Below are my continuing thoughts concerning the most recent exchanges about the oxymoron, “Reformed Baptist..” I intentionally limited my engagement to Dr. Nathan Finn’s thoughts primarily because, as a Baptist historian and seminary professor, his buck (i.e. position) most likely buys the most beans (i.e., influence). Hence, my Part I and Part II rehearsed Finn’s socio-historical framework, while the present Part III addresses his own convictions concerning the use of “Reformed Baptist.” Finally, Part IV* sums the matter up—at least for a while.
The term “oxymoron” has its roots in classical Greek meaning “sharp dull.” Even from the
literal definition, one can easily see the implication: two words are joined
together which normally do not belong together. So, for example, were one to
speak of “sad joy,” a “brand new used-car,” an “intelligent dunce,” or a
“pessimistic optimist,” one would be employing the literary device known as
oxymoron.
Update: Below is the video James White would like to ban uploaded to youtube:
=========================================
Anyone remember my little parody video I put together answering James White’s absurd question: “Anti-caner sites? What on earth is that?”? (//link)
Another question: anyone recall the outrage in White’s tactical squad when John Ankerberg petitioned Youtube to pull Mohammad Khan’s videos?
I thought so.
Well, in light of the two questions above, what is missing from the screen below?
Time’s up. My video!
Evidently, the video irritated James White so much, his ministry petitioned Vimeo.com to pull the video based upon copyright infringement.
Hence, the “you,sir, are a liar” strategy has spawned its second child. Its first was “you, sir, are unregenerate” and now its second is, “you, sir, must be silenced.”
Well, I’m in the process of exploring my own options. One thing James White needs to know. I learned it in kick-boxing along time ago: never let your sparring partner know where your soft underbelly lies. It will become his primary target.
A decade ago, a team of psychologists argued an hypothesis which suggested just how oblivious we are to things around us when we intently focus on a single task. They made a video to test their theory. In the study, viewers were asked to count how many times a ball was passed around between several people.
Unknown to the viewers, the psychologists staged a man in a gorilla suit to walk freely in the midst of the people passing the ball, randomly weaving in and out. When the tallies were scored at the end, over 50% of the people who watched this video didn’t see a big gorilla walking directly across the screen. Amazing!
Another video was more recently released with the same basic principle. It even had a big gorilla walk through again. Yet because the gorilla might have been expected since the video went public, the psychologists kinda “tweaked” the video a bit more.
More than likely, if you’ve seen the first video, you’ll undoubtedly see the gorilla. But will you see what else happens right before your eyes?
Georgia pastor, William Thornton, formerly a moderator at one of Baptistlife.com discussion threads, has an interesting read at his blog, SBC Plodder. William writes one-line commentaries on Southern Baptist luminaries over the past two and a half decades.
Of legendary leader, Adrian Rogers, William openly muses:
“Though not the conceptual guide or the organizing force, he was clearly the leading figure. Charismatic, resolute, and unflappable, no individual was more influential or compelling in motivating SBCers.”
Agreed.
And not to forget the unfatigable Paul Pressler:
“Though unimpressive in appearance and in speaking, his organizing skills were indispensable.”
Other important figures were named in this installment which is only Part I. Read William’s entire piece entitled “SBC All-Stars”.
Contra the Muslim-Calvinist coalition led by British Muslim, Mohammad Khan and Reformed Baptist and Hyper-Calvinist, Rev. James White, a swelling number of Christian scholars and leaders are speaking out. Why? According to a statement just released...
I was raised in middle Tennessee, the last of 12 children (yes 12 and no blends). Our four room house got crowded really quickly. I never saw the inside of a bathtub until 17 years old. We took baths in the creek which ran through the hollow near our little house. Of course, in winter months we became creative in taking “sponge baths.”
James White’s faithful sidekick, the anonymous "TurretinFan"—yes, the guy who refuses to face those he (or she) constantly accuses of biblical and/or moral crimes—just logged his (or her) acknowledgement of my spoof video (//link). He (or she) not only insinuated I breached copyright by employing “A&O Ministries trademark” I also did so “despite the prominent display of a supposed copyright claim by James White.” How gut-busting hilarious!
The following program aired today on The 700 Club. Joe Donahue has a powerful testimony about grace, forgiveness, restoration, and peace. In short, it is the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. No dad could ever want more in a son-in-law than I have in both of mine. Joe & Jon, you're the best.
