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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.)  >>>

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  >>>

J. Budziszewski on engaging the homosexuality issue by Peter Lumpkins

The Family Research Council sponsors an annual Witherspoon lecture symposium dealing with public policy, political philosophy, and moral issues. Those who give lectures are among the most accomplished scholars in their respective fields. A decade ago, natural law philosopher, Jay Budziszewski delivered the Witherspoon lecture >>>

Evangelism: A Biblical Response to Today’s Questions: A Brief Review by Peter Lumpkins

J. D. Payne serves as a National Missionary with the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and an Associate Professor of Church Planting and Evangelism in the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Evangelism: A Biblical Response to Today's Questions ($17.99 Biblica Publishing, 2011) answers questions about evangelism from an admittedly Calvinistic perspective (47) >>> 

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

Free Will, Ignorance, and Reformed Internet Apologetics by Peter Lumpkins

I don’t know if it’s unintended ignorance or intentional intellectual laziness on the part of many Reformed apologists, but options for theological accuracy coming from some of the more well-known websites are fast disappearing.  Alpha & Omega, the apologetic website of extreme Calvinist* James White, recently put up a piece on free will written by contributor, Alan Kurschner in which Kurschner flatly denied human responsibility implies the concept of “so-called free will.” I offered a brief critique, pointing out the obvious flaw in Kurschner’s reasoning (and most all strict Calvinists for that matter).

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 >>>

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

  Earlier  we noted our agreement with Tom Ascol’s intention for irenic “debate” over the issue of Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention.  The latest issue of Founders Journal was supposed to illustrate Ascol’s hope such an encouraging exchange is possible. Our lament was and remains that while Ascol may possess every intention of sincere dialogue with brothers on the opposite side of the issue, some of the language the essayists employed in the Founders Journal was, at times, both unduly provocative and unbrotherly* >>>

Everything You Know about Evangelicals is Wrong (Well Almost Everything): A Book-Look by Peter Lumpkins

Beginning in the last quarter of the 20th century, evangelicals rode their white horses to religious stardom.  As Liberal and mainline denominational colleges and seminaries shrunk, evangelical student bodies swelled fat and prosperous. Fame was short-lived, however. While Newsweek proclaimed 1976 as “the year of the evangelical,” church historian Martin E. Marty predicted rough days ahead for evangelicals as early as 1989. Indeed, some theologians now question whether the term “evangelical” has not expended itself completely. For example, >>>

Salvation and Sovereignty: a Molinist Approach: An Extended Book-look (Part II) 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.

The engagement below is Part II in a series of three parts. To get a flow of the volume, you may want to scan Part I before moving on to Part II below  >>>

Denny Burk on Objectivity: A Subjectivist Substitute? by Peter Lumpkins

Last week, New Mexico pastor, Howell Scott, wrote a social commentary bemoaning what many of us in conservativism view a senseless act of leftist obsession with controlling free speech. The occasion was the firing of media analyst and self-described Liberal commentator, Juan Williams, for his “insensitive remarks” about Muslims and airlines.  Scott sums it up well:

With the firing of Juan Williams…we are witnessing the continued assault on our First Amendment freedoms by radical Islamists and their liberal elite friends in the media and government.  I knew that any direct or overt criticism of Islam (even the radical kind) would eventually be considered offensive and off-limits..Who knew that not just our words, but even our feelings would be considered offensive to Islam?

Williams’ release from his NPR contract seemed a fairly straight-forward abuse of what Thomas Sowell dubs “verbal virtuosity,” one form of which is verbal cleansing. And, while others—especially leftist apologists for the Liberal intelligentsia—agreed with and defended Williams’ dismissal, I hardly expected a different response >>>

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

"Whosoever Will" Getting Good Press by Peter Lumpkins

As I posted late last week, Whosoever Will:  A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point Calvinism edited by Drs. David Allen and Steve Lemke and published by B&H Publishing Group is already on backorder (//link). More good news is, 

Whosoever Will: Off to a Good Start by Peter Lumpkins

 Looks as if Whosoever Will:  A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point Calvinism edited by Drs. David Allen and Steve Lemke and published by B&H Publishing Group is already on backorder. I'm told the first printing of Whosoever Will sold out in two weeks. B&H is scurrying to get a second printing. It appears the wait time is 4-6 weeks.

Whosoever thinks the young, restless, and Reformed coddling among Southern Baptists is not getting the attention of the grassroots Southern Baptist Convention may need to rethink their proposition.

Our congratulations to Drs. Allen and Lemke as well as all the contributors to the volume.  Your essays benefit the theo-biblical health of the SBC more than you realize.

With that, I am...

Peter