peterlumpkins.com

Peeping Back, Peering Forward: What the 2009 SBC Means for Southern Baptists by Peter Lumpkins

Samuel Huntington, author of the bestseller, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, concluded of West’s demise:

Ed Stetzer, Michael Spencer and the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention by Peter Lumpkins

I apologize in advance.  I have little time to write.  Know, however, it takes only a little time to assess the guffawed views of some otherwise intelligent people. 

Baptists in the South: Saturated with a False Gospel by Peter Lumpkins

I have to say it:  I get really tired of the "pharisee" analogy offered by some of the young Baptist preachers who appear stuck on making Southern Baptists who happen to possess a more traditional aura about them into godless, lost, faithless, religion-bound pharisees.

The opening speaker at the Pastor's conference, J.D. Grear, made this incisive statement:

"Our churches in the south are filled with people who think if you vote republican and don't drink beer, you'll go to heaven."

Yes, J.D.:  we in the south surely possess no more sophistication in our understanding of gospel truth than your caricature.

There exists no hope for communication when such blatant disrespect for another's view remains the norm.

With that, I am...

Peter  

Lord's Day Reflection by Peter Lumpkins

After offering a valuable definition of religion in their widely used textbook on philosophy of religion,** philosophers Beverly & Brian Clack (brother & sister) raise an interesting question:

If God's existence can be 'proved', this would seem to suggest that God is an object amongst other objects" (p.8).

    For example, I am staying with some life-long friends in Louisville.  I believe they exist and have ways to measure my belief.  I drive to their house; I sleep in their guestroom; I eat Sharon's award-winning coconut cake; I beat Jim at ping-pong; I can even hear him snore at night.  All of these  and more are ways to detect my friends exist.  In fact, even more scientific ways could be established were it necessary.

My friends are objects I can study, using several empirical means by which to gather reliable information.  As for men, so with mountains and monkeys--each its own set of empirical means by which to 'prove' its existence. 

Question:  Is God an object of study like mountains, men, or monkeys?  Is God the same kind of entity I can prove in my laboratory of life?

Perhaps Saint Anselm was correct after all: while our faith seeks understanding, our understanding  does not seek faith. Or, Tertullian  before him:  What has Athens to do with Jerusalem? Selah.

With that, I am...

Peter

 

**The Philosophy of Religion:  A Critical Introduction, Polity Press, Cambridge: 1998

Founders Influence on the GCR: Are We Being Duped? by Peter Lumpkins

Founders Ministries spokesman, Timmy Brister, published his latest commentary on the Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) and what he dubs the "backstory" leading up to next week's annual Southern Baptist Convention.

Southern Baptists on-line owe Brister a wealth of gratitude for exposing a highly strategic conspiracy to sabotage what Timmy observes as a tidal wave of support for the GCR stemming from Indianapolis: "It seemed at this point everyone was behind the GCR, or at least willing to talk about it as they ride the tidal wave that came from Indy" (//link).

Lost in the Fifties: by Jerry Vines

A little known secret in Baptist blogdom are the weekly reflections by Dr. Jerry Vines, past two-term president of the Southern Baptist Convention and Pastor Emeritus of the First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL.  One could say Dr. Vines is "retired" but such a designation is hardly applicable.  Hardly a week goes by he isn't somewhere preaching the everlasting gospel.

Leaders in the 2006 SBC: How Would the List Change Today? by Peter Lumpkins

Just prior to the Southern Baptist Convention at Greensboro, 2006, the Florida Baptist Witness solicited responses from 13 leaders  and "activists" they recognized as carrying "notable" influence in SBC life.  Reading the quotes by those the paper recognized is enlightening.  More enlightening is, who is not on the list that probably would be today.

Are Evangelicals Losing Influence in the Public Square? A Series on Baptist Press by Will Hall

My apologies* to the readers for belatedly placing a link to this final article in a four-part series by Will Hall, Executive Director, Baptist Press.  In this essay, Hall considers whether the popular notion concerning younger evangelicals leaning left fits the numerical studies (//link). 

