peterlumpkins.com

Too Much to Say, Too Little Time to Say by Peter Lumpkins

Lots of stuff happening in the SBC (or affecting the SBC) draw my attention. However, I'm pinched for any real time presently to offer a little bit o' perspective from my side of the street. Perhaps next week (or more likely the next) we can put'er in gear and burn some rubber. I really appreciate the readership of SBC Tomorrow. Lord bless, and... Have a great weekend. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Calvinists, the Southwest Alabama Bible Conference 2011, and the "20 Questions" by Peter Lumpkins

The Southwest Alabama Bible Conference 2011 (SABC) may be the first organized attempt—or, at least the most visible firstly organized event--by grassroots Southern Baptists to address the issue of aggressive Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention. With some seminaries and agencies continuing to promote the Calvinist Resurgence, other grassroots efforts may not be far behind.* We think this is a good sign for Southern Baptists >>> We expect the pastors who sponsor the conference to be tarred as divisive and unhelpful by many Calvinists in the SBC. I think it... Read more →

FBC JAX Pastors' Conference by Peter Lumpkins

Carrying on the great, 25 year tradition of inspiration, encouragement, and love for the local church pastor, First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida is in the final preparatory stages for the 2011 Conference. This year's theme is endurance and will be held January 28-February 1. Dr. Mac Brunson, Senior Pastor, FBC Jax, rightly observes that while some pastors are concerned about enduring until they retire, so many pastors today are struggling with how to endure to the end of the week! Here's a peek: Dr. Brunson obviously is attempting to reach... Read more →

"Dear Ruth": Hopeful Words to a Hurting Christian by Peter Lumpkins

Several years ago, I wrote several pieces for a site which specialized in answering questions about life, faith, God, church, Scripture, Christianity and even religion in general. I was cleaning out some files in my databank and found several of those pieces. Below is a question I answered from "Ruth, a confused Christian." "Ruth's" question is followed by my answer as I sent it>>> Ruth's Question: I've been saved for 20 years. lately I've been studying "candle magic", dream telepathy and creative visualization and hypnosis. The whole time I've been... Read more →

With that, I am*...Peter Lumpkins

I posted a similar post a few years ago. And, at the risk of being a bit too personal, this post focuses more on me than I normally allow. It is not that I am reluctant for people to know who I am. Most ministers finally accept the reality that, to a large extent, they live in see-through quarters. Rather, it is simply not the purpose toward which I started this site. Forgive me, then, as I become a bit too personal... By Conversion, I'm Believer Growing up in Tennessee... Read more →

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... Read more →

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* >>> What follows are some observations on... Read more →

C.S. Lewis on the Limits of Scientific Opinion by Peter Lumpkins

Justin B. Banard at The Witherspoon Institute: Public Discourse on Ethics, Law, and the Common Good quotes the penetrating words of C.S. Lewis in a short piece entitled, "Designer Genes." From a Lewis editorial in 1958, Banard quotes: Let scientists tell us about sciences. But . . . questions about the good for man, about justice, and what things are worth having at what price . . . on these a scientific training gives a man’s opinion no added value. Let the doctor tell me I shall die unless I... Read more →

Founders Journal & Whosoever Will: Observations: Part I by Peter Lumpkins

Founders Journal represents the theological thinking of the largest network of strict Calvinists within the Southern Baptist Convention, Founders Ministries.* In its most recent edition, Founders offers its critique of Whosoever Will: A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point Calvinism, edited by Drs. Steve Lemke and David Allen. The issue entitled “Theological Debate Within the Family” (FJ 82) unfortunately ran into some technical difficulties and is being presently republished (though the misprinted version had already been sent out). I want to offer a few observations about the critical journal entries and will... Read more →