Paul Washer, Decisional Regeneration, and First Baptist Woodstock
Paul Washer doesn’t play around in preaching, nor does he live in shades of gray.
What is fascinating about Washer’s preaching is that it continually dominates the charts on SermonAudio and attracts thousands through YouTube videos (his “shocking” sermon has nearly 900,000 visitors) while at the same time is never asked to come back and preach at many of the churches he was previously invited. But what really caught my attention is that Washer was invited to speak at Deeper Conference which was being held at First Baptist Church Woodstock where Johnny Hunt, president of the SBC, is senior pastor. The Deeper Conference was put on by The Way of the Master guys who had done conferences at Woodstock in years past; nevertheless, the fact Paul Washer was going to preach in the pulpit of the church where the John 3:16 Conference was held–a pulpit that has been grasped by just about every anti-Calvinist in the SBC–is no small thing.
So what was Washer going to say? Was he going to water down the message, go gray, play politics, etc.? Nope. In fact, he took on the invitation system and the doctrine of decisional regeneration behind it, showing the folly and unbiblical nature of them. I can remember sitting through Bailey Smith “Real Evangelism” Conferences in years past shrinking in the pew when preacher after preacher would scoff and ridicule the doctrines of grace and often manipulate people into praying the sinner’s prayer. I cannot help but think that all the stagecraft of years past was exposed on the very platform on which it has been practiced.
To download Washer’s sermon from the Deeper Conference click here (you will need to submit your email address to download it). Below is the sermon at Woodstock in its entirety (1hr 7min).
Related Articles:
The Sound of HeartCry Missionary Society
Reducing the Need for Church Discipline by Paul Washer (Part 1)
Reducing the Need for Church Discipline by Paul Washer (Part 2)
Missions and the Miracle of Conversion by Paul Washer
Evidences of the Miracle of Conversion by Paul Washer (Part 1)
Evidences of the Miracle of Conversion by Paul Washer (Part 2)
Tags: Conversion, decisional regeneration, Gospel, Paul Washer, Regeneration
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November 22, 2008 at 8:48 am
[...] tip to Timmy Brister who has another “shocking message” posted on his blog. Go spend another hour over there [...]
November 22, 2008 at 9:03 am
One more reason why I love Paul Washer…
November 22, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I’m waiting to hear what Dr. Hunt has to say about Paul preaching that sermon from his pulpit….especially since he seems to have softened just a wee bit towards Calvinism since becoming SCB president.
I will say it again. I wish that everyone knew the Paul Washer that we know here at Grace Life. There is none more humble, gentle, and kind than he. It’s only in the pulpit (and on the mission field that he turns into a man on fire!).
November 22, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Bro Timmy,
You’re killing me.
Have a blessed Lord’s Day.
Mark
November 22, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Oops. Thou knowest not.
November 23, 2008 at 3:02 am
[...] thanks to Timmy Brister for the latest post on his blog about a preacher named Paul Washer. As Timmy points out so [...]
November 23, 2008 at 3:14 am
Timmy,
Maybe I’ve lived under a rock way up here in Oregon, but man oh man, thanks for introducing me to Paul Washer. It’s really refreshing to hear a preacher speak straightforwardly about the gospel and the condition of the church and care less whether or not he just stepped on your toes. Washer is A.W. Tozer and Keith Green for this post modern generation. Many thanks again Tim.
- Erik
November 23, 2008 at 9:49 am
“I will say it again. I wish that everyone knew the Paul Washer that we know here at Grace Life. There is none more humble, gentle, and kind than he. It’s only in the pulpit (and on the mission field that he turns into a man on fire!).”
I agree with you, Tom.
Thanks for posting this, Timmy.
November 23, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I’d also never heard of him, but am glad you posted this. Powerful and straightforward. I listened to another of his sermons last night. As someone who has long lamented many of the things Washer discusses, the thing I’ve appreciated most is that he has some great positive examples of the way things SHOULD be.
November 23, 2008 at 9:38 pm
For those of you who are new to Paul Washer, you can find out more audio, resources, and info from my previous post, “The Sound of Heartcry Missionary Society” -
http://timmybrister.com/2007/05/11/the-sound-of-heartcry-missionary-society/
November 24, 2008 at 9:44 am
After mulling over this for a while, I’m inclined to think this was really rather impolite.
Stepping into a pulpit as a guest and telling the church that the way they do things is wrong? That’s not bold; it’s rude.
I can’t imagine you’d be applauding my “boldness” if I preached against Calvinism from John Piper’s pulpit.
“never asked to come back and preach at many of the churches he was previously invited”
I can’t imagine why. All he’s accomplished is to ensure most of the people of that church will decline to listen to him every again.
November 24, 2008 at 10:08 am
Chris,
Johnny Hunt did not invite him; The Way of the Master people who were holding the conference did. Johnny Hunt was one of the main speakers, along with Paul Washer. Both WOTM and Hunt knew about Washer prior to his speaking, and so it is neither being rude or impolite. Washer preaches the same gospel no matter the venue, and honestly, it was refreshing to hear someone not water down or change the message depending on whose in the audience or what place they are in.
November 24, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Ah, I missed that part — I thought the pastor had invited him.
November 24, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I’m curious. If he’s invited to preach by groups and these groups know about him and he’s not going to go “off message” depending on the crowd then it begs the question: why is he “never asked to come back and preach at many of the churches he as previously invited?” They knew what he would say/do. That’s odd isn’t it?
November 24, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Jason,
I would argue because many of these churches have lost the gospel (and by that I do not mean Calvinism).
November 25, 2008 at 9:37 am
I really wish that this message could be given at the SBC Pastor’s Conference!
November 27, 2008 at 3:11 am
This is the same gospel I have believed since God saved me.
Years ago I picked up a Gideon Bible from a motel room, read a passage (2 Timothy 4:6-7) for the first time in my life.
I became aware I was an evil person and had never fought a good or fair fight in my life. I had lived by my own creed and code of honor. My departure was at hand, but I had not finished my course. I did not know the course. I had not kept the faith. For I did not know the God of faith.
I did the only thing I could, for I was totally without knowledge and understanding.
I cried out to God to forgive my sin, I begged Jesus to cleanse my evil heart and wash my bloody hands. I prayed, alone for over four or five hours, without ever having the witness of another person to me that night about Jesus. I confessed and repented only to Jesus wickedness that I would never tell another living soul. I surrendered my being and person to Jesus. Suddenly and without warning a peace I had never known came upon me. I knew I knew I knew I was forgiven. I knew Jesus had saved my wretched soul.
I left the life I had lived that very morning. I took the Bible with me. I read it and read it. My life was changed in ways I did not understand.
By God’s own grace I found fellowship with a gospel believing church. The longer I live the more I know my continual need to repent, not to be saved, but because I am saved and belong to a Holy God.
Romans 5:8 has become my truth. I had never sought Jesus, nor did I want Him. I did not even know I needed Him until that night in December long ago. I have come to realize more and more as the years go by that it was Jesus who sought me. I am saved because in due time Christ died for the ungodly, sinner that I was and am.
His grace is sufficient. It is His grace we must preach. It is His grace that saves. There is nothing else.
I have enjoyed this sermon, not because it is new in content to me for it is not, but because it is what I have heard and believed all of my life with Christ.
Thank you for posting it.
cb
November 27, 2008 at 11:42 am
CB,
Thanks for sharing your heart and testimony. It’s always refreshing to hear how God arrested the heart of a sinner and brought them to Himself! I’m glad you enjoyed the message. Have a blessed Thanksgiving weekend.