peterlumpkins.com

Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill, and planting churches

Question: Is a church a real church if it disbands when the pastor resigns? Set. Go! Read more →

From Mark Driscoll to Heath Mooneyham

When I first wrote about former young, restless, and reformed icon, Mark Driscoll, in 2009, I received no small kickback from prominent Southern Baptists informing others I was spreading gossip (I wrote several pieces on Driscoll since the first one; note my pieces on Driscoll speaking at Liberty Universtiy as well; an exhaustive list on Driscoll at SBC Tomorrow may be helpful). The kickback in the comment threads on the posts represent much of what I'm referring to in the private realm. Now that Driscoll is no longer being touted... Read more →

New Calvinism gets reviewed by young British Baptist Calvinist

Jeremy Walker, co-pastor of the Maidenbower Baptist Church in the United Kingdom has penned a well-balanced critique of the young, restless, and reformed movement in the evangelical church. Entitled The New Calvinism Considered: A Personal and Pastoral Assessment , the volume is available in the United States in both paperback and digital versions.1 Walker himself theologically identifies with Calvinism as a confessional, Particular Baptist assuring his readers his intentions are not to "mindlessly ignore, attack, or defend any particular group, but to deal fairly with the new Calvinism."2 In fact,... Read more →

More questions for Mark Driscoll over possible plagiarism

As we recently reported, Christian talkshow host and journalist, Janet Mefferd, removed documents which appeared to show plagiarism by controversial pastor and Young, Restless, and Reformed icon, Mark Driscoll. Earlier Mefferd had pressed Driscoll in an interview to explain why he apparently used material from Reformed theologian, Peter Jones, without properly citing his material. In response, Tyndale House Publishers issued a clear statement absolving Driscoll of any hint of plagiarism stating "we feel confident that the content in question has been properly cited in the printed book and conforms to... Read more →

Author and Family Advocate Cathy Mickels speaks out about Mark Driscoll and Liberty University by Peter Lumpkins

Cathy Mickels is the former Washington state president of Phyllis Schlafly's national conservative organization, Eagle Forum. She has been an active, effective voice on behalf of many pro-family and education issues, including strong opposition to outcome-based education. She is also author of Spiritual Junk Food , a book dealing with our culture's "dumbing down" of Christian youth >>> On April 14th, Mickels spoke with David Wheaton at The Christian Worldview. One of the topics of discussion was Liberty University and Mark Driscoll. Nor is this the first time Mickels has... Read more →

Mark Driscoll responds to Peter Lumpkins

I'm grateful to a commenter named "John Strickland" who left this comment on my site >>> You've been schooled by many people recently...First, Mohler eats you for lunch, now you pick fights with Driscoll and LU and they do the same! When will you learn? Strickland also logged a link to Mark Driscoll's official response, a response the Seattle pastor dubs the "kerfuffle" over his speaking at LU. Driscoll writes: Lately, I’ve been busy with something you may have heard of called Easter. So, I’ve not been on the Internet... Read more →

Liberty University's refusal to correct alleged errors on trustee meeting by Peter Lumpkins

April 4th, 2012, I reported partial results of a recent meeting by Liberty trustees during which a substantial portion of the business dealt with trustee concerns about Mark Driscoll coming to the campus to speak. In a post entitled, "Liberty University trustees unanimous--Mark Driscoll is not welcome," I reported: Sources say trustees took a vote, and the vote was unanimous indicating that Mark Driscoll is not welcome at Liberty University. In addition to Driscoll's "potty mouth" approach to pulpit etiquette playing a role in their decision, his "Reformed" theology, Acts... Read more →

Longtime Liberty trustee disputes LU's claim that my post is inaccurate by Peter Lumpkins

LU officials claim my post entitled "Liberty University trustees unanimous--Mark Driscoll is not welcome" is "defamatory" portraying Liberty University in a "false light" (//link). Their website further alleges "Lumpkins' blog is clearly being used to disseminate misinformation about Liberty University and to cause strife and harm to the university." Readers need to know this is simply not true. None of my posts concerning Liberty University and Mark Driscoll has been designed to cause either strife for them or harm to them. Nor is my blog used by me or anyone... Read more →

Former Liberty trustee asks, is Liberty University training champions or what? by Peter Lumpkins

Tennessee Pastor, LU graduate, and former Liberty trustee, Tim Guthrie queries, whether LU is currently training champions for Christ. He writes: As an LU graduate I cannot believe what I have read and heard over the events of the past few days concerning Mark Driscoll and his invite to speak at LU. The invite: How in the world did Driscoll get an invite? His potty mouth in the pulpit and his latest book on marriage which advocates wives doing things to their husbands that are disgusting, along with other perverted... Read more →

