peterlumpkins.com

Election & Foreknowledge: An Historical Example by Peter Lumpkins

I'm often reminded by my Calvinist brothers that among historic Southern Baptists, a virtual unanimity was embraced in advocating a thoroughly Calvinistic (read, thoroughly Founderistically Calvinist) understanding of biblical election. The heavy-weights are commonly listed--Mell, Mercer, Manly, Dagg, Boyce, and Broadus. Below's selection is not from writing theologians. However, it remains indicative of collective church thinking among many Baptists of the south. In 1893, a group of Northwest Gerogia churches assembled themsleves together and formed the Polk County Baptist Association*. The newly formed association adopted as their "Abstract of Faith"... Read more →

Baptism, The Lord's Supper, and Southern Baptists: Some Options: by Nathan Finn: A Brief Review by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Nathan Finn* writes recently that "Southern Baptists are clearly divided in their views of the ordinances"* (p.1). In light of such division, Finn offers a "taxonomy...[which describes what] most Southern Baptists embrace... when it comes to their respective practices concerning baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and church membership" (p.2). Following are four positions historically held among Baptists: Option 1: Some Southern Baptists are Landmarkers who practice closed communion and closed membership** Option 2: Some non-Landmark Southern Baptists practice both closed membership and closed communion Option 3: There are some Southern... Read more →

Asking Horizontally, Receivng Vertically: Ironing out the Wrinkles of Unanswered Prayer

I'm blessed with a great Bible study leader whose life-group he facilitates on Sunday morning. More than I'm confident he realizes, David C. jars my thinking loose from idle inaction stuck for Lord only knows how long. Today's text on Solomon served us all well. And, while the following is not what we spoke about together, the text we used got me to thinking. Or, jarred me loose, if you will, to ponder the text a wee bit more. Consider: "In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream... Read more →

What's Really in Your Heart?

My friend Della sent me this cool video. Awesome message! Don't quit too soon... Read more →

Exciting High-Tech Break-through Only at SBC Tomorrow: by Peter Lumpkins

Just get a load of this! We have now arrived... Read more →

Calvinism: The Conflict That May Never Go Away

Ever fond of rummaging through that toward which many, possessing no curious interest in such historical matters, offer but merely a discomforting yawn, I ran across this little golden nugget from Alabama Baptist history. Elder W. C. Bledsoe, author of The History of The Liberty (East) Baptist Association of Alabama (Atlanta, GA. Constitution Job Office, 1886) writes of events leading up to the formation of that association, the first session of which took place "On Thursday before the fourth Sunday in September, 1836...held at the LaFayette church, Chambers county, Ala."... Read more →

"The Cussing Pastor" Continues Influence Among Southern Baptists

Controversial Pastor, Mark Driscoll, teams up with two prominent Southern Baptist academics in back-to-back conferences next month. The first one, Plant & Thrive, held on the campus of Vintage 21 Church, Raleigh, NC, features two tracks: one for potential new church starters and one for church planters (1-4 years). Admittedly, the itinerary looks appealing. However, that at least two prominent Southern Baptist educators are teaming with Driscoll appears, at least to me, a bit of an oddity. I'll explain that in a moment. Another conference is worth noting: The 2009... Read more →

Contextualization, Syncretism and Global Witness: Raising Concerns by Peter Lumpkins

An interesting exchange took place last week between an anonymous missionary (non-SBC) presently serving in a Muslim country and a theologian at Liberty Theological Seminary. A post entitled "My Pilgrimage" is hosted at SBCImpact and written by an anonymous missionary who calls himself/herself "From the Middle East" (a regular contributor for SBCImpact, by the way). The pilgrimage described is in story form, self-designed by the missionary, "not so much as a full doctrinal statement"; instead, it is offered to indigenous Muslims to gauge whether they are "interested in hearing the... Read more →

The Washington Post on Southern Baptists: A Southern Baptist Professor Responds

Recently, the online version of the Washington Post ran an editorial by David Waters, editor of On Faith, entitled "Southern Baptist Decline and God's Bottom Line." In the essay, Waters did not present a stellar estimation of Southern Baptists. After rehearsing several reasons he believes Southern Baptists are "declining," Waters concludes: "Shouldn't the church find more faithful ways of measuring its success? Mercy instead of membership? Forgiveness instead of financial contributions? Baptisms lived in the world instead of baptisms recorded in a book? Justice instead of just stats? When it... Read more →

The Vanishing Church: Searching for Significance in the 21st Century by Dr. Bob Pearle

A fellow blogger and frequent commenter on SBCTomorrow, Ron Phillips has posted a review of his pastor's newest book, The Vanishing Church: Searching for Significance in the 21st Century. Dr. Pearle serves as pastor of Birchman Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas and is also President of the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention. Ron writes: "For this Baptist, I am delighted that my pastor deals with an issue most dear to me: ecumenism within our Southern Baptist Convention and the need to recover our Baptist distinctives...Pearle articulates a sound biblical... Read more →