Joyfully United Around Truth, Not Labels

Pastor Lige Reed and I are unashamedly Calvinists. That means that whenever you hear one of your vocational pastor/elders teach, this is the doctrine you are hearing. We are not committed to a system simply because we like it. We are committed to Scripture and we believe this is what Scripture teaches.

Having said this, however, we do not want to divide over labels. We are much like the 18^th-19^th century British pastor, Charles Simeon, who was a Calvinist, but did not want to be first and foremost known by that label. He wanted primarily to be committed to God’s Word and to stand with whoever shares that commitment. Simeon was bold in standing for truth—no matter who disagreed. Yet, he was just as bold to stand with others who were committed to truth, regardless of which “camp” they were a part.

We discover an example of that commitment in a now famous encounter with the elderly John Wesley, a dialogue Simeon had with the founder of Methodism when Charles was but a young man. Here is the account from H.C.G. Moule, Charles Simeon (London: InterVarsity, 1948), 79f.

Sir, I understand that you are called an Arminian; and I have been sometimes called a Calvinist; and therefore I suppose we are to draw daggers. But before I consent to begin the combat, with your permission I will ask you a few questions. Pray, Sir, do you feel yourself a depraved creature, so depraved that you would never have thought of turning to God, if God had not first put it into your heart?

Yes, I do indeed.

And do you utterly despair of recommending yourself to God by anything you can do; and look for salvation solely through the blood and righteousness of Christ?

Yes, solely through Christ.

But, Sir, supposing you were at first saved by Christ, are you not somehow or other to save yourself afterwards by your own works?

No, I must be saved by Christ from first to last.

Allowing, then, that you were first turned by the grace of God, are you not in some way or other to keep yourself by your own power?

No.

What then, are you to be upheld every hour and every moment by God, as much as an infant in its mother's arms?

Yes, altogether.

And is all your hope in the grace and mercy of God to preserve you unto His heavenly kingdom?

Yes, I have no hope but in Him.

Then, Sir, with your leave I will put up my dagger again; for this is all my Calvinism; this is my election, my justification by faith, my final perseverance: it is in substance all that I hold, and as I hold it; and therefore, if you please, instead of searching out terms and phrases to be a ground of contention between us, we will cordially unite in those things wherein we agree.