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Reformed apologist back to slamming the Caner family

Less than two weeks ago, Dr. Ergun and Jill Caner laid their precious fifteen year old Braxton to rest. Attending the memorial was both excruciating and liberating. Families frequently grieve perhaps more excessively when the one passing on is a young child. Over the past two weeks, many have showed their love and support for Dr. Caner and his family, some showing support by flowers and cards, others giving a gift to a memorial fund set up in Braxton Paige Caner's name, and still others silently but effectively lifting up... Read more →

Brenda B. Colijn on A Parable of Calvinism

Dr. Brenda B. Colijn is Professor of Biblical Interpretation and Theology at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. Dr. Colijn offered an interesting parable in her paper "A Parable of Calvinism"1 wherein she challenges the Calvinistic understanding of the well-meant offer of the gospel to all human beings. Coming from an Anabaptistic theological framework, I think she makes a valid point in critiquing standard Calvinistic explanations given and accepted by Reformed believers. Below is Colijn's "parable of a cruise ship." Consider: The kingdom of God is like a cruise ship... Read more →

Wesley on insincerity of Calvinism's God offering a call to all

'Addressing Calvinists, [Wesley] notes: “You suppose [God] to be standing at the prison-doors, having the keys thereof in his hands, and to be continually inviting the prisoners to come forth, commanding them to accept of that invitation, urging every motive which can possibly induce them to comply with that command; adding the most precious promises, if they obey, the most dreadful threatenings, if they obey not; and all this time you suppose him to be unalterably determined in himself never to open the doors for them! even while he is... Read more →

Time to stop Social Media Abusers

I just viewed one of the most disgusting tweeter threads I've read since I started on Twitter a few years back. Believe me, Twitter can get really nasty really quickly. The truth is I rarely, if ever, bother to check Twitter that much. My largest contribution to Twitter is the feed connection to SBC Tomorrow. Whenever I post a piece on the blog, I link it to my Twitter feed. In January, the Twitter nastiness became so bad, I started a little site entitled Twitter and the Truth. I gave... Read more →

Does God Desire All to Be Saved? Adam Harwood reviews John Piper's proposal

Among many interesting articles in the latest edition of the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry (JBTM, available free of charge at http://www.baptistcenter.net), Dr. Adam Harwood, Associate Professor of Theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, reviews John Piper's little volume, Does God Desire All to Be Saved? (John Piper. Wheaton: Crossway, 2013. 56 pages. Paperback, $9.99). After rehearsing the flow of Piper's volume, Professor Harwood concludes: The strength of this book is that it seeks to address an Achilles heel in Reformed theology, namely the charge that affirming unconditional... Read more →

Yale lecturer on The Great Calvinist Reawakening

Briallen Hopper is English Lecturer at Yale University, Faculty Fellow at the University Church in Yale, and frequent contributor on religious topics in many prestigious media venues. She has written about religion for The Huffington Post, Killing the Buddha, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. In her latest piece entitled "The Great Calvinist Reawakening" published in Religion & Politics, Hopper profiles the rise of Neo-Calvinism and the impact it's having in contemporary culture. Citing the proof of Reformed revitalization as entirely persuasive, she goes on to contrast Neo-Calvinism with... Read more →

Are Southern Baptist Traditionalists losing appreciation for viable historical options dealing with God’s sovereignty and human free will?

Does there exist a logically-driven, undeniable answer to the age-old question concerning God's sovereignty and human free will? Some appear to think so. Calvinism's Typical Response to Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom Calvinists often suggest a logical answer by redefining what we normally mean when we think of free will. When I think of free will (and I suspect most people would affirm my thoughts), I think of the actual ability to choose otherwise than I chose. For instance, if I'm driving through a small city in the Southwest and... Read more →

Mark Driscoll and the Mistakes of Jesus

Christianity Today (CT) has an interesting story about a sermon Mark Driscoll reportedly preached at Mars Hill Church on May 4, a sermon the web version of which Warren Throckmorton documents a six minute deleted section. Throckmorton claims in "Mars Hill Church Deletes Mark Driscoll's Teaching on Jesus Making Mistakes" that comparing the web version and the original version which he's obtained reveals: Those who watch the sermon on the website are missing some material from the live delivery two weeks ago. A segment of nearly six minutes was deleted... Read more →

Army deserter Bergdahl connected to ballet and Calvinism

Five years ago, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl reportedly laid down his weapons and quietly vanished into the night from his small military outpost in the Yousaf Khel district of Paktika. Several hunts for him ultimately led to several deaths of American soldiers who tried to find their comrade in arms. Three years later, a story in Rolling Stone magazine entitled "America's Last Prisoner of War" featured Bergdahl as our last prisoner of war turned into a political pawn to end the war against terror. One of the most interesting captions concerning... Read more →

