QUESTION

Do Primitive Baptists believe in Double Predestination, the notion that God actively elected some to eternal salvation and damned the rest to eternal damnation? (Anonymous)

ANSWER

The trouble with answering this question arises from how people define "Double Predestination." In my experience, there are many definitions projected onto this terminology and they do not all agree with one another. The definition you suggest is not consistent with how I personally use that terminology. If "God actively elected some to eternal salvation and damned the rest to eternal damnation" is what you mean by "Double Predestination," then I agree with the concept (i.e., active selection unto salvation coupled with passing over the remaining unto damnation). However, I believe the term "Double Predestination" should be reserved for the idea that “God was as active in the selective damnation of the non-elect as he was in the selective salvation of the elect.” That is what I regard as the proper definition of that terminology. I do not believe that this statement is true and would not say that I believe in Double Predestination as a result. I believe God selected some and passed over the others, leaving them to their just condemnation.

To state that again for clarity, the Primitive Baptists with whom I am in fellowship do not believe in Double Predestination - the idea that God actively selected some for damnation in the same way that he actively selected some for salvation. I believe that God actively chose a people to set his love upon and save, and that he passed over the others such that they will receive just condemnation for their sins.

Some raise a philosophical argument against this seemingly subtle distinction: "But if God chose to save some, does this not imply that God, in some sense, chose those not to save?" This may be philosophically true "in some sense." Nevertheless, the bible teaches that PREDESTINATION is an ACTIVE CHOICE of those unto salvation with a PASSIVE CONSEQUENCE that those who remain receive just damnation for their sin. I believe that is the proper theological position. In contrast Double Predestination is an ACTIVE CHOICE unto salvation and an equivalent ACTIVE CHOICE unto damnation. This view is popular among some Calvinists and is often tied to their belief in the absolute predestination of all things.

- Elder Daniel Samons