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The 2013 John 3:16 Conference, Criticism, and the Calvinist Controversy in Louisiana: Part II

In Part I, I recorded the first of two examples indicative of unhelpful criticism--and in some cases, irresponsible and even slanderous criticism--some of the more rigorous Calvinists lobbed toward The 2013 John 3:16 Conference. Montana pastor, J.D. Hall, claimed Truett-McConnell College was "theologically raping" the students, while indicating one of its professors, Adam Harwood, was much to blame. And, while Hall at first defended his words when some of his Twitter followers protested, he nonetheless offered a clear word of regret and publicly apologized for his "harsh" language, conceding Trevin Wax's "rebuke was appropriate. Apologies, to everyone."

Reformed Theology coming under more published scrutiny by Peter Lumpkins

  The publication of Whosoever Will (edted by Drs. David Allen and Steve Lemke) was the result of The John 3:16 Conference held at the Woodstock First Baptist Church November 6-7, 2008.  Contra some Southern Baptist Calvinists' unwavering confidence, the scholarly contributions in Whosoever Will demonstrated that Reformed theology is not the only, viable theological kid on the block. In fact, the composite thrust of the contributors to Whosoever Will makes it fairly clear that strict Calvinism as a system must be abandoned for a more robust biblicism  >>>

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.)  >>>

Evangelism or Discipleship: a false dichotomy? by Peter Lumpkins

Frequently, one hears a critique of Southern Baptists which goes something like this:Southern Baptists have been excellent at getting disciples but lousy at making disciples. We have been good at baptisms but bad at developing those baptized. We have done well in evangelism but poor in discipleship.

Perhaps if I think hard enough, I will recall echoes of my own voice in those criticisms  >>>

SBC Voices on Dr. Steve Lemke: the sad decline in reasonable interaction from Calvinist critics by Peter Lumpkins

 I wrote on the Daviess-McLean Association recently, giving my thoughts about the matter. I cited in my piece the two-part series by Baptist theologian, Dr. Steve Lemke, who, in my view, offered the best and most helpful treatment on Southern Baptist blogs. If you missed reading Lemke’s reflections, you may find part I and part II enlightening as did I  >>>

Reformed Theologian dubs Steve Lemke's critics 'sad and irresponsible' by Peter Lumpkins

Adjunct Wheaton professor and Reformed author, John Armstrong, is no stranger to Southern Baptists; he used to be one. Though presently he is comfortably at home in the Reformed community of faith, he still holds dear what he learned in his spiritual pilgrimage among Southern Baptists.  But Dr. Armstrong's got a contentious bone to pick with unfair critics of Dr. Steve Lemke, Provost and Professor of Philosophy and Ethics at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary >>>

Just in case you missed it by Peter Lumpkins

 

 

 

Below are some links you may have missed from this past week:

Elder-Rule on the Rise in the Southern Baptist Convention (Part I) by Peter Lumpkins

 

   Below is Part I of a portion included in an essay originally published in the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry (Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2005: 188-212) entitled “Elder Rule and Southern Baptist Church Polity.” It’s author is Dr. Robert A. Wring, presently pastor of the Mountain Road Baptist Church in Spanaway, Washington (near Tacoma). Dr. Wring based his essay on his doctoral dissertation he completed in 2002 at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, the thesis of which was “An Examination of the Practice of Elder Rule in Selected Southern Baptist Churches in the Light of New Testament Teaching” >>>

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 >>>

Reformed Theology vs. Free Church Theology in the SBC: Disaster Inevitable by Peter Lumpkins

   I started blogging in 2006. The reason I gave then, is the reason I state now: the aggressive Calvinist agenda being promoted among Southern Baptists. In 2006, Founders Ministries was the kingpin blog. Tom Ascol peeled every non-Calvinist banana who dared mention the "doctrines of grace." Indeed it would be hard to name a then, mega-church pastor in the SBC, who did not feel the wrath of Founders' blog and blog thread. They were "exposed" for the "Arminians" (i.e. "heretics") they were... >>>

"A Church in Debt" by Peter Lumpkins

  I graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1990.  In August of that same year, I preached at my home church in Madison, Tennessee from the text, Romans 1:13-17. During the course of the message, I rhetorically asked "Are Southern Baptists paying their bills?" I then answered my own question>>>

Bart Ehrman Honks James White's Nose by Peter Lumpkins

Internet apologetics is destroying conservative evangelicalism.  It's only a matter of time.  How do I know this?  Take 10 minutes and listen to Bart Ehrman completely break down Reformed apologist, James White in cross-examination.  I know little to nothing about textual criticism. But I do know when someone is bluffing with an answer.  James White embarrassed evangelicals with this poor dialog with Ehrman. Ehrman walks away looking like an accomplished scholar. On the other hand, White crawls away like a whipped mongrel.

Hear for yourself:

Unfortunately the sound-bite I linked was a prirated copy and honoring the request of the original's owner, I took the link down.  If you are interested in the debate, you may purchase a copy of the entire debate from A&OMin.org for $6 (mp3 download)

This should be a wake-up call to our seminaries.  We'd better get beyond our love-affair with neo-Calvinism.  Smooth, erudite scholars like Ehrman *will* have an effect on thinking university students.  Our apologetics must go much deeper than memorizing the views of others coupled with clever debate tactics.  As one can see with White, it does not work in exchange with authentic scholars.

Maranatha.

Come Lord.

With that, I am...

Peter

FBC JAX Pastors' Conference by Peter Lumpkins

   Carrying on the great, 25 year tradition of inspiration, encouragement, and love for the local church pastor, First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida is in the final preparatory stages for the 2011 Conference. This year's theme is endurance and will be held January 28-February 1. 

Founders Journal & Whosoever Will: Matthew Barrett on Steve Lemke: Part II by Peter Lumpkins

   We observed in Part I of our reflections on Matthew Barrett’s* response to Dr. Steve Lemke’s position essay on Irresistible Grace in Whosoever Will** that Barrett failed to deal with Lemke’s biblical data.  I concluded: “The fact is, Barrett didn’t deal with the texts Lemke cited in any substantial way. Rather he summarily dismissed them and substituted texts which were supposed to prove his own position.”

In this follow-up, I’d like to point out a few additional short-comings in Barrett’s paper showing, from my perspective, that Founders Ministries should have solicited the assistance of Southern’s scholars rather than her students.The reality is, Founders Journal’s response to the formidable argument presented in Whosoever Will stands as one academic flop.

Here’s more evidence why >>>