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Tom Nettles and the takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

In part I, we rehearsed the historical relationship Dr. Tom Nettles, professor of historical theology, at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has had with Founders Ministries since its inception in 1982. Nettles still sits on the board of directors for Founders Ministries. Nor has Dr. Nettles been rhetorically shy about stating in forceful language precisely how he sees those Traditional Baptists who deviate from what Director of Founders Ministries, Tom Ascol, has called "historic Southern Baptist Orthodoxy." Nettles wrote: >>>

"Licona's Denial of Inerrancy: The List Grows" by Dr. Norman Geisler

Below is Dr. Norman Geisler's latest response to neo-evangelicalism's newest attempt to undermine and perhaps even deny biblical inerrancy. While Southern Baptists had hung up their guns thinking they had won the shootout with Liberals/Moderates over biblical inerrancy during the eighties and early nineties of the last century, we find ourselves once again facing the issue. The difference is, we're having to strap on our pistols and shoot it out with evangelicals!  What a shame. And, even though the piece is longer than a usual blog post, please take the time to read Dr. Geisler's response with care: >>>

Al Mohler, Calvinism, and Baptist origins by Peter Lumpkins

  I received my copy of Ministry By His Grace And For His Glory: Essays in Honor of Thomas J. Nettles¹ only a few days ago and have made half the journey through the first reading. I do not plan to review the entire volume since a volume of this nature defies brevity. With over 20 different contributors writing independently of one another, one is left with either a mammoth task to accomplish or a shotgun blast so broad, it gives justice to no single author or idea. In my view, it is better to periodically offer bite-sized portions people may chew on one chunk at a time. If one is interested, Nathan Finn offers a general outline of all the chapters >>>

Mike Licona and Liberty University: setting the record straight by Peter Lumpkins

In a footnote (#5) on this piece I published November 10th, 2011, I wrote, "departing from the North American Mission Board [NAMB] as head of apologetics, Dr. Licona now teaches at Liberty University, a paradoxical maneuver for LU in itself" (italics added). Reliable sources have corrected a misleading statement I made which could imply that Dr. Licona left the North American Mission Board only to be hired by Liberty University. Such a conclusion would be false >>>

Baptist Press finally deals with Dr. Mike Licona's "inerrancy" by Peter Lumpkins

   North Carolina pastor and Southern Baptist blogger, Tim Rogers, first wrote of Dr. Norman Geisler’s “open challenge” to Dr. Mike Licona on what appears to be an historical denial of a clear piece of supernatural history recorded in Scripture (Matt. 27:53). That was August 27th. Rogers continued posting several sequences following-up the ongoing exchange (09/06/11, 09/09/11, 09/09/11, 09/14/11, 09/16/11, 09/17/11, 09/20/11)  >>>

J.P. Holding on Al Mohler: are apologists doomed to irrelevant frivolity? by Peter Lumpkins

 I like J. P. Holding. He writes some interesting pieces, pieces sparkling with special insights into contextual antiquity and Scripture (Holding's latest book defends the resurrection). I've personally benefited from a couple of books he recommended to me (resulting from an email enquiry to him sometime ago). His literary wit is matched only by Bob L. Ross who humorously gives many Calvinist brothers "what for" when they challenge him on his dissent from the "new" Calvinism (Ross himself is a Sovereign Grace Calvinist). Oops! Pardon me. Back to Holding  >>>

Update on Norman Geisler's Objection to Mike Licona's View on Matthew's "resurrected saints" by Peter Lumpkins

 Below is Dr. Norman Geisler's latest summation of his principled objection toward the interpretation of "resurrected saints" (Matt. 27:53) in former North American Mission Board's in-house apologist, Dr. Mike Licona's latest book, The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach. Geisler argues that Licona's non-historical view of the "resurrected saints" de facto reduces to a denial of biblical inerrancy. While others may not, for my part, I find Geisler's common-sense case highly persuasive  >>>

William Lane Craig on Matthew 27:52-53

Below is a clip from a debate between William Lane Craig and James Crossley. In the course of Craig's presentation, he referenced the resurrected saints in Matthew 27. At the Q/A time in the closing segment, a questioner appealed to Craig to explain his understanding of the resurrected saints about which Matthew mentions. Craig's answer is enlightening:

Norm Geisler defends Al Mohler by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Norman Geisler offered a stunning rebuttal to Mike Licona's critique of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president, Al Mohler. Geisler concludes  >>>

Memo from Licona to Mohler and Geisler: "unpersuasive and misguided" by Peter Lumpkins

Mike Licona is not backing down. While he softened his wording found in his published book in the open letter to Norm Geisler, it seems he's once again taking a polarizing position on the Matthew 27:52-53 text. Indeed after going back and fairly well arguing strongly for his original position in his book, The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach, Licona boldly asserts   >>>

Licona not an Evangelical Theological Society member?

We now learn Dr. Mike Licona is apparently not a member of the ETS. Does Dr. Geisler's argument still have merit?

Certainly something to think about.

With that, I am...

Peter 

Al Mohler vindicates Norm Geisler by Peter Lumpkins

For those who've pooh-poohed Dr. Norman Geisler's questioning of former North American Mission Board apologist, Mike Licona, concerning his entirely unacceptable view of the resurrection saints in Matthew 27:52-53, dubbing Matthew's meaning as little more than "special effects" which the Apostle “added” as a “poetic device” to show a great king had died (i.e. the “Son of God”), and consequently judgment awaited Israel (The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach, pp.552-553) need to listen carefully to Dr. Al Mohler in his latest post  >>>

Mike Licona Responds to Norman Geisler by Peter Lumpkins

Apparently, Dr. Mike Licona has openly responded to Dr. Norman Geisler's public criticism. A copy of Licona's response is posted on Licona's son-in-law's site* (I could not locate it on Licona's site). Dr.Licona writes:

Where are the Watchmen for Southern Baptists? By Peter Lumpkins

  God likens His prophets to watchmen on the wall (Jeremiah 6:17; Ezekiel 3:17; 33:2, 6, 7; Isaiah 52:8). Accordingly, it is their duty to see far and carefully detect threats which may prove pernicious to God's people. Ezekiel says, "And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me (3:16-17). Just as the watchmen were strategically stationed on the city-wall watchtower to blow the shōphâr when the sword came upon the land, so God's prophets were strategically placed in Israel to give warning concerning spiritual invaders likely to barbarize the flock    >>>

The SBC Today Blog: Off to a Great Jump-Start by Peter Lumpkins

After lying dormant for perhaps a year or more, SBC Today is up and running strongly again. And, while Dr. Steve Lemke, Provost and Professor of Philosophy and Ethics at The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (proudly my own alma mater) seems to be the predominant writer on the blog, there exists a wide range of contributors--both academic and cleric--who offer solid commentary on a plethora of issues relevant to Southern Baptists >>>