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Akin says media reports led to "misconceptions and misinterpretations" about weekend arrest of William "Billy" Birch by Peter Lumpkins

Take heed lest you fall by Peter Lumpkins

The inspired Apostle gives us both exhortation and warning. He writes:  >>>

William Birch on Gerald Harris: Calvinists are here and have been: a response (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

UPDATE: tragically and sadly, William Birch's blog has been removed from the internet. One may find the obvious reason here.

In part I of my response to William Birch’s rebuttal to The Christian Index editor’s editorial opinion, I focused on what I believe to be insignificant quibbling over issues not germane to Gerald Harris’ piece  >>>

William Birch on Gerald Harris: Calvinists are here and have been: a response (part I) by Peter Lumpkins

UPDATE: tragically and sadly, William Birch's blog has been removed from the internet. One may find the obvious reason here.

On Thursday, February 9, The Christian Index, denominational paper for Georgia Southern Baptists, published an editorial opinion by its chief editor, J. Gerald Harris. Entitled, “The Calvinists are here” SBC Tomorrow had sought permission to post the editorial as a guest contribution to our site and permission was granted. One stipulation was, SBC Tomorrow could not post the editorial essay until it was posted online. Agreed. Our posting would be a day later than The Index’s  >>>

A. H. Newman on the "Radical Reformers" by Peter Lumpkins

The eminent church historian, Albert Henry Newman (1852–1933) was one of the founders of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. An accomplished scholar recognized by a broad, prestigious society of reputable historians, Newman wrote several standard works on Christian history including Baptist history  >>>

The latest theological journal issue from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary deals with Calvinist, Arminian, and Baptist perspectives on salvation by Peter Lumpkins

The spring issue of The Journal for Baptist Theology & Ministry deals with three perspectives on soteriological models: Calvinistic, Arminian, and Baptist. Authors include Steve Lemke, J. Matthew Pinson, and Kenneth Stewart among others  >>>

Mark A. Rathel on the Calvinist-Arminian divide in the Southern Baptist Convention by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Mark Rathel is Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy at The Baptist College of Florida. Rathel is a graduate of William Carey (B.A.), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div, Ph.D), and Biola University (M.A.)  >>>

Peter Berger's sociological interpretation of New Calvinism's effect on Southern Baptists by Peter Lumpkins

Sociologist Peter Berger stands tall among American intellectuals. Berger presently serves as Professor Emeritus of Religion, Sociology and Theology and Director, Institute on Culture, Religion, and World Affairs at the prestigious Boston University. Among many influential titles to his credit are The Sacred Canopy: Elements of a Sociological Theory of Religion (1967), The Desecularization of the World: Resurgent Religion and World Politics  (1999), and more recently Questions of Faith: A Skeptical Affirmation of Christianity (2003). Professor Berger also regularly contributes to The American Interest, an online magazine dealing with American culture and global interests   >>>

Baptist Have Always Been Calvinists? by Peter Lumpkins

Recently, I contested Dr. Al Mohler's confidence that it was well into the twentieth century before any knowledgable person could dispute the theo-historical assertion that Baptists were anything but Calvinists. To be precise, Mohler is claimed to have said  >>>

Christ's Death: designed for all, designed for some? (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

John writes: “He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only for ours but the sins of all the world” (1 John 2:2 NLT). In order to better grasp this verse, let’s consider a brief background of the Elder’s first little letter   >>>

"Calminian" Good, "Biblicist" Better by Peter Lumpkins

Arminian theologian, Roger Olson, insists there is no such animal as a "Calminian". In fact, he unequiovocally states the "Impossibility of Calminianism."  He writes >>>

Are Baptists Calvinists, Arminians, Calminians, or, well...Baptists? by Peter Lumpkins

 Many times we stand reminded by our Calvinist family how, in so many ways, our Baptist ancestors in 19th Century America were overwhelming Calvinistic in their understanding of salvation.  We repeatedly hear of James Boyce, Basil Manly, Jesse Mercer, P.H. Mell, John Gano and a host of others who embraced classic Calvinism.  Indeed, for Calvinists, these men only represent the unified theology of that massive Baptist body who would eventually become the Southern Baptist Convention in 1845...  >>>

Calvinists, the Southwest Alabama Bible Conference 2011, and the "20 Questions" by Peter Lumpkins

    The Southwest Alabama Bible Conference 2011 (SABC) may be the first organized attempt—or, at least the most visible firstly organized event--by grassroots Southern Baptists to address the issue of aggressive Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention. With some seminaries and agencies continuing to promote the Calvinist Resurgence, other grassroots efforts may not be far behind.* We think this is a good sign for Southern Baptists >>>

Founders Journal & Whosoever Will: Observations: Part I by Peter Lumpkins

  Founders Journal represents the theological thinking of the largest network of strict Calvinists within the Southern Baptist Convention, Founders Ministries.* In its most recent edition, Founders offers its critique of Whosoever Will: A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point Calvinism, edited by Drs. Steve Lemke and David Allen. The issue entitled “Theological Debate Within the Family” (FJ 82) unfortunately ran into some technical difficulties and is being presently republished (though the misprinted version had already been sent out). I want to offer a few observations about the critical journal entries and will do so in at least three parts…>>>

1 Corinthians 4:7: Does it Distinguish Between the Saved and the Unsaved? by Peter Lumpkins

    On my last piece, one commenter quoted Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 4:7 as indicative of the Apostle arguing that this gracious “system or paradigm of conversion” eliminates all boasting or crediting oneself with being saved.  He further noted that Paul says that those who reject the idea that they are different because of God's gift to them are ones who have grounds for boasting. In the course of the exchange, I offered some contextual matters necessary to understand Paul’s rhetorical questions he asked the Corinthians.

Paul writes, “For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”(NASB)