NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—”Whosoever Will,” a critique of five-point Calvinism released by LifeWay in 2010, reached bestseller status on Amazon.com, hitting number one Aug. 30 in the category of “Denominations & Sects” and also number one on Aug. 31 in the category of “Calvinist.”
Jim Baird, publisher for Broadman & Holman Academic at LifeWay Christian Resources, confirmed the popularity of the new release, telling Baptist Press that, while LifeWay does not share information about its bestsellers, “this book is selling very well.”
Whosoever Will is a compilation of presentations from the John 3:16 Conference hosted at First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga. This event — co-sponsored by Jerry Vines Ministries, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Luther Rice Seminary — was organized in part to present “a majoritarian Baptist perspective” on key theological issues related to Calvinism, according to the book’s editors.
Baptist Press published a single wrap-up article about that conference:
“John 3:16 Conference examines Calvinism.”
The conference was held one year after another conference, Building Bridges: Southern Baptists and Calvinism — co-sponsored by Founders Ministries, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and LifeWay Christian Resources — also examined Calvinism.
Baptist Press published five articles about that conference:
“Calvinism examined in its Baptist context.”
“Does God choose who will believe?”
“Stereotypes hinder SBC Calvinism dialogue.”
“SBC needs ‘Great Commission Resurgence’.”
Baptist Press invited contributors to Whosever Will to submit five essays, one each to give the non-Calvinist perspective about a key theological point represented in the T.U.L.I.P. acrostic used to explain the five doctrines of Calvinism. The five articles are:
“Another view of the biblical doctrine of election.”
“The atonement: Limited or universal?”
“A Baptist’s perspective on irresistible grace.”
“The perseverance and assurance of the saints.”
The series follows this introductory article.
For additional material about the book, in March the Southern Baptist TEXAN, newsjournal of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, published a three-part series that included two special report features and an editorial:
“New essay book critiques Calvinism.”
“Author offers biblical case for Molinism as middle way between Calvinism, Arminianism.”
“An effective response to Reformed theology.”
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Compiled by Baptist Press staff.