When James White asks a question, people listen for his answer. Unfortunately, White asks a question on his site but strangely could not come up with even a guess. He queries:
“But truly, how balanced and fair is a statement that makes reference to "anti-Caner websites"? Anti-Caner websites? What on earth is that? (//link).
UPDATE: James White responded to Norm Geisler’s
objection to the anonymity of TurretinFan. He writes:
“…Geisler takes specific aim at TurretinFan for being
anonymous in his blogging and writing. Yes, I know why this is, and I affirm
that he has perfectly moral and proper reasons for remaining anonymous”
(//link).
O.K.
Now note what James White says on his YouTube page
pertaining to comments:
It is my experience that the vast majority of insulting
and absurd comments posted on the Internet arise from the anonymity one has
behind a keyboard. That disappears when you have to pick up a phone and talk to
someone one-on-one. Few of those who are brave in comboxes are overly convincing
in person. So, if you wish to comment meaningfully, the number is 877-753-3341
during The Dividing Line. I'll talk to you then! :-) (//link)
Now, the obvious question is, why is Dr. White so
anti-anonymity when people show up and want to comment on his site but remain
unidentified, yet on the other hand, he appeals to “moral and proper reasons”
TurretinFan remains anonymous? Is this just another
I-can-but-you-can’t-because-I-can-beat-you-in-debate strategy? I do not know.
Perhaps the readers have an insight I do not.
Since early February, I've watched as Hyper-Calvinist James White, Muslim Mohammad Khan, and several other James White supporters sift out every conceivable criticism they could to bring Ergun Caner down. Twice Dr. Norman Geisler has addressed this issue. And, now he puts out what may be the definitive summary for answering the charges Khan and White concocted against Ergun Caner. Dr. Geisler writes "In Further Defense of Ergun Caner":
*On James White’s site are posted letters he’s received encouraging and comforting him in his time of deep sorrow for not only dealing with a “fallen” brother but also for the ceaseless "attacks" White has endured because of his pure passion for biblical holiness and the Kingdom of God...
UPDATE: “When I went to bed last
night I had no idea I would spend the entirety of Saturday writing a small book
in response to the further promotion of an evangelical cover-up, a sad defense
of the blatantly indefensible. But the Lord knew, of course…” (//link). And elsewhere, “I had
planned on writing this post as the only item posted on the blog today. Well,
man proposes, God disposes” (//link). Hence, according to James
White, while he had other plans, God over-ruled those plans and proposed his
writing the mammoth response to Dr. Geisler. Now I ask, who could possibly argue
with that? If so, who would even want to argue with that?
In light of James White's continued crusade, one cannot help but wonder if White "wanted answers" to his questions concerning Ergun Caner only as fodder with which to continue to argue and "debate." Is this the future of "Reformed" apologetics? We hope not, but the divisive and sometimes sub-Christian tactics of James White is making another future disappear just over the horizon.
A while back, I received permission from Dr. Norman Geisler to post the contents of an email he composed affirming his support for Ergun Caner contra the wild, ceaseless fury unleashed against Caner led by a strange coalition of Muslims partnered with Calvinists. Media representative as diverse as Christianity Today and Washington Post recognized this same co-belligerent cause (//link //link).
As I've noted before on this site, apparently one of James White's favorite pass-times (while he's not studying hundreds of hours weekly for all those "formal" debates) is winning lost people and Christians alike to the wonderful idea that any Christian who disagrees with him, his view of evidence, or particular version of Calvinism is nothing more than a diabolical liar.
After taking his last victim to public task for allegedly lying his way through life, he now makes one of the greatest Christian apologists in recent times into...into...want to take a guess? A big fat liar!
Yep. That's right. Professor Norman Geisler is lying through his aged teeth (//link). That's the unreserved conclusion of Mr. James White, "Reformed Baptist" apologist and former adjunct instructor at one of our seminaries.
The following is a tribute to Mr. White whose waning influence among Southern Baptists continues on track.
Georgia pastor, William Thornton, formerly a moderator at one of 
“Though not the conceptual guide or the organizing force, he was clearly the leading figure. Charismatic, resolute, and unflappable, no individual was more influential or compelling in motivating SBCers.” 
“Though unimpressive in appearance and in speaking, his organizing skills were indispensable.”
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