Why Conservative Evangelicals Should Thank God for Clark Pinnock
— Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 —
I was sad to see Gregory Boyd’s announcement that his fellow theologian Clark Pinnock has died. Clark Pinnock led me to faith in Christ. Now, it’s true, I never met Pinnock until many years after I came to know Jesus. But the gospel I believed came through preachers who were trained by Clark Pinnock. More than that, the nation’s largest evangelical denomination would never have turned back to biblical inerrancy had it not been for a man who would later reject the concept.
At my home church in coastal Mississippi, two of the most significant pastors in my young life were trained at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in the 1960s. There they sat in the classroom of an impressive young scholar, Pinnock, who was willing to challenge the bureaucratic morbidity of his adopted denomination. Pinnock, concerned that Southern Baptists like other Baptists before them were sliding into theological liberalism, presented a strong case to his students for the complete truthfulness of the Scriptures. More than that, he presented an overall narrative of God’s work in Christ Jesus that many students found compelling. Beyond the classroom, Pinnock’s students were zealous, pressing the gospel in some of the roughest parts of the French Quarter and beyond.
My boyhood pastors were only a small part of Pinnock’s audience during his short time at New Orleans Seminary. A list of his former students during that time is amazing to anyone with any grasp of the history of Southern Baptists and the inerrancy controversy: Paige Patterson, Jerry Vines, Adrian Rogers, and on and on. I cannot think of a single figure of crucial importance in the conservative resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention who is more than two steps away from Pinnock’s direct influence.
Pinnock didn’t stay long, of course, at New Orleans Seminary or within the mainstream of conservative evangelicalism. In the 1970s, he began to question his previous understanding of biblical inspiration. At a conference on biblical inerrancy, one of Pinnock’s former students, Adrian Rogers, lamented the trajectory of his professor. Rogers responded to Pinnock’s argument that evangelicals should unite around our common commitment to forgivness through the “shed blood of Jesus Christ” rather than around a common understanding of Holy Scripture. Rogers wondered how long such a commitment would last.
“Many existential theologians today and in the recent past have concluded that the whole concept of blood atonement is repugnant to modern civilized man and that the biblical materials on blood atonement represent unfortunate syncretistic accretions from Israel’s pagan neighbors,” Rogers said. “How do you know as an evangelical certainty that they are not correct, Dr. Pinnock? I suggest that your belief in blood atonement is more a function of your conservative past than of your current philosophical and theological methodologies.”
Rogers, of course, was prophetic on this point. Pinnock moved from doubting the verbal inspiration of Scripture to questioning the Great Tradition of Christian orthodoxy from almost every vantage point. He led the short-lived movement toward “open theism,” questioning the historic church’s belief that God knows everything, including the future free decisions of his creatures. He abandoned his belief that conscious faith in Christ is necessary for salvation, and began to see the Spirit at work in the other world religions. He denounced the concept of everlasting punishment as cruel and contrary to the nature of God. Unhinged from Scripture and tradition, Pinnock became the vanguard of evangelical innovation on doctrine after doctrine after doctrine. That’s lamentable.
But, as we remember Clark Pinnock, he should be more to us, especially those of us on the more conservative side of evangelical Christianity, than simply a parable of doctrinal downgrade. Adrian Rogers was probably right that Pinnock’s remaining evangelical commitments may have been more a result of his conservative past than his later trajectory, but let’s give thanks for that past.
As I write this, I’m about to go into a classroom to teach 150 future pastors and missionaries. We’re in an institution committed to biblical authority and the centrality of the gospel. This would not be possible if Clark Pinnock hadn’t taught Adrian Rogers and Paige Patterson and Jerry Vines. And I can’t help but wonder if my boyhood pastors hadn’t had such a vision of truth and gospel laid out for them by that young Canadian, would I have ever heard the gospel?
“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God,” the Scripture says. “Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7). Sometimes the outcome of a life isn’t what we would have hoped for, and sometimes there are many parts of a man’s life that we can’t imitate. But we can still give thanks that the word of God was taught, clarified, held forth, even by a man with whom we disagree.
I’m here because of some lectures a good man delivered in a classroom on Gentilly Boulevard in New Orleans, Louisiana. He may have regretted some of those lectures, but I’m thankful for them. Let’s pray for the Pinnock family and let’s thank God for the good things God did through him. Let’s remember that the last chapter of a man’s life isn’t written in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, but in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
That’s good news for sinners like us.
