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Al Mohler vindicates Brad Whitt: "there is a creeping Presbyterianism amongst us" by Peter Lumpkins

Just about a year ago, Dr. Brad Whitt fired a shot heard in most sectors of the Southern Baptist Convention. Being a young South Carolina, Southern Baptist pastor, he just didn’t fit the mold of the young, restless, and reformed travelling around the country by the tens of thousands (literally) to hear all the cool, calm, Calvinist speakers at the latest Passion, T4G, TGC, SGM, YRR conferences >>> In his piece “Young, Southern Baptist and…Irrelevant? ” a piece picked up by several state convention papers as well as Baptist Press,... Read more →

Al Mohler: "Calvinism is the shape of our future" by Peter Lumpkins

Recently, Dr. Al Mohler spoke to the annual meeting of Baptist state convention editors and made this plain but provocative remark concerning the theological future of Southern Baptists >>> "Calvinism is the shape of the future, because the options otherwise don’t very much exist" When will Southern Baptists finally admit we're facing an inevitable head-on collision with aggressive Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention? More in an upcoming post... With that, I am... Peter Read more →

On the Doctrines and Practices of Baptists (1857) by Peter Lumpkins

We often hear how settled the question was pertaining to the "doctrines of grace" amongst the 19th Baptists. Indeed, as Professor Tom Nettles suggests, to deny the almost universal strict Calvinism (i.e. 5 point Calvinism) of our Baptist forefathers in the Southern Baptist Convention, is to embrace what he calls "theological apostacy" and what Dr. Tom Ascol indicates is a departure from "Baptist orthodoxy" (//link) >>> Even so, we do not have to look far before we find, in the 19th century, not only numerous but also significant exceptions to... Read more →

Tom Nettles, Tom Ascol, and Southern Baptist orthodoxy by Peter Lumpkins

Ever curious what top representatives from the largest network of Baptist Calvinists in the Southern Baptist Convention think about those of us who are Southern Baptists but do not embrace the "doctrines of grace"? Let's consider clear words from two prominent Calvinists in the Southern Baptist Convention network: >>> Dr. Tom Ascol: "Call it what you will--Calvinism, reformed theology, the doctrines of grace--these truths are nothing less than historic Southern Baptist orthodoxy. This is the theology which gave rise to the formation and early development of the great missionary and... Read more →

When you think you've got Southern Baptists all figured out--"Theologically he is a strict Calvinist..." by Peter Lumpkins

When one reaches my age and has attempted to stay relatively up-to-date about who Southern Baptists are and have been in their rich history since 1845, it wets one's juices when along comes an historical fast ball you didn't even see the pitcher throw >>> Baptist Press (01/29/1988) attributed the following words to George Harris, (then) Pastor of the Castle Hills First Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas in his announcement to nominate Richard Jackson, (then) Pastor of North Phoenix Baptist Church (NPBC), one of a handful of "megachurches" during... Read more →

Just a little humor on Friday by Peter Lumpkins

No, I'm not stealing our brother Ed Stetzer's cool and entertaining idea for posting funny church signs. But, I have to tell, you... The one below gives him a run for his money on any sign he's ever posted. Enjoy... Our volunteer has happily been posting a series on the 10 commandments. I hope everybody--including my enemies--will heed her wise and merciful counsel. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Phil Roberts resigns Midwestern by Peter Lumpkins

Sources reveal Phil Roberts resigns as President of Midwestern Seminary. Robin Hadaway appointed Interim President. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

The Calvinists are here: a guest editorial by Gerald Harris

UPDATE: the word is LifeWay is preparing a detailed response to Gerald Harris' essay and is scheduled to post this evening on Baptist Press. I'm anticipating precisely what facts in the essay LifeWay intends to dispute. ======================= Below is the current editorial in The Christian Index, the Georiga Baptist Convention's state paper. Dr. Gerald Harris has served as editor of The Christian Index since May 2003. We happily publish by permission Dr. Harris' latest editoral, "The Calvinists are here" >>> SBC Tomorrow welcomes Gerald Harris as guest contributor* John Calvin... Read more →

Tom Ascol on Gerald Harris by Peter Lumpkins

I called to get permission to post Gerald Harris' latest editorial on SBC Tomorrow. The Christian Index graciously gave me permission to do so. It was scheduled to publish at 5:15 A.M on Friday. The reason for permission is two-fold: a) plain, old-fashioned courtesy; b) at the bottom of the editorial page there is a clear indicator I needed to get the permission. It reads: Even so, Tom Ascol, Director of Founders Ministries, put up a piece just a short time ago criticizing Harris' editorial including a full version of... Read more →

Vanity of Vanities: Passing the 1 million mark by Peter Lumpkins

Says the ancient Preacher in the King's English: "Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? (Ec 1:2-3; KJV) An interesting and much looser translation comes from The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language: Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That’s what the Quester says.]; There’s nothing to anything—it’s all smoke. What’s there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone? So what does it... Read more →

Phil Roberts' future at MBTS in question by Peter Lumpkins

In January, 2001, trustees unanimously elected Dr. Phil Roberts as the fourth president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After over a year's search for a president, this was truly a day of celebration since the trustees had fired Dr. Mark Coppenger for "irreparable damage" Coppenger's uncontrolled anger had apparently caused to the work environment. Now, it seems chaos at the administrative helm is surfacing once again >>> UPDATE: Associated Baptist Press just released a story: "Seminary trustees to confront president over audit, management issues" Sources say a full trustee meeting... Read more →

James P. Boyce's practice: convert the "rank Arminians" by Peter Lumpkins

I recall standing in our small kitchen at B-10 Seminary Village in the early 80s. I remarked to Kathy as I read her some of the topics from James Petigru Boyce's systematic theology that this is why I came to seminary...to learn the deeper truths of God's Word >>> Over the next few years I would embrace Boyce's theology and develop a settled appreciation to Ernest C. Reisinger for making the volume available to me as a gift.1 Boyce, after all, was a master teacher we're told. In the front... Read more →