peterlumpkins.com

I was saved through a sinner's prayer by Peter Lumpkins

Recently, the tattered, torn cloth of easy believism was draped once again over the shoulders of Southern Baptists by one of the young new lights shining among evangelicals—David Platt. He said in a “talk” excerpt at Verge 2012:

SBC name change: it's good...it's bad...it's ugly (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

Summarizing Part I, I explained the good, the bad, and some of the ugly stemming from this last attempt to change our name spawned by SBC president, Bryant Wright's appointing  of a "task force" to study the name change last September (2011). As for the good, "Great Commission Baptists" (GCB) surely captures the ideal of what and whom Southern Baptists have been throughout their history. From the moment of our beginnings in 1845, Southern Baptists have been, at their best moments, about carrying out the Great Commission of our Lord. Few, if any, imagined arguments could usurp this proposition  >>>

A. H. Newman on the "Radical Reformers" by Peter Lumpkins

The eminent church historian, Albert Henry Newman (1852–1933) was one of the founders of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. An accomplished scholar recognized by a broad, prestigious society of reputable historians, Newman wrote several standard works on Christian history including Baptist history  >>>

Baptist Theologian explains "Radical Reformation Day" by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Malcolm Yarnell is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Director of the Oxford Study Program, Director of the Center for Theological Research, and Editor of the Southwestern Journal of Theology. Dr. Yarnell also authored, contributed to and/or edited several published works including his enlightening monograph on The Formation of Christian Doctrine. In a recent Baptist Press article entitled "Why we celebrate Radical Reformation Day" he explains its significance for Southern Baptists  >>>

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 >>>

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)  >>>

New Blog at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary by Peter Lumpkins

Just to show you how 'out of it' I've been for the last several weeks so far as keeping up with SBC affairs, I missed the launch of Southwestern seminary's blog--Theological Matters--theological insights from Southwestern >>>

Reviewing Alcohol Today: What constitutes a helpful review?

Since my book, Alcohol Today: abstinence in an age of indulgence (AT) debuted in 2009, I've appreciated many of the reviews that's been posted, reviews both pro and con. I determined early on not to engage those who reviewed my book for the simple reason I did not want anyone who took the time to review my work, and subsequently posting their thoughts about my work, to wonder if the author was going to show up and give them "what for" in misunderstanding his "perfect" literary masterpiece. Truth be told, I've fairly-well kept my self-imposed restriction. And, while AT has not been a runaway "best-seller," I've been pleased with its modest success >>>

Just in case you missed it by Peter Lumpkins

 

 

 

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

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...>>>

Fullerism or Calvinism? by Peter Lumpkins

Recently, Baptist theologian Malcolm Yarnell put up a brief review of Fullerism as Opposed to Calvinism: A Historical and Theological Comparison of the Missiology of Andrew Fuller and John Calvin (hereafter “Fullerism”) by A. Chadwick Mauldin ($12.80 Wipf & Stock Publishers, Eugene, OR, 130 pages). With a Foreword written by Michael A.G. Haykin, Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Mauldin offers an invigorating proposal to contemporary Baptists—perhaps especially to those Baptists among us who insist on making Calvinism proper the theological benchmark for orthodoxy within our specific theological heritage…>>>

The John 3:16 Conference: A Vindication by Peter Lumpkins

Over the past few weeks, several commenters have logged on to SBC Tomorrow only to lob a petrol cocktail toward The John 3:16 Conference held at The First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Georgia almost three years ago.  One commenter illustrates nicely for the others:

Top Ten Theological Truths for New Generation Christians by Peter Lumpkins

Theologian, Malcolm Yarnell, offers a great piece to consider for new generation believers. Entitled "Top Ten Theological Truths Every Young Christian Should Know," Dr. Yarnell's piece is a condensed version of a summary of doctrine created for the Youth Ministry Lab at its 2011 meeting.  He includes succinct but helpful theological statements on The Trinity, The Holy Spirit, and Humanity and Sin, and Creation and Providence among others. For example, Yarnell writes of Creation and Providence:

"On the basis of His love, the triune God created all things, visible and invisible, out of nothing, sustains all things providentially, and will bring all things to their proper end for His glory"

Benefit from Dr. Yarnell's clear and worthy presentation by reading his entire piece.

With that, I am...

Peter 

 

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... >>>

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