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 >>>
Continue reading "Al Mohler says to state editors: you must cover Calvinism (part II) 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 >>>
Continue reading "Al Mohler says to state editors: you must cover Calvinism (part I) by Peter Lumpkins" »
Recently, Dr. Al Mohler spoke to the annual meeting of Baptist state convention editors and made this plain but provocative remark concerning the theological future of Southern Baptists >>>
Continue reading "Al Mohler: "Calvinism is the shape of our future" by Peter Lumpkins" »
We often hear how settled the question was pertaining to the "doctrines of grace" amongst the 19th Baptists. Indeed, as Professor Tom Nettles suggests, to deny the almost universal strict Calvinism (i.e. 5 point Calvinism) of our Baptist forefathers in the Southern Baptist Convention, is to embrace what he calls "theological apostacy" and what Dr. Tom Ascol indicates is a departure from "Baptist orthodoxy" (//link) >>>
Continue reading "On the Doctrines and Practices of Baptists (1857) by Peter Lumpkins" »
Ever curious what top representatives from the largest network of Baptist Calvinists in the Southern Baptist Convention think about those of us who are Southern Baptists but do not embrace the "doctrines of grace"? Let's consider clear words from two prominent Calvinists in the Southern Baptist Convention network: >>>
Continue reading "Tom Nettles, Tom Ascol, and Southern Baptist orthodoxy 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 >>>
Continue reading "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.
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 >>>
Continue reading "William Birch on Gerald Harris: Calvinists are here and have been: a response (part I) by Peter Lumpkins" »
Last Thursday, The Christian Index editor, Gerald Harris became a hunted man. His literary crime was posting his personal opinion concerning what he perceives as an unusual rise of Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention and to do so--gulp, gulp--in his personal opinion editorial column of The Christian Index >>>
Continue reading "Gerald Harris: WANTED: DEAD or ALIVE (mostly dead) by Peter Lumpkins" »
I called to get permission to post Gerald Harris' latest editorial on SBC Tomorrow. The Christian Index graciously gave me permission to do so. It was scheduled to publish at 5:15 A.M on Friday. The reason for permission is two-fold: a) plain, old-fashioned courtesy; b) at the bottom of the editorial page there is a clear indicator I needed to get the permission. It reads:
Continue reading "Tom Ascol on Gerald Harris by Peter Lumpkins " »
As a life-long St. Louisan I read with interest the recent Baptist Press article about NAMB's plan to plant 75 new churches in the St. Louis Metro Area. My initial thoughts were; where are they going to plant new churches, what about the struggling existing churches, and what kind of new churches? >>>
SBC Tomorrow welcomes back Mary England as Guest Contributor*
Continue reading "Send North America: Who’s coming to St. Louis? NAMB or Acts 29? by Mary England" »
Southern Baptist Calvinists frequently assert that it wasn't until well into the twentieth century that strong Calvinism began to wane in influence among Southern Baptists. For example, Al Mohler is recently quoted as saying, >>>
Continue reading "Did 19th century Virginia Regular Baptists hold to general atonement? 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 >>>
Continue reading "Baptist Have Always Been Calvinists? by Peter Lumpkins" »