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Princeton Calvinist icon B.B. Warfield--'question of infant salvation non-negotiable for sustaining systematic theology'

source “No system of theological thought can live in which it [the doctrine of infant salvation] cannot find a natural and logical place.” --B.B. Warfield, "Two studies in the history of doctrine: Augustine and the Pelagian controversy: the development of the doctrine of infant salvation" 1897, The Christian Literature Company (online text here) Read more →

Southern Baptist theologian and statesman E.Y. Mullins--'denominations generally--except Baptists--much perplexed over salvation of infants dying in infancy until recent years'

Mullins writes: "...Baptists have been the only adequate interpreters of the Reformation. … "The denominations generally, except Baptists, have been much perplexed over the salvation of infants dying in infancy, until recent years. Our Confession of 1660 contains a distinct article declaring that all infants dying in infancy are saved. I quote Article 10, p. 112: 'That all children dying in infancy, having not actually transgressed against the law of God in their own persons, are only subject to the first death, which comes upon them by the first Adam,... Read more →

No Southern Baptist should be 'in limbo' over Infants dying and going to Hell! by Ron F. Hale

Dr. Gerald Harris, the editor of the Christian Index, asked a pressing question in a recent editorial concerning the report of the Calvinism Advisory Team.1 He asked, "What Southern Baptists are there who do not believe that those who die before they are capable of moral action go to heaven?" His query is based on a section in the report that says, "We agree that most Southern Baptists believe that those who die before they are capable of moral action go to heaven through the grace of God and the... Read more →

19th Century Southern Baptist pastor and denominational statesman R.B.C. Howell--'all children dying in infancy are saved with an everlasting salvation'

"We repudiate the doctrine of infant baptism, and of infant damnation. We denounce all their accompaniments, and consequences. If God is just and good, if reason deserves respect, if the Gospel is true, if the merits of Christ are efficacious, if the Holy Spirit is not bound by the control of men, and tied down to forms and ordinances, then all children dying in infancy, irrespective of any relation with the church, and without regard to baptism or any other ordinance, are saved with an everlasting salvation, by the grace... Read more →

'frightful dogma'...'abominable heresy'--Baptist Calvinist Richard Fuller on infant damnation

"A fourth reason why infant baptism ought to cease. It reflects injuriously upon God, and tarnishes the glory of the atonement. It originated in the frightful dogma of infant damnation; and still connives at and fosters that abominable heresy. It nourishes, also, that other heresy to which men are so prone, which detracts from the fulness and freeness of the atonement; for it insinuates that we must do something, or our children cannot be saved” (italics original) --Richard Fuller, Baptism, and the Terms of Communion; An Argument, 1850, p.171 Read more →

Will "Infant Damnation Presbyterians" spawn "Infant Damnation Southern Baptists"? Part 2

In Part 1, I reprinted an article from The Baltimore Sun, May 26, 1908, an article reflecting the turmoil between Presbyterians who desired to change the Westminster Confession because it taught the eternal damnation of some infants and those Presbyterians who insisted the Confession should remain as it was originally written. One of the leaders was J.B. Mack, a well-known Presbyterian pastor, theologian, church planter and evangelist appointed by the Synod of Georgia. Below is an article written by Mack and originally published in The Atlanta Constitution, December 23, 1900.... Read more →

Philip Schaff--'Baptists and Quakers were first to teach salvation of infants apart from baptism'

“The Baptists and Quakers were the first organized Christian communities which detached salvation from ecclesiastical ordinances and taught the salvation of unbaptizecl infants and unbaptized but believing adults.” --Philip Schaff, The Oldest Church Manual Called The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles, 1886, pp.56-57 Read more →

'it is most just, exceeding just'--Jonathan Edwards on the damnation of infants

"[I]t is most just, exceeding just, that God should take the soul of a new-born infant and cast it into eternal torments" J. Edwards, The "Miscellanies," Entry Nos. a–z, aa–zz, 1–500, entry N I'm indebted to John J. Bombaro who pointed me in the direction of a clear, concise statement of Edward's position on God's justice in damning infants to eternal torment in Bombaro's unpublished doctoral dissertation for King's College, the University of London, entitled "Beautiful Beings: The Function of the Reprobate in the Philosophical-Theology of Jonathan Edwards" (2001). Read more →

