peterlumpkins.com

Al Mohler vindicates Brad Whitt: "there is a creeping Presbyterianism amongst us" by Peter Lumpkins

Just about a year ago, Dr. Brad Whitt fired a shot heard in most sectors of the Southern Baptist Convention. Being a young South Carolina, Southern Baptist pastor, he just didn’t fit the mold of the young, restless, and reformed travelling around the country by the tens of thousands (literally) to hear all the cool, calm, Calvinist speakers at the latest Passion, T4G, TGC, SGM, YRR conferences  >>>

Al Mohler: "Calvinism is the shape of our future" 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   >>>

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.

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  >>>

The Calvinists are here: a guest editorial by Gerald Harris

UPDATE: the word is LifeWay is preparing a detailed response to Gerald Harris' essay and is scheduled to post this evening on Baptist Press. I'm anticipating precisely what facts in the essay LifeWay intends to dispute.

=======================

Below is the current editorial in The Christian Index, the Georiga Baptist Convention's state paper. Dr. Gerald Harris has served as editor of The Christian Index since May 2003. We happily publish by permission Dr. Harris' latest editoral, "The Calvinists are here"  >>>

SBC Tomorrow welcomes Gerald Harris as guest contributor*

Roy Hargrave: not all Calvinists are cut from the same young, restless, and reformed pattern by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Roy Hargrave is the Senior Pastor of the Riverbend Community Church in Ormond Beach, Florida. I profiled him and the Riverbend church last summer. Below is proof positive that not all strong, convinced Calvinists are cut from the same mold. Listen to the excerpt as Dr. Hargrave preaches on "Serious Business"  >>>

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 >>>

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

SBC Today, the rising star among Southern Baptist blogs, has continued a helpful series of posts interviewing well-known personalities throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. Mentionables include Jim Richards, Fred Luter, Brad Whit, Bryant Wright, Mac Brunson, Emir Caner, Ergun Caner, Johnny Hunt, Frank Cox, Steve Rummage, Hayes Wicker, Frank Page, and the most recent, 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,  >>>

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 >>>

The Strange Silence of Baptist Press on Major Issues affecting Southern Baptists by Peter Lumpkins

 On October 18, SBC Today posted a recent interview with senior denominational executive, Frank Page, President of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). In the interview, Dr. Page publicly addressed an issue about which he believes "everyone is aware...but few want to talk about..."  >>>

Why Calvinists are so successful at making non-Calvinist friends by Peter Lumpkins

How do they do it? You know, Calvinists who are so good at making non-Calvinist friends. I think one of their secrets must be summarized by Dr. Steven Lawson, senior pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church, Mobile, AL. Yes, this is the same Steven Lawson who took the historic Dauphin Way Baptist Church in 1995 and, in just a few short years, grew the church down from virtually mega-church status* to a staggering  650. Dr. Lawson's secret? Focus on the five points of Calvinism and push evangelism by the wayside. Then, leave the church and gut it of all the leadership, taking them with you to start another church down the road.**

Well, that was in 2003 >>>

Kevin Ezell Defends Acts 29 Network: A Response (part I) by Peter Lumpkins

 Joe Westbury is managing editor of The Christian Index, the Georgia Baptist state paper. On June 2nd, The Christian Index published Westbury’s feature story entitled “Filling in the Blanks” which profiled NAMB President Kevin Ezell as he openly talked about several issues including church planting, missionaries, evangelism, and the Acts 29 Network >>>

Acts 29 Network, Mark Driscoll and the Southern Baptist Convention: a Compilation of Articles by Peter Lumpkins

As we are packing bags for Phoenix, I thought it would benefit readers at SBC Tomorrow just how prominent Acts 29 Network, Mark Driscoll, and his church planting movement have become among the elites of the Southern Baptist Convention. Below are several of the more colorful issues we've discussed. With no chronological order intended, check out some of the following pieces I've written >>>