

Create: This involves mentioning the things of God. This will take courage. We may say something like, "Did you go to church on Sunday?" or "Did you see that Christian TV program last week?" If the person responds positively, the question "Do you have a Christian background?" will probe his background. He may answer, "I went to church when I was a child, but I drifted away from it." Another simple way to swing to the spiritual is to offer the person a gospel track and ask, "Did you get one of these?" When he takes it, simply say, "It's a gospel tract. Do you come from a Christian background?"

Convict: Jesus, Paul and others in the Bible use the Law to bring "the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:19-20). We can do the same by asking, "Do you think you have kept the Ten Commandments?" Most people think they have, so quickly follow with, "Have you ever told a lie?" This is confrontational, but if it's asked in a spirit of love and gentleness, there won't be any offense. This is because the "work of the Law is written in their hearts" and their conscience will also bear "witness" (Romans 2:15). Have confidence that the conscience will do its work and affirm the truth of each Commandment. Don't be afraid to ask, "Have you ever stolen anything, even if it's small?" Make sure you get an admission of guilt. Then ask the person, "If God judges you by the Ten Commandments, do you think you will be innocent or guilty?" If he says he will be innocent, ask, "Why is that?" If he admits his guilt, ask, "Do you think you will go to heaven or hell?"

Reveal: Once the Law has humbled the person, he is ready for grace. The Gospel is for the humble. Only the sick need a phyician, and only those who will admit that they have the disease of sin will truly embrace the cure of the gospel. Learn how to present the work of the cross-that God sent His Son to suffer and die in our place, and that Jesus rose from the dead and defeated death. Take the person back to civil law and say, "It's as simple as this: We broke God's Law, and Jesus paid our fine. If you will repent and trust in the Savior, God will forgive your sins and dismiss your case."
Ask him if he understands what you have told him. If he is willing to confess and forsake his sins, and trust the Savior with his eternal salvation, have him pray and ask God to forgive him. Then pray for him. Get him a Bible. Instruct him to read it daily and obey what he reads, and encourage him to get into a Bible-believing, Christ-preaching church.

I pray these principles will help you feel more comfortable and will result in a passion for reaching the lost. Now, GO and share your faith while there is still time.

Monday Morning Humor

One Life

Monday Morning Humor

Evangelize the Lost

Open-Air preaching- is standing in a place where people are gathered and lifting up your voice and preaching the gospel to the crowd that is gathered.

John the Baptist was an open-air preacher.  Jesus was an open-air preacher. He preached the greatest sermon of all time, the "Sermon on the Mount" in the open-air. Peter preached in the open-air at Pentecost and Paul chose to stand on Mars Hill and preach open-air to the Athenians.

If we are serious about reaching this world, let us follow in the footsteps of Jesus and the apostles and preach where sinners gather. In thirty minutes, a good open-air preacher can reach more sinners than the average church does in twelve months.

Thank God that the disciples didn't stay in the upper room.  They didn't carpet the building, pad the pews then put a notice outside the front door saying,  "Tonight:  Gospel outreach service, 7p.m. - all welcome. " They went into the open air. The gospel is for the world, not the Church.  One-third of the word "gospel" is "go".  Two-thirds of  "God" is "go" ; but like King Og, we seem to have it backwards.  We take sinners to meetings rather than meetings to sinners. The Church prefers to fish on dry land rather than get its feet wet.  Charles Finney put his finger on the reason why:  " It is the great business of every Christian to save souls.  People complain that they do not know how to take hold of this matter. Why, the reason is plain enough; they have never studied it. They have never taken the proper pains to qualify themselves for the work.  If you do not make it a matter of study, how you may successfully act in building up the kingdom of Christ, you are acting a very wicked and absurd part as a Christian."  He who loves his neighbor as himself will be concerned for his eternal welfare.  He who couldn't care less that every day multitudes of living people are being swallowed by the jaws of hell has a heart of stone indeed. ---  info. from "the Evidence Bible"  Ray Comfort

Lionhearted and Lamblike

I pray that you will be lionhearted and lamblike in your servant leadership.

Today, Julia and I have the privilege of participating in my sister's wedding. We are excited to watch as they are joined together by God, family and friends. I have been to a few weddings since graduating from college and becoming a married man myself, and one of the charges which I like to give future husbands is the prayer that they would be lionhearted and lamblike in their servant leadership. Julia enjoys laughing at my little statement but in honor of the wedding tonight I wanted to take a minute or a few lines and explain what I mean when I charge husbands to be lionhearted and lamblike in servant leadership.

The reason I am using the title “Lionhearted and Lamblike” to refer to the Christian husband as head of his wife is because the husband is called to lead like Jesus who is the Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5) and the Lamb of God (Rev. 5:6)—he was lionhearted and lamblike, strong and meek, tough and tender, aggressive and responsive, bold and brokenhearted. He sets the pattern for manhood.

Lionhearted:

A husband must be lionhearted in the area of protection and provision.
 First, consider protection. In Ephesians 5:25–27 Paul shows the husband how to love his wife—that is, how to exercise the kind of servant leadership that Christ did:

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

In the words “gave himself up for her,” we hear the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When Christ gave himself for us, he took our place. He bore our sins and became a curse for us and died for us; and because of all this we are reconciled to God and saved from—protected from!—his wrath. If there ever was an example of leadership that took the initiative to save and protect his bride, this is it. So when Paul calls a husband to be the head of his wife by loving like Christ when he leads, whatever else he means, he means: Protect her at all costs.

Second, a man must be lionhearted as provider. Consider Ephesians 5:28–29:

“In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church.”

