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 hills, I was the last of twelve children.  We lived in a four room house and when I say four rooms, I mean that literally.  No closets, no pantry and, of course, no bathroom.  Our little outhouse stood about fifty yards behind our house.  It could go no further because the railroad trestle towered over and behind the little shack.   

A small creek--Coon Creek Hollow was our landmark--ran parallel our yard.  Summers were fun for we had a little swimming hole within twenty yards of the house.  The creek also served as our way of bathing--at least the months we could stand the temperature.  In the winter, our only alternative was a sponge bath behind the wood heater in the living room.  Momma would string up a sheet to give us a little privacy.

My home was not a Christian home.  By that I do not mean that my home was heathenism. Nor was it a shining light of virtue.  It is sad nevertheless true that I can hardly recall an image of Daddy without also recalling that he was an alcoholic.  Most every memory I have includes his beer in his hand.  One thing for which I'll be eternally grateful is my parents taking me to Sunday School.  They did not go but they saw to it the kids could go.

I was first introduced to the Gospel at a very young age--perhaps five or six.  I have a faint memory of responding to an altar call as a young boy.  I know I was moved about something, for I remember weeping at the altar.  My sister tells me I was saved and baptized as a little boy in the Church we attended.  I do not remember such nor do I make claim that I was saved then.  I only know I remember being strongly moved.

I followed in Daddy's footsteps after he died.  Upon turning sixteen, I virtually stayed drunk for four years.  It's all I knew.  After marrying in 1973, I stopped drinking so much but still had a lifestyle for which I remain embarrassed to this day.  My son was born early in our marriage and would become a catalyst in bringing me to Christ. 

In 1977 I started attending a Baptist church in Nashville (Madison), Tennessee.  Kathy had actually been going to the Church for sometime as a result of our son begging to go to Sunday School.  In fact, Kathy received Christ as Savior and Lord about a month before my own time.  Her gentle spirit and evident change of life prompted me to attend. 

On Sunday February 20th, I got out of bed telling Kathy I was not going back to Church.  I made a dozen excuses that morning why I was not going but ended up going anyway.  It was that morning, during the invitation, that my mind became captivated with the Gospel.  I cannot recall what the Pastor said nor any song sung.  I do recall vividly--as if it were yesterday--that I needed Christ as Savior.  If I were to be saved, only Jesus could save me.

I stepped out from the pew making my way forward.  The next Sunday, Kathy and I were baptized together.  My life is a converted life.  I am believer by conversion.  Turning from sin and turning toward Christ, God rescued me from condemnation and eternal separation from Him. 

By Conviction, I'm Biblicist

I remain perfectly aware that the term "biblicist" is chided, bemoaned and, in some circles, rejected outright.  I accept that.  But I still wear biblicist as a badge of honor.  Indeed I think non-Calvinist and biblicist walk arm in arm.

I have not always been, by conviction, biblicist.  It is true that in the beginning of my faith journey with Jesus Christ, it seemed natural just to believe the Bible  and take it as God's Word.  Many challenges would have to met, however, before biblicism was forged in my mind and heart. 

University studies posed indescribable challenges to my faith, and my belief in the veracity of God's Word.  Often times, I was made out to be the Bible-believing buffoon in both religion and philosophy classes. Unscrupulous professors caricatured my beliefs and baited me to engage them, knowing I was not up to the challenge. Their skill in engagement often times left me in invisible but very real tears--almost to the point of giving up.

Prayer, hard study and especially the weekly expositions of the Word of God itself led me in forging, deep within my own heart, an impregnable fortress.  I now possess something philosophy cannot argue out, politics cannot vote out, law cannot rule out,  religion cannot reason out  and Hell itself cannot torture out.  I am, by conviction, biblicist. 

Being biblicist now serves as benchmark in my belief system. Being biblicist is primarily the reason why, when I left my Calvinist cloak in the closet,  I would not warm myself in an Arminian robe.  Some argue biblicist is, in reality, only symbol without any substance.  That's fair.  But for me, even if I'm only fooling myself, being biblicist is preferable to rigid, theological system no matter the brand.