43 Responses to “Why Conservative Evangelicals Should Thank God for Clark Pinnock”
Trackbacks
- Russell D. Moore On The Late Clark Pinnock | Pastoral Musings
- WiseReader » Clark Pinnock’s theological journey has ended
- The death of the theologian in process « The Neglected Understood
- Thoughts on Clark Pinnock :: Baptist Messenger of Oklahoma
- Clark Pinnock (1937-2010) « Already Not Yet
- Linkathon 8/18, part 2 « BrianD blog
- Linkathon 8/18, part 2 » Phoenix Preacher
- Theologically Correct dot Com :: LIVE Your Theology. » Blog Archive » Clark Pinnock 1937-2010
- Life | Doctrine | Music. » Blog Archive » Clark Pinnock – 1937-2010
- Clark Pinnock died – May he rest in peace! « Persona
- The Legacy of Clark Pinnock « The Sound of Theos
- Why Conservative Evangelicals Should Thank God for Clark Pinnock by Russell Moore « Jared Moore
Thank you for this amazing post. I appreciate your graciousness and ability to see someone for the whole of his contribution rather than only his errors. If only we would approach other parts of the church we disagree with the same spirit.
Thanks again!!!
Dr. Moore,
Like Matt, I too appreciate the graciousness of your post. Thanks for reminding us of the importance of maintaining a balanced perspective in polemical situations like these. There is little doubt that Dr. Pinnock had a profound influence on some of the SBC’s greatest leaders and preachers of the last half century.
If I may, I would like to encourage you to write a follow up post on the life of Dr. Pinnock. In particular, you have done an admirable job highlighting his significant contributions. I believe it would be just as profitable for many conservative pastors like myself to understand how Dr. Pinnock’s theological “trajectory” deflected away from Christian orthodoxy.
If you have such insight, which I believe you do, a gracious post on what went wrong could prove to be a much needed warning to all evangelical pastors who seek to defend and proclaim the Truth of Christ and His Word in a society where orthodoxy is increasingly disregraded in favor for philosophical, moral, and theological relativism.
Many Blessings!
@Rick, Not all of Pinnock’s positions due to an “orthodoxy (that) is increasingly disregarded in favor for philosophical, moral, and theological relativism,” but rather many of us have abandoned the doctrine of eternal torment for the unsaved for the opposite reason, that scriptures, the anchor of truth, teach annhialationism. I thank God there are voices amidst Evangelicalism that are not tied to the relativism of “orthodoxy” but are rather tied to the anchor of the Word.
Martin Luther would have been proud of Dr. Pinnock.
“Let’s remember that the last chapter of a man’s life isn’t written in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, but in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”
awesome
My first book was a sustained critique of Pinnock’s position on annihilationism (or conditional immortality). I sent it to him to make sure it was fair. He went further and gave it a glowing endorsement along with my other three endorsers of J.I. Packer, Wayne Grudem, and Dallas Willard.
Clark Pinnock blessed me with his generosity and humility!
Thank you, Dr. Moore, for your gospel-centered thinking. Factual, as it must be; gracious, as it should be. I hope you are the one who writes about my death.
When I think of Clark Pinnock, I think primarily of the work he did on Genesis and his insistence that we should allow the chips to fall as they may during the exegetical process. No matter if the outcome ultimately obliterates our theological agenda. In the end, I think, it is up for debate just how well Pinnock himself abided by that exhortation but his point remains vital to my own understanding.
What I am most encouraged by in this post is that you keep us from making the assumption that the church universal is one and the same as the evangelical church. Also, you consistently remind your readers that all people, even the Clark Pinnocks of the theological world, are more complex and mulitfaceted than the caricatures we have created of them. This post is an oasis in a dry and weary land where there is very little water.
Clark Pinnock is no longer looking at a mirror dim . . . I long for that day myself.
Thank you Dr Moore for this gracious post about Dr Pinnock. Clark lived only a few minutes walk from where I lived and then later a few minutes’ drive drive from where do live, and I saw him many times when I would go McMaster to study and meet with friends. I knew him somewhat and appreciated his genuine humility, while disagreeing as you do with his theological trajectory. The man under whom I came to Christ, Bruce Woods, was deeply influenced by him, and I too have much to thank God for that influence. Thank you for your deeply gracious post.
I count myself privileged to have sat under Pinnock for a semester during his more conservative years. I found him gracious, humble, deeply engaged in pursuing truth, and a stimulating lecturer. He was always honing his material, and fully open to class dialog. I did not follow his later wanderings (though my dippings in his “Flame of Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit” I found vigorous and stimulating), but I have only fond memories of the man and great respect for his personal integrity.
Thank you Dr. Moore for such a gracious post! I grew up in the SBC and have went through much theological flux in the past decade. I have found some of Clark Pinnock’s theological insights to be very helpful and currently agree with him on some of his most controversial stances (openness & annihilationism). It is truly a breath of fresh air to hear you appreciate someone with whom you strongly disagree. I think that this is an example that all of us in the Body of Christ can learn from, no matter where we pitch our theological tents. Your example inspires me toward “love and good works.” Thank you.