"Truth is unkillable"... by Peter Lumpkins

Below is a post by Hariette Petersen. Hariette is among the kindest, most mellow Southern Baptist bloggers out there. Period. Yet, recently, she was "deleted" at SBC Voices apparently because her comment was too harsh for the "new" and "improved" blogging atmosphere being promoted at SBC Voices. While Dave Miller surely needed to clean up the threads at SBCV (since they so often made the threads into personal assaults against other Southern Baptist bloggers; I ought to know; I've personally been the receiving end of their scathing attacks more times... Read more →

Who invited Mark Driscoll to Liberty University? by Peter Lumpkins

I have not been shy about querying whether Seattle had anything to do with Lynchburg. Mark Driscoll showing up on campus at Liberty University may be one of the most shocking events within evangelicalism thus far in the 21st century >>> So, how did Driscoll not only get invited to Liberty University's Vines Center to speak at convocation as well as hold a Real Marriage seminar on Liberty Mountain? According to a Washington Post story published last fall, Vice President Johnnie Moore, Jr. appears to be the one in charge... Read more →

Jerry Falwell, Jr assures Massachusetts residents Liberty University students won't bother the locals by Peter Lumpkins

A story in the Boston Globe reports that Liberty University is among the top candidates in purchasing the old Northfield Mount Hermon School campus, Northfield, MA, a campus purchased in 2009 by Oklahoma tycoons, The David Green Family (think Hobby Lobby) >>> Christians who are familiar with evangelical history will immediately associate Northfield with evangelist, D. L. Moody (1837-1899), who, along with Ira Sankey, rocked the 19th century world with simple gospel preaching accompanied by heart-warming gospel music. Moody founded both Moody Church and the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.... Read more →

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 →

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 →

Mark Driscoll at Liberty University by Peter Lumpkins

Reflecting the idea among some of Christianity's earliest Christian philosophers that viewed pagan philosophy primarily as a thoroughly corrupted source and therefore resisted making theological use of pagan wisdom in understanding God, Tertullian famously asks, “What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem, the Academy with the Church?”1 >>> I suppose a similarly worded question could be asked of Liberty University officials: What does Lynchburg have to do with Seattle, the Falwells with Driscoll? Hold onto your eyes as they pop out of their sockets when you read Charles Billingsley's... Read more →

Why I Think Mark Driscoll is a Misogynist: a Southern Baptist Woman's Perspective by Mary England

The first time I came across the name Mark Driscoll was on a rabid feminist blog. It was the sorry Ted Haggard affair. Driscoll’s thoughts of the situation sent the internet into conniptions. Mark’s basic take was that wives of ministers are purposefully letting themselves go and controlling their husbands with sex because the husbands are trapped into fidelity >>> SBC Tomorrow welcomes back Mary England as Guest Contributor* Therefore a man caught in the act of adultery was most likely pushed there because his wife wasn’t “helping him out... Read more →

Did the Daviess-McLean Baptist Association get a fair hearing? by Peter Lumpkins

News stories from the Western Recorder, Associated Baptist Press, and Baptist Press recently reported that the Daviess-McLean Baptist Association (DMBA) in Kentucky denied membership to Pleasant Valley Community Church (PVCC) at least in part, apparently because of the strong Calvinism affirmed by PVCC. Baptist bloggers and denominational leaders quickly voiced their views about the association’s decision. Below are not only my own thoughts on the decision, but also on the way the decision was framed by some of the respondents >>> The news journals gave little to no real help... Read more →

John MacArthur takes on evangelical boozers in his latest blog post by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. John MacArthur is not known for literary vagaries or indecisive language. He sports few, if any, words which meet the characteristics of what some dub "weasel words"—slippery little fellows which suck the significance out of a word leaving but an empty hull behind. MacArthur's latest online contribution entitled "Beer, Bohemianism, and True Christian Liberty" does not disappoint >>> With moral courage ablaze, he looks the boozing bunch among the young, restless, and reformed right in the eye and tells them in John-the-Baptist-style, "Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance"... Read more →

Reformed Effeminaphobia by Peter Lumpkins

The internet recently abuzzed over Mark Driscoll’s facebook query a week ago poking fun at “effeminate” males—particularly “effeminate” male worship leaders: “So, what stories do you have about the most effeminate anatomically male worship leaders you’ve ever personally witnessed? >>> The Reformed icon received so much resistance, he took the message down* and subsequently offered an apology—(O.K. O.K. sorta kinda an apology): “I then put a flippant comment on facebook, and a raging debate on gender and related issues ensued. As a man under authority, my executive elders sat me... Read more →