By Consequence, I'm Baptist 

By that I do not mean to suggest being Baptist constitutes being the only legitimate Church.  Nor even less do I suggest that with Baptists is deposited the Keys to the Kingdom.  My involvement with and acceptance of Christians in other denominations and theological traditions through the years demonstrate I do not believe nor practice such exclusionary elitism.  I have worked with evangelicals of all persuasions--and even some mainline denominations as well--in city-wide evangelistic projects. I believe a spiritual camaraderie exists between all true believers everywhere. 

Nonetheless, I do not believe such informal agreement on worthy projects and/or basic Christian orthodoxy we all hold dear justifies formal union between all believers everywhere.  Inevitably, this side of the Millennium, division is not only real but division is necessary.  Else many, many believers would be living in sin by forming alliances that compromised their deepest convictions about what they believe the Bible to teach.

I do not hold my Pentecostal brothers and sisters in spiritual contempt because they do not embrace my views on eternal security.  Nor would I expect them to cater to my views if I were of a mind to join their Church.  I think the same attitude would (or certainly should) flow back toward me from them.  We can be in fellowship and spiritual harmony without necessarily eating at the Lord's Table together.

I'm Baptist. 

By consequence, I'm Baptist. 

That is, from my perspective, following biblicism leads to being Baptist.  Indeed if being biblicist led elsewhere, I hope, under God, I'd be willing to make the trip. In addition, I'm sure others may have quite a different journey in mind.  They may just as quickly say "I'm biblicist too.  But being biblicist led me to be Presbyterian."  Again, that's fair.  Albeit, I do not think I am wrong, but I will surely concede that we both cannot be right.  Thus, we remain formally unaligned.  Our differences will glare back at us until Jesus Comes. 

And while we cannot formally align with one another, we can still love one another, accept one another, learn from one another, pray for one another and each of us tell the world what Jesus did for us.

With that, I am...

Peter

*though I've stated this on numerous occasions, I started using the signature 'sign-off' years ago in my pastoral column in monthly newsletters and other correspondence with church members.  Some do not approve of it, even citing I'm being blasphemous in making myself equivalent to the "I AM" of biblical revelation.  Toward such patent nonsense I rarely respond. For the record, I first came across closing personal correspondence with "with that, I am..." pillaging through some archives of some 19th Century Baptist leaders at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Though I cannot be certain now since it's been so long, I recall it may have been some John Broadus correspondence which I read (again not sure). Whatever the case, the tradition continues...

Comments

[Eric Opsahl]

Praise God for your Salvation.
I find this statement interesting:
We can be in fellowship and spiritual harmony without necessarily eating at the Lord's Table together.

[Christiane]

God bless you, Peter, for ever and ever.

[peter lumpkins]

Eric & Christiane

Thank you for your warm notes & Lord bless...

With that, I am...
Peter

[William Thornton]

Great testimony, Peter. I enjoyed reading it.

[selahV]

God has done a great work in thee, dear Peter. If people only knew the miracle of it all. If only...ah, but alas, only we who "knew you when" can truly marvel at the power of God's regenerating power and sovereign grace in your life. Only we...bless you, brother. selahV

[Chris Gilliam]

Now that'll make for some cornbread and buttermilk gum slapping. You are a prized friend and truly appreciated.

[Ron Hale]

Peter,
I enjoyed reading you story!

Growing up the youngest of 12 kids ... I hope you liked "hand-me-downs" and I'm sure you got baptized in the creek prior to your salvation...many times by older brothers or cousins.

I can identify with you concerning a drinking Daddy. If we spent some time on it, I'm sure we could write a country song about those kind of days and ways.

[peter lumpkins]

William

Thanks. Trusting things are well up your way. Maybe coffee soon...

SelahV,

I'm glad you, Bob & kids were an undeniable blessing God sent our way...

Chris,

One of these days, bro, we're going to get us some cornbread & buttermilk & pig out! Thanks for your warm words my friend...

With that, I am...
Peter

[peter lumpkins]

Thanks Ron. Oh, yes! A song indeed...;^)

With that, I am...
Peter

[Chris Gilliam]

Next trip up I'll get my ma to make a pone and I'll bring a quart along, actually, 2 quarts. Just have glasses ready. Do you like good cracklins in yours?

[volfan007]

Peter,

From one TN boy to another, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your testimony. God bless you, Brother.

David