Scripture silent on slavery and infant damnation

“Let no man oppose this movement by forbidding the holding of slaves, until he can produce divine authority for the prohibition” --J.L. Dagg, Southern Baptist Calvinist theologian in The Elements of Moral Science (1860, pp.346-347) “Let no man oppose infant damnation by forbidding the belief of burning babies in hell, until he can produce divine authority for the prohibition” --apparently, at least some Southern Baptist leaders entertain similarly this view Read more →

Will "Infant Damnation Presbyterians" spawn "Infant Damnation Southern Baptists"? Part 1

Below is an article printed in The Baltimore Sun, May 26, 1908. The article reflects the turmoil among Presbyterians who desired to change the Westminster Confession because it taught the eternal damnation of some infants and those Presbyterians who insisted the Confession should remain as it was originally written. According to Dr. J.B. Mack, a well-known Presbyterian theologian and evangelist in the south, those who wanted to retain the Confession as it was written by Westminster divines were called “I.D.P.’s” standing for “Infant Damnation Presbyterians” and those desiring to change... Read more →

Christian Index editor pushes for answers from Calvinism Advisory Committee about babies burning in hell

Below is the most recent editorial by Christian Index editor, Gerald Harris.1 Entitled "A New Kind of Calvinism" Dr. Harris shares his perspective on the committee report released prior to the 2013 Southern Baptist Convention by Executive Committee President Frank Page. In addition Harris recalls his concern over one aspect of the committee report, a concern he expressed during the official Q/A at the 2013 Southern Baptist Convention. Harris rightly asked about the committee's affirmation that "most Southern Baptists believe that those who die before they are capable of moral... Read more →

Interview with Christian author Candise Farmer

I recently had an opportunity to interact with Bible teacher and Christian author, Candise Farmer, concerning her ministry and book Green Pastures in a Barren Land: finding contentment in life's desolate seasons (Free Church Press, Carrollton. 2012 $14.95). Her folksy style and gentle aura complement her deep Christian convictions making chats with Candise a mesmerizing experience. God surely blesses this young Christian lady with tremendous communicating abilities. More significantly, however, is Candise's encouraging message birthed from difficulties she and her husband faced for several years. I pray He chooses to... Read more →

Associated Press retracts a doctored Obama quote

foto source Oh if only conservatives in today's marketplace had a supposed independent news agency like Associated Press (AP) to repair conservatives' rhetorical blunders in the printed media.1 An AP follow-up story explains its mistake in cleaning up the President's gaffe about Gulf cities on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: "In an Aug. 7 story on President Barack Obama's comments on the need to deepen U.S. harbors, The Associated Press wrongly inserted an interpretive phrase in parentheses into a quote by Obama... . The AP should not have added... Read more →

Free Church Press author, Candise Farmer on James Robison's LifeToday broadcast

Check out the video teaser below about Free Church Press author, Candise Farmer, on James Robison's broadcast, LifeToday speaking about her new book, Green Pastures in a Barren Land: Finding Contentment in Life's Desolate Seasons. Airing this Tuesday across the United States, Candise talks about how God works during difficult times of life. Also check out her website at Enough Grace Ministries. More later on this week... Pastors, Candise would be a great choice to have in your church for a women's ministries event. Read more →

Young Christian author Margaret Feinberg battling cancer

About a month ago, Christian author and blogger, Margaret Feinberg, discovered she had a form of breast cancer. On July 26, she had her first chemotherapy treatment. Pray for Margaret and her family during this difficult time. You can read her thoughts about it in her latest post "A Note to our Tribe: Battling Cancer" Read more →

Orders from home: my summer project

I've not been much at the keyboard of late. Perhaps my lack of posting has driven my loyal readership elsewhere to gain commentary on all things SBC. My apologies. But my rhetorical recreation this summer has been thoroughly restricted by orders from a higher pay-grade than my blog. My wife. She da man! Here's what I've been doing with my spare time. It's not complete but it's already enjoyable... Music source: "Drift" by Tania Rose. Get it here. Read more →