I got to know this great Theolog during his years of leadership in the conservative resurgence. I had the opportunity to hear him, read his works, and to get to know him personally. While saddened by his shifts in theology, He surely was one of those handful of men around whom the conservative resurgence developed. Now, I am sure, his questions are answered. Lewis Woods
I was saddened to hear of the passing of my teacher, Clark Pinnock. I studied under him at Trinity between 1970 and 1973. I did independent study on Process theology under him, and he was the second reader on my thesis. I counted him as a personal friend. He was that sort of teacher…one with whom you could feel true friendship. I only met him once or twice after TEDS but each time he was his gracious self. I used to say that he suffered from a “defender of the downtrodden syndrome,” and I could not agree with many of the positions he took in later life. But I loved the man, and am sad to see him go. Where he has been wrong, I’m sure the Savior he loved so much has gently corrected him. :)
It is nonsense like this that explain the decrepit condition of modern American Christianity. True Christians have NOTHING to be thankful for regarding this false teacher.
By Biblical standards, Clark Pinnock was an apostate, a blasphemer, and an idotalter. He spat in the face of the God of the Bible, and endeavored to create his own pathetic “god” out of the imaginiations of his depraved heart. And then he did everythign he could to pullute the church with his vile teachings.
There are people burning in hell today because they forsook the Word of God to follow the Satan-inspired nonsense of Clark Pinnock. And now he has received his just due reserved for all of those of such ilk.
@Tom,
Dr. Moore’s article reminds me of David’s lament for Saul (and Jonathan) in 2 Samuel 1. I am sure many in David’s army thought that David’s words about Saul were nonsense. Saul’s disobedience was serious; so serious, God rejected him as King. Yet, when David learned that Saul had died, he wrote his gracious lament that the mighty had fallen and focused on the good that Saul had done. A lesser man than David (or a man of lesser faith than David) could not have written that lament. I don’t know Dr. Moore, but it seems to me that the gracious faith that moved David so long ago helped Dr. Moore write this article yesterday.
.
@Tom,
Thank you!
Tom,
I, too, am a blaspheming idolater who daily spits in the face of the God of the Bible while setting up my own pathetic “god.” Without the grace of God I would one day burn in hell. Praise Him for that grace He has shown in Christ and weep for those who forsake the word of God to follow nonsense. Strange, Jesus’ harshest words went toward people who speak much like you. But for the grace of God in holding His own, we become the next apostates.
@Kevin C,
Strange, but the harshest words of the apostle Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) were reserved for false teachers such as Clark Pinnock (Gal 1:9). Thanks to Tom for having the courage to post truth in the midst of the Pinnock love-fest; he is no Pharisee.
@Kevin C,
Sorry Kevin, you miss the point totally. Indeed we all are worthy of condemnation not salvation, but this status is quite different to someone who turns away from the faith once delivered Jude 3. The tragedy is he was in later life a false teacher. Regardless of Dr. Moores apreciation of “the early Pinnock” as I must admit I have alos, he has failed to run the race to the end as Paul says by turning away from God’s revealed Word into myths and making up a “god” of his own imagination. All of us should have been praying for him to repent and as leaders in the Church of God mourn our own lack at challenging his heretical ideas.
Gary
I am all about truth. Maybe I attribute a lack of humility by Tom that others don’t see and might not exist. If so, I apologize. I am saddened by the death of Pinnock but more saddened by his lack of repentance for his heresy. I, too, had a person disciple me and was instrumental in my life, only to see him move toward heresy later. He is one that I always pray for and will always love. I hope and pray that he repents one day and believes on Christ. The point of my post was simply saying that we mourn when people die without repentance….not dance a jig.
Brethren,
I think this generally positive commentary about Mr. Pinnock is only possible because we can look at people like Adrian Rogers in retrospect. The fact is, sadly, that Mr. Pinnock’s liberal teachings have nothing good to offer. In and of themselves, they are evil. We can only thank God Pinnock and his heretical views were used for His sovereign purposes, good purposes such as early converts who learned under him during his alleged time of orthodoxy. We have to be careful not to conflate the fact that God sovereignly and mysteriously works through, in and despite the evil of men, while NEVER endorsing the evil men commit. I think some of the positive comments here leave an ambiguous impression that the good that came out of Pinnock’s life diminishes the great harm he did to the Church. His life would have been much better served had he clung to orthodoxy, just as Saul’s life would have been far greater had he remained faithful to God as King.
@Henry,
I try to avoid theological labels as much as possible since, as Dr. Pinnock once lamented, I feel stranded theologically. Although we wouldn’t agree about several theological points you hold dear, I am grateful for your gracious and generous spirit. There seems to be a profound and deep connection to the spirit of Christ reflected in your comments. Blessings on your ministry, and on all who love the Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love, no matter what theological label they wear.
