Calvinism Controversy 1: The SWBTS Chapel Sermon That Sparked

Dr. Malcolm Yarnell, Assistant Dean for Theological Studies, Director of the Center for Theological Research, and Director of the Oxford Study Program, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, delivered the Founder’s Day chapel message on March 9, 2006, entited, “The Heart of a Baptist,” that was later printed in SWBTS’s News.

The response from one SWBTS student was, “As a student at SWBTS, I was at chapel that day for Dr. Yarnell’s address. I’ve had him for Systematic Theology. He would call himself a calvinist. In fact, in chapel he mentioned, though I cannot remember in the written version of the sermon, that he is a 4 Point calvinist.What was said was addressed to those who no longer give invitations which I was kinda surprised that it was a big deal to him. Time ran out after the “Calvinist-Arminian” point. But on this issue he was speaking to the extremes, but was very clear to say that there is room for both in the camps, to work through the issues. The issue of invitations being left out as evidence of hyper-calvinism, not sure bout how that is, but he did associate the two. Hope this helps. I heard. I saw. Some of which I agreed. Some I didn’t.”[1]

A copy of Malcom Yarnell’s written sermon is available in .pdf by clicking here.

Note:
[1] Quoted in Triablogue, March 13, 2006.