The words nourish and cherish are significant. The word nourish (ektrephei) is most often used in the Bible for raising children and providing them with what they need, but the part of that meaning that applies here is not that the husband is a parent but that he is a caring provider. It is used more in the sense of Genesis 45:11, where Joseph says to his brothers, “I will provide [ekthrepsō] for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come.” So the point is at least that the husband who leads like Christ takes the initiative to see to it that the needs of his wife and children are met. He provides for them.

Lamblike:

Lamblike leadership is also found in Ephesians 5:25, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her." Lamblike leadership is tied to husbands loving their wives with the same unreserved, selfless, and sacrificial love that Christ has for the church. Christ gave everything He had; including His own life, for the sake of His church and that is the standard of sacrifice for a husband's love of his wife. A lionhearted husband will take a bullet for his spouse (protection) but the lamblike husband will die to self on a daily basis and lead her sacrificially. For example, a husband must be lamblike in the way he talks with his wife, shepherds his children and selflessly leads the family. The same man whose hands may be tough from work must take the time to tenderly massage his spouse. The same man whose words may be sharp with critics must be slow to speak and quick to listen to his spouse and children. A husband must take the time to nurture and build up his wife with words of affirmation and acts of kindness. Lamblike leadership reveals itself in the way the husbands "washes his wife in the water of the word", the way the husband handles the bills, house/car maintenance, and other demands which encroach upon the family. 

In conclusion, the charge to be lionhearted and lamblike is a Biblical charge which will take a lifetime to fulfill. Being a husband is not easy (trust me I know), some days we fall down more than we stand, however there is encouragement. The encouragement is that Christ does not call us to do what he won’t empower us to do. Consider Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Husbands are called to do some very hard things. Leadership is not easy. But Christ will give you the strength. So be encouraged. Leadership is hard. But you’re a man! Therefore, I pray that you will be lionhearted and lamblike in your servant leadership.

Monday Morning Humor

Jesus, friend of sinners

What is the Gospel?

Do you have a loved one or friend who does not know Jesus? Do you find any time you attempt to share your faith with them the words come out wrong? Do you become scared when sharing your faith? If so, I suggest writing a letter which explains the Gospel. Below is a letter which I wrote to my grandparents in order to explain the Gospel to them. Please, feel free to use this letter as a template to write your own.

Grams & Gramps,

          I pray this letter finds you well. I pray you are not going stir crazy from all of the snow. Thank you for being great grandparents. You opened your home to all of us while we were growing up and I learned a lot from my dad’s stories but also from staying at your house. Gramps, you taught me how to shoot a bb gun, and throw a dart. I also learned how to be a man and selflessly lead a family from my dad’s stories about you from his childhood. Grams, you always cooked the best meals, though, my personal favorite is still chicken pot pie with the Quaker biscuits. I loved coming home and seeing your RV sitting in our driveway and looking at the map of all the States you had visited. You have taught and shared so much with me over the years that I wanted to take a minute and share with you the most important thing in my life.

          The most important thing in my life is my relationship with Jesus Christ. I am what you would call a Christian. Christians down through the ages have believed in what is known as the Gospel. The word “Gospel” means “good news.” The good news is indeed good if we consider the serious nature of what is involved. In a concise statement, the gospel is this: Your debt of sin and the eternal consequences of it are cleared by God!

          Each person is born in sin and is separated from God. The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” This means everyone is in the same dilemma. We have been created for God’s glory and yet our sin does not give Him glory. Our sinful state drives us to commit acts of sinful rebellion against God’s holy standards. We are thus subject to His just judgment and damnation in the lake of fire.

          The Bible continues to tell us that the wages of sin is death. Our judgment is not only evident by the fact that we as humans physically die, but it also indicates that we are dead spiritually as will. Our physical life lasts for a while and then is over. Spiritually we are already dead and need to be given a new life.

         People attempt to make themselves alive to God by being good, obeying whatever commandments from God’s Law they can remember, and abstaining from the socially terrible crimes that hurt others. Yet, God only accepts total perfection in thought and deed. This is the truth which struck me the hardest, I figured that I wasn’t as bad as others I had met or even Hitler or individuals in jail, therefore, God would see my good deeds which outweighed my bad and He would let me into Heaven. The Bible teaches however, that God is holy which means He must be separate from sin; God can have nothing to do with sinners. I realized that I was a sinner both in my thoughts and in my actions. The Bible teaches that God only accepts total perfection in thought and deed. Since we are born in sin, we have no chance of living a perfect life. Our predicament is bleak unless God does something to change it.

The same God who can have nothing to do with sin is the same God who provides a way for humanity to have a relationship with Him. Instead of us having to face God in judgment for our sin, God sent His own Son, Jesus Christ, to take judgment for us. When he lived life, he lived a perfect law abiding life which we could not live. When he died, He paid a price we were unable to pay to God. When He rose again, He conquered sin and death.

Grams and Gramps you only need to receive this gift from God. The Bible says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” I realized that left to myself I could not get to God. I was not perfect. Are you? If we are not perfect than we need someone who is, that someone is Jesus Christ. The most famous verse in the entire Bible sums up the Gospel like this, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

In order to have a relationship with Jesus Christ you must recognize that you have sin and that you are helpless to cleanse it or avoid God’s judgment on it. You must turn from your sin and ask God to forgive you through His Son Jesus Christ. Finally, you must believe that Christ’s death paid for your sin and that his resurrection provides you with eternal life.

Grams and Gramps the decision to follow Jesus was the most important decision I ever made and this decision has changed my life completely. The Gospel is the reason why Julia and I are selling everything we own, packing a suitcase, and traveling around the world to work with the sick and poor in order to share with them the Gospel. I seriously plead with you to consider the words you have just read and to not let another minute go by without getting right with God. I love you. I care about you. I am praying for you and I would love to talk with you more about this.

Sincerely,

Elliott Welch