Elderizing the Southern Baptist Convention (part I) by Peter Lumpkins

I posted three brief pieces recently which drew lots of traffic my way. The common theme concerned elder-rule and/or elder-led1 polity among Southern Baptist churches. In the first part >>> I showed how Acts 29 Network requires both churches and church plants formally affiliated with the network2 to embrace a plural elder rule polity as the only acceptable form of church government. The second two pieces constituted selected portions from an academic paper written by Dr. Robert Wring, a paper based upon his doctoral dissertation at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary... Read more →

Elder-Rule on the Rise in the Southern Baptist Convention (Part II) by Peter Lumpkins

Below is the second part of a section I selected from Dr. Robert Wring’s intriguing paper published in the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry (Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2005: 188-212). Presently pastor of the Mountain Road Baptist Church in Spanaway, Washington (near Tacoma), Dr. Wring based his essay on his doctoral dissertation he completed in 2002 at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, the thesis of which was “An Examination of the Practice of Elder Rule in Selected Southern Baptist Churches in the Light of New Testament Teaching.” This is... Read more →

On Marginalizing Brad Whitt by Peter Lumpkins

UPDATE: Brad Whitt has a great follow-up to his original post entitled, "The Challenge for Committed, Contributing Southern Baptists" Also, Tim Rogers queries if Brad Whitt fits the profile of a fresh, young stateman in "A New SBC Statesman?" Dr. Steve Lemke offers insight on Brad Whitt's essay in "The Shot Heard Round the SBC (Part 1)" ========================================================== On February 28, South Carolina pastor, Dr. Brad Whitt, wrote a provocative piece entitled “Young, Southern Baptist…and Irrelevant?” Barely a week later, in an unprecedented maneuver, two highly visible Southern Baptist professors... Read more →

A Rob Bell Remix: So, it’s O.K. to Yell “Heretic” if it’s Only Rob Bell, but not John Stott by Peter Lumpkins

Apparently, Justin Taylor and The Gospel Coalition team’s criticism of Rob Bell did not go so well. The thread in which I participated had about as many who questioned the rationale for criticizing a publisher’s book cover rather than engaging the author’s book. Taylor deferred explanations to questions for Kevin DeYoung to sort out—two questions in particular>>> The bottom line for DeYoung? Here it is: “Rob Bell is right about one thing: what you believe about heaven and hell says a lot about what you believe about God. That’s why... Read more →

Exciting New Book Just in Time for Sale at the 2011 SBC Pastors' Conference by Peter Lumpkins

Here you go! Just in time for the Pastors' Conference in Phoenix! With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Yoga: A Fatal Flaw for Theological Triage by Peter Lumpkins

Five years ago, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president, Al Mohler, put up a short piece on his blog entitled “A Call for Theological Triage and Christian Maturity,” a piece he probably did not realize at the time would become a hermeneutical shibboleth for some in Southern Baptist circles >>> In the short essay, he suggested doing community theology was like doing emergency room triage: “In recent years, emergency medical personnel have practiced a discipline known as triage–a process that allows trained personnel to make a quick evaluation of relative medical... Read more →

Calvinism on the Rise: A New Barna Study Challenges the Reformed Revival in America by Peter Lumpkins

Whether one reads the young, restless, and reformed guru, Collin Hansen, or takes seriously Ed Stetzer’s statistics that suggests Calvinism is on the rise (especially in the SBC), or accepts the rhetoric that Reformed church planting leads the pack by a country mile in new church starts, The Barna Group’s newly released study “Is There a “Reformed Movement” in American Churches?” rains on the Calvinistic come-back parade >>> For at least 10 years, Barna has tracked American non-Catholic clergy who identify the churches they serve as "Calvinist or Reformed." Presently,... Read more →

Mark Driscoll on Politics: An Interesting Take by Peter Lumpkins

Wintery Knight (WK), a site which integrates Christian faith and the public square, posted an interesting commentary on Mark Driscoll's view of Christian involvment in the voting process. I found it a little alarming, but the substance accurate and the conclusion worthy. WK concludes, Avoid Mark Driscoll at all costs on these political and economic issues – stick with Wayne Grudem on politics/economics. Grudem actually knows about how reality functions. He studies the Bible and then he studies how the world actually works. Unlike Driscoll. Driscoll needs to spend less... Read more →

Danny Akin, Mark Driscoll's Acts29, and the GCR Agenda: For the Record by Peter Lumpkins

Remember when Dr. Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, wrote a series of articles on "myths" concerning the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force work? Virtually a year ago to the day (October 6, 2009), Dr. Akin wrote: "I am going to do a series of blogs that will hopefully help in putting to rest a number of untruths that are being bantered about. The list of “myths about the GCR” will not be in any particular order. I hope these blogs will be helpful in setting the record... Read more →