We are grateful to Mr. Hall for this timely series.

With that, I am...
Peter

*internet woes in West Georgia...

WILL HALL'S ENTIRE SERIES

Article I:  ANALYSIS:  God is Not Dead and Neither is Christianity in America (//link)

Article II:  ANALYSIS: What do the Numbers Mean--is the SBC in decline? Part I (//link)

Article III: ANALYSIS: What do the Numbers Mean--is the SBC in decline? Part II (//link)

Article IV:  ANALYSIS: Are Evangelicals Fractured & Losing Influence in the Public Square? (//link)

The SBC and Decline: by Will Hall at Baptist Press

Church-growth conferences with platforms featuring celebrity pollsters as experts on the ills of the SBC as well as prophetic authorities for the cure of the SBC have long voiced the mantra that Southern Baptists are a denominational dinosaur rapidly becoming extinct.  We change or we die. 

What Do Declining Numbers Mean for Southern Baptists? by Peter Lumpkins

Will Hall, Executive Director of Baptist Press, offers another perspective concerning whether the demographic studies support the popular, conference circuit mantra "The Southern Baptist Convention is a dying denomination."

An interesting quote by Will Hall:

In isolation, the ACP data might be interpreted to suggest the SBC is a denomination in decline. However, when ACP information is examined against research conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, it is evident that demographic changes in our country have been the major shaping force of our membership numbers, not outdated methodologies nor a generation gap in the leadership of our churches and institutions...

For too long, the numbers produced by the ACP have been used in isolation to assess on the basis of face value the evangelistic effectiveness of our churches. Unfortunately, what have resulted largely are superficial conclusions and calls for abandoning what is broadly described as "1950s methodologies" (//link)

It's definitely worth our time as Southern Baptists to consider Hall's analysis.

With that, I am...
Peter

WILL HALL'S ENTIRE SERIES

Article I:  ANALYSIS:  God is Not Dead and Neither is Christianity in America (//link)

Article II:  ANALYSIS: What do the Numbers Mean--is the SBC in decline? Part I (//link)

Article III: ANALYSIS: What do the Numbers Mean--is the SBC in decline? Part II (//link)

Article IV:  ANALYSIS: Are Evangelicals Fractured & Losing Influence in the Public Square? (//link)

FamilyNet Radio Interview: by Peter Lumpkins

 Early next Monday morning, June 15th, I'm scheduled to speak about my newly released book, Alcohol Today:  Abstinence in an Age of Indulgence, on FamilyNet Radio.  For about 25 minutes, the hosts of Mornings with Lorri and Larry will query me concerning the book.  Details are found my publisher's site (//link). 

Also, I plan to download the file and stream it directly from my site.

With that, I am...

Peter

Is Christianity in Decline? A Series by Will Hall

Conventional wisdom in both mainstream media as well as religious pollstering slowly pounds the final nail into historic Christianity's coffin, concluding, in effect, with Bishop John Shelby Spong, the historic church must change or die**.  How often Southern Baptists are fed a similar bowl of soup and crackers--Baptists are shown to be an aging group that continues to lose the younger generations and leaders.

Southern Baptists & Booze: A Lesson from Recent History by Peter Lumpkins

I'm a junk-store addict I must confess.   And, nothing better pleases me than finding a good book cheap.  Sometimes it's a buck or two, and at other times it's no more than a dime.  Whatever the case, cheap truth is a thrill to buy.

Baptist 2 Baptist: A Failure to Communicate

A recent thread on which I participated made me think of this classic scene in Paul Newman's masterful role as "Cool Hand Luke." With that, I am... Peter

A Post-Christian World? How Delightfully Trite by Peter Lumpkins

I am glad for the fire I see in many young Christians today.  My son-in-law is student pastor at a mega-church-mini-city in north metropolitan Atlanta.  It’s amazing to be around the student center and observe as hundreds of fresh, young fireballs for Christ burn brightly as they not only fellowship, but also worship our Lord in ways that, shall we say, makes me tired just looking at them.