peterlumpkins.com

The United States of America vs.The United States of Allah

Some younger voices in SBC life loudly insist Southern Baptists are living in yesteryear; that is, while lamenting the 1950s, nevertheless we still hopelessly cling to a false illusion that we may usher our golden age back in again. We're advised to become "relevant" to our culture by upgrading our public image because the culture--especially the twenty-somethings--simply does not like us and consequently say mean and nasty things about us. Indeed, we're promised a healthy ear from spiritualism, paganism, and the most responsive of all, secularism's adherents if we'll: Be... Read more →

The Ultimate Muscle Machine: "The Goat" & Siblings Will Soon Be Gone

The 1964 Pontiac GTO was one flame on wheels. I was fortunate to have driven one of these screamers as a juvenile delinquent. I was also fortunate I wasn't killed nor anyone else! Though unsaved at the time, my Lord surely left merciful fingerprints all over my rebel life. Alas, Pontiac will soon be but a memory, as is now "The Goat." Sad. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Interview with Pastor & Author, Bob Pearle: "The Vanishing Church: Searching for Significance in the 21st Century"

Dr. Pearle is pastor of Birchman Baptist Church in Ft Worth, Texas and his latest book is published by Hannibal Books in Garland, Texas. I recently offered a review on The Vanishing Church, emphasizing its fundamental difference from many "emergent-like" approaches to doing church today. In my view, The Vanishing Church is a much needed antidote to the poisoned ecclesiology so often found flowing through the contaminated bloodstream of many trendy new ways in doing church. The unwritten subtext beneath the seductive statistics cited as evidence that the church needs... Read more →

Southern Baptists Defining 'Second Tier' Issues: A Simple Test Case

Recently I enjoyed a sermon by a major SBC leader who extolled the virtues of making proper distinctions between first, second, and third tier doctrines. Though not the speaker, Dr. Al Mohler, President of SBTS, made this practical hermeneutical overlay popular, referring to it as a theological triage (A Theology of the Church, pp.930-31). Though not necessarily intended to be more than a practical example of discerning priorities within a congregation, particularly from a pastoral perspective, the theological triage, has, in many respects, been baptized as the official hermeneutical trajectory... Read more →

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Professor to be Oxford Fellow

Congratulations to Dr. Malcolm Yarnell, recently recruited by Oxford University as Visiting Fellow at The Centre for Baptist History & Heritage. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

J.D. Greear’s Orthodox, Connected, Unconventional: The Future Face of the Southern Baptist Convention: A Few Reflections by Peter Lumpkins

J.D. Greear is pastor of The Summit Church in the Raleigh-Durham area and also is adjunct professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He recently posted his thoughts concerning young Southern Baptist pastors (link/). The same post now sits on Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary's blog (link/). It is a good read and I encourage you to see what young Southern Baptists are supposed to be thinking. Below is a summary of Greear's thoughts and some reflections I have. Restating A Young Southern Baptist Self-Portrait Contrary to the young pastor, if 55... Read more →

Francis Schaeffer on Church Purity and Christian Love

One of the most influential writers in my life has been the late Francis Schaeffer. I owe tremendous gratitude to him, rescuing me from Liberalism in the early 80s. "To be really Bible-believing Christians we need to practice, simultaneously, at each step of the way, two biblical principles. One principle is that of the purity of the visible church. Scripture commands that we must do more than just talk about the purity of the visible church; we must actually practice it, even when it is costly. The second principle is... Read more →

Rick Warren: Does He or Doesn't He Support Gay Marriage?

I like Rick Warren. I always have. God used him in marvelous ways to influence masses of people for the gospel. Like others who've questioned at times some of his methodical means of getting the gospel out, I've had my own reservations. Also, there are portions of the purpose-driven life I personally find inadequate. Millions upon millions of believers register their disagreement with me, however. Nor do such differences lessen my respect for him. My respect and appreciation aside, Warren has unfortunately scorched his skillet full of tasty corn this... Read more →

What is Your Price? by Luke Liechty, Guest Contributor

What is your price? Do you have a price? You protest that you could NEVER be bought. Me thinks thou protesteth too much. I might add that I too would like to protest that I could NEVER be bought. But I know what I am about to write and so I do not protest...as much. What does it mean to be bought, at least in the sense that I am asking the question? To be bought means at what price would you be willing to compromise your calling, forsake your... Read more →

No Fire Hot Enough: by SelahV, Guest Contributor

Ever been through trials of fire? Not the little inconveniences that annoy, nor the occasional aggravation of a disgruntled person. No. I mean a trial that when looking at it from a distance, you wonder how you survived it. In its midst you felt as though you'd be consumed. Yet, you endured; you persevered and God gained the glory for it. “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the... Read more →