Friday Mishmash by Peter Lumpkins

Below are some unrelated items of interest over the past couple weeks. No particular order. Just interesting--at least to me. 1 Last January, I committed an unpardonable sin in the eyes of some young Southern Baptists: I wrote a post which raised questions concerning what I still believe to be sub-Christian ministry methods of Mark Driscoll (//link). If you'd like an entertaining display of just how irrevocably passionate Driscoll lovers are, check out the short but revealing exchange I recently had over a simple quote I offered from Driscoll---- here...................... Read more →

Danny Akin, Myths, and the Great Commission Task Force: Final Part by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Akin finished his blog series on the "myths" concerning the GCRTF, nicely rounding out his total to eight. I'd anticipated doing a post on each "myth" but, well, you know how that goes. Life does require other duties. Apparently, the "myths" have the GCRTF concerned, at least concerned enough to offer an official press release to add to Akin's blog series about the alleged "myths" (//link). Obviously, Dr. Floyd did not address the myths as detailed as Dr. Akin. In addition, he only addressed six "myths" while Dr. Akin... Read more →

Danny Akin and Muffling Mean-spirited Myth-makers: Part 4 by Peter Lumpkins

This is Part 4 in a series I've put together responding to Dr. Danny Akin's interpretation of the buzz in Baptist life concerning the work of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force work as "myths." It needs to be pointed out that Dr. Akin is not the only one to respond to Baptist buzz. Ed Stetzer also attempted to deal with hearsay as did Ronnie Floyd though neither called the buzz "myth" as did Akin (//link; //link). GCR Myth #2: The goal of [certain members of] the Task Force is... Read more →

Timmy Brister at Boiling Point over Baptist Press by Peter Lumpkins

Timmy Brister, recently surpassed his boiling point over Baptist Press: “Fellow Southern Baptists, we cannot afford to have this type of gross mischaracterization printed from our denominational news wire… to have Baptist Press continue to exhibit unacceptable journalistic ethic to support an anti-Acts 29 agenda under the banner of Southern Baptist is simply inexcusable” (//link). This is certainly not the first time Brister expresses his disappointment with BP (//link, //link, //link, and //link, for starters). So what triggered Timmy’s temper tantrum this time? It seems Baptist Press published a blog... Read more →

Dr. Danny Akin & Mark Driscoll: Responding to Raised Concerns

Dr. Akin responded to recent concerns raised about his unpopular liaison with Mark Driscoll. You can hear it here. Also, his manuscript is available as well-- Download Akin Manuscript. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

Mark Driscoll & SEBTS: The Common Denominator Among His Defenders

Several influential voices among Southern Baptists have stepped into the batter's box to hit one out of the park for Mark Driscoll. I've read many of them. Below is an incomplete list, along with a quote revealing an obvious pattern in the usual defense of Mark Driscoll and his liaison with Southern Baptists: SEBTS: "We by no means agree with everything Mark Driscoll says or does." Alvin Reid: "I have a problem with Mark Driscoll...sometimes his language is a little edgy for my tastes, and I interpret the Bible differently... Read more →

SEBTS & Mark Driscoll: "Forget the Cussin'! Let's Talk Sex!" by Peter Lumpkins

This may be the final post I publish with hopes in making more people aware of some uncharted waters Southern Baptists are sailing as we drool over linking ourselves to the innovative ministries of controversial pastor, Mark Driscoll. I'm quite sure I'll receive the standard "Why do you hate Driscoll so much?" replies, as well as the "Mark Driscoll does more for evangelism and church growth than all SBC pastors put together!" ones. Not to mention, of course, the concerns I raise are but the musings of an "ill-informed" blogger... Read more →

Drawing Swords Over Mark Driscoll: Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary vs. Baptist Press

In mid-January, I posted a provocative piece entitled, '"The Cussing Pastor" Continues Influence Among Southern Baptists' which drew many to this site defending Driscoll, including Tyler Jones, Lead Pastor, Vintage 21 Church, the host church for Plant & Thrive, an Acts29 boot camp. I have to say, some of the defense was enlightening. Yesterday, Baptist Press raised some of the same concerns as did I, employing some of the same sources as did I. "Driscoll's vulgarity draws media attention" is definitively worth your time. Founders Ministries advocate, Timmy Brister, has... Read more →

"The Cussing Pastor" Continues Influence Among Southern Baptists

Controversial Pastor, Mark Driscoll, teams up with two prominent Southern Baptist academics in back-to-back conferences next month. The first one, Plant & Thrive, held on the campus of Vintage 21 Church, Raleigh, NC, features two tracks: one for potential new church starters and one for church planters (1-4 years). Admittedly, the itinerary looks appealing. However, that at least two prominent Southern Baptist educators are teaming with Driscoll appears, at least to me, a bit of an oddity. I'll explain that in a moment. Another conference is worth noting: The 2009... Read more →