Open Theism in the Lifeway D.T. Curriculum?

For those unaware: “D.T.” stands for Discipleship Training, a session before evening corporate worship on Sundays, common in Southern Baptist life.

Check out this excerpt from this Winter’s Baptist Adult D.T. Curriculum:

Risk is always part of extending Christ’s love. Jesus Himself left the very glory of Heave to become a human being with all the risks involved. He risked rejection by those He came to save and alienation from God.

On the cross, Jesus took the greatest risk of all. He willingly took the sin of all the people of all ages on His shoulders. He became sin for us, and the Father hid His face.

On the cross Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matt. 27:45-46). He called to God who for that moment had turned away from Him. Yet Jesus risked abandonment from God for your sake and mine.

A believer who takes a risk on behalf of another believer shows a true, Christlike nature. A risk always involves the possibility that the risk-taker could suffer hurt, harm, or loss. It always involves the possibility of loss of reputation, influence, and money. Yet a Christian who is willing to take a risk is growing toward Christian maturity.

The author of this section in the material was Clark Pinnock. Okay, not really. I know it isn’t full blown Open Theism but can’t you see it there in germ form?

I’m not sure how the author comes to the conclusion that Jesus “risked” anything on His mission to earth – He was “delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God” so I’m pretty confident Christ was aware of what His incarnation would require of Him.

I’d wager that most 5 pointers reading the material would think “Ah ha! There’s Arminiamism for you – in the non-Calvinist system Jesus did risk dying without knowing for sure that anyone would get saved.”

(I’m not going to take the time to argue that Arminiamism isn’t the only option for someone who doesn’t embrace 5 point Calvinism, just wanting to point out that material like this furthers the stereotyping of non-5 pointers.)

Anyway, I don’t post this to beat up on the author. I’m sure he had better intentions than what he accomplished. I thought I’d share it as an example of why we need to be exercising discernment, even (particularly?) when using material generated by our denomination’s publishing arm.