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What Is Wrong With the Young, Restless and Reformed Movement? An Interpretive Essay by Dr. Paul Owen

Below is a solicited essay by Dr. Paul Owen. Dr. Owen is Professor of Greek and Religious Studies at Montreat College in North Carolina, where he has taught since 2001.  Founded in 1916, Montreat College is the only liberal arts college in North Carolina that holds membership in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.  Dr. Owen’s academic articles and book reviews have been published in numerous venues, including the Calvin Theological Journal, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Journal of Biblical Literature, and Journal for the Study of the New Testament. (see a fuller bio at the article's end).

Dr. Owen is an occasional contributor on the comment threads at SBC Tomorrow, and it was his insightful comments on the so-called "young, restless, and reformed" theological trend which occasioned my request he tease his thoughts out further. He did.

Thus, the essay below is a spirited look at what TIME magazine listed in 2010 as one of 10 ideas changing the world right now--New Calvinism. Some will dismiss Dr. Owen's analysis as much too blustery. Others will praise his insight as spot on. Still others may raise suspicions concerning his conclusions since Dr. Owen's theological tradition is rooted in the Episcopal Church (unfortunately, we Baptists are at times prone to consider only Baptist contributions). What one cannot do, however, is ignore his studied, scholarly opinion.

I trust that whether or not one agrees with Dr. Owen, he will receive the respectful response a scholar deserves.

Al Mohler, Homosexuality, and the "New Liberalism" by Peter Lumpkins

Last week, I raised the question concerning Andy Stanley’s perplexing story about a gay couple in his church. I wrote:

Mark Driscoll, Liberty University, Mitt Romney, Richard Land, Lifeway, Andy Stanley: a bit of potpourri by Peter Lumpkins

Since the Liberty University fiasco with Mark Driscoll began a few weeks ago, a lot of interesting things grabbed my attention but I just couldn't let go LU's disastrous invitation to the controversial pastor  >>>

A brand new day @ Liberty University by Peter Lumpkins

Today, history happens. Mark Driscoll will speak at Liberty. And, I predict, he will receive a standing ovation when he is introduced. For the student body  >>>

Author and Family Advocate Cathy Mickels speaks out about Mark Driscoll and Liberty University by Peter Lumpkins

Cathy Mickels is the former Washington state president of Phyllis Schlafly's national conservative organization, Eagle Forum. She has been an active, effective voice on behalf of many pro-family and education issues, including strong opposition to outcome-based education. She is also author of Spiritual Junk Food, a book dealing with our culture's "dumbing down" of Christian youth >>>

Mark Driscoll responds to Peter Lumpkins

I'm grateful to a commenter named "John Strickland" who left this comment on my site  >>>

Major media continues to raise questions about Mark Driscoll at Liberty University by Peter Lumpkins

Chalk up another story from a major media venue perpetuating the questions we raised here concerning Mark Driscoll's invitation to Liberty University  >>>

Author and Family Advocate Cathy Mickels on Mark Driscoll and Liberty University by Peter Lumpkins

Cathy Mickels is the former Washington state president of Phyllis Schlafly's national conservative organization, Eagle Forum. She has been an active, effective voice on behalf of many pro-family and education issues, including strong opposition to outcome-based education. She is also author of Spiritual Junk Food, a book dealing with our culture's "dumbing down" of Christian youth >>>

Former attorney and New Mexico pastor asks riveting questions concerning Liberty University and Mark Driscoll by Peter Lumpkins

Liberty University trustees unanimous--Mark Driscoll is not welcome by Peter Lumpkins

Who invited Mark Driscoll to Liberty University? by Peter Lumpkins

I have not been shy about querying whether Seattle had anything to do with Lynchburg. Mark Driscoll showing up on campus at Liberty University may be one of the most shocking events within evangelicalism thus far in the 21st century  >>>

Cool, hip extremism is extremism just the same: 'snake handling vs 'seeing things' by Peter Lumpkins

Below are two videos. Both are nutty. Both are extreme. Both miserably represent the Christian faith. Both display Scripture abuse. Both claim biblical authority. Both reveal perversion. Both have representatives in evangelicalism. There is at least one difference. One is rejected as extreme nuttiness by virtually every sector of the Christian church. The other is accepted by a large portion of evangelicalism--including many Southern Baptists--as hip, cool, and doing a great work for God. Guess who is hip and cool and who are considered nuts  >>>

Award winning journalist questions Mark Driscoll's 'obsession with sex' while telling Liberty University 'it's time to wake up' by Peter Lumpkins

UPDATE: another news service asks "Why has Liberty agreed to bring Mark Driscoll to teach on sex?" See the link to the full story below...

David Kupelian is an award-winning journalist, managing editor of WorldNetDaily, and author of two books: his best-selling book The Marketing of Evil and his newest book How Evil Works  >>>

Al Mohler says to state editors: you must cover Calvinism (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

Following "Al Mohler says to state editors: you must cover Calvinism (part I)" is the final section below (not included here is the Q/A session). As before, while the words summarize sections from his address to Southern Baptist editors, the words are his own words (no commentary is added other than an occasional implied subject in brackets for clarity). I've sought to be true to the context. However, the reader may be pleased to know a transcription of his entire speech is available  >>>

Al Mohler says to state editors: you must cover Calvinism (part I) by Peter Lumpkins

On February 13-16, 2012, editors of denominational papers across the Southern Baptist Convention met in Phoenix, Arizona at the Chaparral Suites Hotel for their annual meeting. One of the keynote speakers was Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president, Al Mohler. For those who want to know what Dr. Mohler thinks about the role of Calvinism in Southern Baptist life now and the future, he does not disappoint  >>>