Good post.
I well remember a discussion about Pinnock with a professor of mine at SEBTS (Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) where we concluded that open theology was left-handed Calvinism; both of which are objectionable. We pictured Calvin advising God on one side of the equation as a divine being of his own making and Pinnock on the other side as knowing things just before God did. May we all strive for theological humility as opposed to the sin of “being cool.”
Louis:
Robert Marsh was a classmate of Adrian Rogers and other disciples of Pinnock at NOBTS.
His son Charles in the book Wayward Christian Soldiers discusses Francis Schaeffer’s refusal to sign the Lusanne Covenant in 74 to the chagrin of Billy Graham, among others.
And now Diarmand MacCulloch in his much celebrated book on the first 3,000 years of Christianity, on page 51, lays waste to Pressler’s inerrancy as defined by his stance against Jack Flanders in the 60’s at Baylor.
So Inerrancy is not what it is chalked up to be. To borrow a word from WA Criswell, it is a ruse. It is sad Pinnock’s disciples walked away at the 87 Ridgecrest Conference when Pinnock and Mark Noll in effect said the SBC Takeover movement was on a Fool’s Errand.
Hello Dr. Moore:
About two months ago, I felt the Lord impress upon my heart that I was to adopt from Haiti. I was SHOCKED! I told my husband and he agreed to pray if this is what the Lord wants for us. It’s been over a month and I’ve prayed and fasted for my husband to hear from the Lord. He has not and now I have two questions.
1. Could I have heard wrong from the Lord?
2. Would He not want us to adopt, even though He has a family that is willing to hear His call to do so?
I’m very confused. I would appreciate your input. Plus, I just got done with your book Adopted for Life.
In Him
Judy
We know that most Calvinists would consider evangelical Arminians like I. Howard Marshall, Grant Obsorne, and Robert Shank as those within the orthodox faith handed down to us by the Apostles. Now the question is: how far have Open Theists departed from that faith? There is a falling away into error (like the men above) and then there is a falling away into heresy. It all depends on how one views the seriousness of the departure of Open Theism from Scripture (and I agree with others that heresy is a damnable error).
Most of the responders to this left-handed praise of Clark Pinnock seem to have, as their basic philosophy/psychology/theology, the need for certainty in a world of questions. (A used-car salesman once worded the idea perfectly for me: “Buy this car, and you can quit worrying about it.”) The criticisms of Pinnock’s development in theolgy (and spirituality) are not a bulletin-bord of protestations of faith, but a grave-yard of gasping pulpiteers whose thought processes are limited to unquaified condemnation of any whose ideas are different. Those who condemn Pinnock to everlasting hell-fire seem to be hopeful of a better eternity than his . . .
I referred to Moore’s left-handed praise — he appreciated Pinnock only insofar as Clark’s early ideas meshed with Moore’s. Once Pinnock developed beyond a kindergarten-style of belief in “young-earth theories,” approval of OT genocides, harsh death penalties for observed differences of opinion (with no trials allowed), serial marriages, etc., he could no longer be allowed in the hallowed halls of the SBC governing bodies.
Expressed cetainties are the stuff of job security.
@Hal Eaton, Sadly, I believe this post demonstrates the wisdom and the laments of those who thought Dr. Moore’s and others’ comments about Dr. Pinnock to be too generous. You certainly seem certain about your condemnation of those who hold to certainty.
@Hal Eaton, Once a person receives the Holy Spirit and is called to believe, that is what it is, a call to belief. Regarding your last comment above,” approval of OT genocides, harsh death penalties for observed differences of opinion (with no trials allowed), serial marriages, etc., he could no longer be allowed in the hallowed halls of the SBC governing bodies,” is an argument used by many who just can’t or don’t want to believe that they cannot understand God. I would like to pick and choose also, choosing only blessing and none of the pain, but that is not how it is and as a Christian, I have to live with the pain of knowing that not everyone I love is saved. I can’t suddenly quit believing because I am afraid for them. What good is my faith if I change it to suit myself? It is no faith at all.
Thank you for your gracious comments which reflects the kindess of Christ.
Pinoch, like others men, has been a confuse man in his mind. His theology, influenced negativelly the thought on Sovereignty and the divine mind. But with this thought, it he obtained to bring good quarrels and he made with that people came to understand that the relational or open theology was bequeathed to the lie and the error. In this, he followed who it, he will be able to think and to take off its conclusions. But he was a great man.
this reminds me of Solomon.
A man who was responsible for the better part of a whole book of Proverbs, who was anointed as king of Israel, and even though he rejected the covenant and went to foreign gods - God still used him. That’s sovereignty.