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When you think you've got Southern Baptists all figured out--"Theologically he is a strict Calvinist..." by Peter Lumpkins

When one reaches my age and has attempted to stay relatively up-to-date about who Southern Baptists are and have been in their rich history since 1845, it wets one's juices when along comes an historical fast ball you didn't even see the pitcher throw  >>>

Gerald Harris, Al Mohler, and Baptist Press by Peter Lumpkins

Baptist Press assistant editor, Erin Roach, composed a response to Gerald Harris, editor of The Christian Index, Georgia Baptists' state paper.¹ Harris published an editorial opinion in The Index entitled, "The Calvinists are here" a piece Roach cited several times. Reactions were included in Roach's piece from various SBC leaders, including Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary >>>

Send North America: Who’s coming to St. Louis? NAMB or Acts 29? by Mary England

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*

Calvinists react to Jerry Vines interview (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

Calvinists react to Jerry Vines interview Part I may be found here. Part II is below and focuses on Joshua Breland's piece on Jerry Vines >>>

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.)  >>>

Did 19th century Virginia Regular Baptists hold to general atonement? by Peter Lumpkins

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,  >>>

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  >>>

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 >>>

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   >>>

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

        One of the clearest expressions in Scripture pertaining to the infinite worth of Christ’s sacrifice is found in the Apostle of Love’s first little letter. He writes: “He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only for our sins but the sins of all the world” (2:2 NLT). This post is meant not to be an exhaustive exposition of this text. Rather, my desire is to allow the Word of God to simply speak for itself through honest evaluation of the text sufficiently showing John’s basic intent that Jesus was “Savior of the world” (1John 4:14; John 4:42).  Before actually dealing with John's assertion about the Atonement, allow me to offer a few observations about Atonement according to historic Calvinism   >>>

Professor David Allen on Andrew Fuller's Shift from Hyper-Calvinism by Peter Lumpkins

My recent book review of A. Chadwick Mauldin's work entitled, Fullerism as Opposed to Calvinism inspired a follow-up piece citing Dr. David Allen's helpful analysis of Andrew Fuller's theological shift from Hyper-Calvinism to High Calvinism to Moderate Calvinism. In a chapter entitled "Preaching for a Great Commission Resurgence” found in The Great Commission Resurgence: Fulfilling God’s Mandate in our Time, edited by Chuck Lawless and Adam Greenway (B&H, 2010, pp.281-298), Dr. Allen expounds on Andrew Fuller and his move away from what had become the theological norm of English Particular Baptists...>>>

John Calvin on Limited Atonement by Peter Lumpkins

  It remains strange how many Calvinists seem to suggest that Calvinism is such a natural hermeneutic when it comes to interpreting Scripture. Sometimes one gets the impression from strict Calvinists that the classic five points are so clear, so basic, and so incontrovertibly biblical that to question any single petal of the TULIP is to question Scripture itself...the gospel itself...>>>

Are Some Forms of Calvinism Hard to Swallow? Perhaps...by Peter Lumpkins

 

 

  William Birch put up a great post recently entitled "Arminianism Grants Man All the Credit for Salvation."  Dealing with the charge that Arminians receive credit for saving themselves from sin, Birch rhetorically asks:

Salvation and Sovereignty: a Molinist Approach: An Extended Book-look (part I) by Peter Lumpkins

      Dr. Kenneth Keathley is Professor of Theology and Senior Vice President for Academic Administration/Dean of the Faculty at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. His book, Salvation and Sovereignty: A Molinist Approach (SSM, B&H, 2010, $24.99) contributes a unique approach among Southern Baptists toward solving the classic dilemma between God’s Sovereignty and human free will. In fact, unless I am mistaken, Dr. Keathley is the first writing Southern Baptist theologian who embraces the historical theological position known as Molinism  >>>

John Calvin Goes to Berkley: An Unusual Twist in the Calvinist-Arminian Debate: A Book Note by Peter Lumpkins

Student minister, James G. McCarthy, who’s served on five university campuses (including Berkeley) has authored four books, the last of which is his first novel, John Calvin Goes to Berkeley. Being the first in the University Christian Fellowship Series, this volume was published by City Christian Press, San Jose, California, 2010.

The plot centers around five students who are a part of the University Christian Fellowship Bible studies.  Peace reigns in the fellowship until the inevitable issue surfaces concerning predestination.  Then, division becomes deeply embedded, and the only solution is to solve the mystery which has stumped theologians for centuries—the paradox starring man’s free will and God’s sovereignty.

I found the dialog between the students wrestling with the issue quite familiar but nonetheless highly accurate, gauged by my own experiences. McCarthy does well in polarizing the theological notions which divide Calvinists from non-Calvinists, especially free will vs. God’s sovereignty and evangelism vs. non-evangelism (i.e. hyper-Calvinism).

If you’re looking for a pleasant break from wading through technical theological jargon, you would benefit from McCarthy’s book.  In addition, college ministers and student pastors would gain an accurate inside scoop about what’s hot on university campuses. The author even offers a helpful study guide for small group studies on John Calvin Goes to Berkeley.

With that, I am…

Peter