'God helped me save myself essentially because I worked so hard'--Chuck Quarles on his pre-Calvinistic relationship with God

What does a typical non-Calvinist affirm or deny so far as the foundation of his or her relationship with God is concerned? Is the relationship based solely upon grace through faith as Paul reveals in Ephesians 2:8-9? Or does a typical non-Calvinist believe the basis of his or her salvation is essentially because he or she works so hard to be saved? Below is a hefty slice of what Dr. Charles Quarles testified to a congregation in Denham Springs, Louisiana during a sermon on 2 Thessalonians 2:13. He said: And... Read more →

Chuck Quarles on election--'Southern Baptists are in a really awkward position today'

Dr. Charles "Chuck" Quarles presently is Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theology Seminary. In a sermon based upon 2 Thessalonians 2:13 he preached at the Riverside Baptist Church, Denham Springs, Louisiana in October, 2009, the professor said concerning election and Southern Baptists: Southern Baptists are in a really awkward position today in a lot of our churches because many want to deny the doctrine of election and yet they want to insist on "Once saved always saved." You can't do that. Those two doctrines rise... Read more →

Do Southern Baptist theologians confess simplistic theology or does James White offer simplistic criticism?

Bel0w is a recent video extreme Calvinist, James White, posted critiquing New Orleans professor, Adam Harwood, in a message Dr. Harwood preached entitled "The Gospel: a Message for Every Person." As the listener will note, White gets stuck on the term "simplistic" and just won't let go (by the way, if somebody will count the times White uses the term "simplistic" and log it below, I'll gladly send them a Starbucks gift card!). Thus, apparently suggesting as Harwood does that since God loves every person and wants every person to... Read more →

Spurgeon on preachers becoming obstacles for sinners coming to Christ

Methinks I see several ministers standing in the way. They are of such high doctrine that they dare not invite a sinner, and they therefore clog the gospel with so many conditions. They will have it that the sinner must feel a certain quantity of experience before he is invited to come, and so they put their sermons up and say, "You are not invited, you are a dead sinner, you must not come; you are not invited; you are a hardened rebel." "Stand back," says Christ, "every one of... Read more →

Pre-Convention Bible Conference Reisterstown, Maryland June 6-8

Join us at The Whosoever Will Bible Conference in Reisterstown, Maryland preceding the 2014 Southern Baptist Convention to be held in Baltimore. Hosted by Northwest Baptist Church, speakers include popular preachers in the SBC like Paige Patterson and Fred Wolfe. Included also will be a special guest session by Dr. Norman Geisler and a debate on Calvinism between Paul Cooper and Braxton Hunter. We hope to fellowship with you there. Read more →

What Montana Southern Baptist pastor JD Hall and Westboro Baptist pastor Fred Phelps have in common

Hassell & Hassell: Primitive Baptist historians on Calvin's murder of Servetus

Christ and His Apostles did not persecute; neither does the true church of Christ. The Protestant persecutions of each other, and of Catholics, and of “Anabaptists,” were derived from Rome, and were in direct and horrid contradiction of the Protestant principle of freedom of conscience. Calvin’s condemnation and execution of the almost “Anabaptist” and the AntiTrinitarian, Michael Servetus (1553), though then approved by his brother Protestants, is a sad and ineffaceable blot upon his character — the bloody deed producing only evil, utterly condemned by the entire spirit of the... Read more →

James White and Historical Hooey (Part 2)

Below I've embedded the video entitled "Calvin and Servetus: Dan Barker Twists History" uploaded and posted by Alpha & Omega Ministries. Calvinist apologist, James White, makes a series of historical assertions concerning the circumstances surrounding John Calvin and Michael Servetus in response to atheist, Dan Barker, implicating Barker in twisting history. About 4 minutes and 10 seconds into the video, White begins his criticism mainly as a series of rhetorical questions raised against Barker's commentary on the legendary trial of Servetus at Geneva in 1553, commentary played from an audio... Read more →

More Inspiration from John Calvin on this our Lord's Day

During John Calvin's reign in Geneva, reportedly it was considered a no-no to laugh during Calvin's preaching, and to do so was met with stiff consequences: "To laugh during a sermon was a matter which drew after it three days' imprisonment, and the necessity of publicly asking pardon." --"Lives of Calvin" The London Quarterly Review, American Edition, Volume XXXV No.1, p. 286 Read more →

James White and Historical Hooey: Interlude

In the first part of "James White and Historical Hooey," I showed two visible flaws in James White's argumentation methods. First, I demonstrated White's egregious habit of making his arguments into scornful contempt for his opponent rather than serious critique of the ideas under consideration. I put it this way: "I've never, in my sixty years on this earth, encountered another human being so coldly, consistently, and belligerently set on verbally and morally assaulting other people as liars, deceivers, frauds, imbeciles, idiots, and overall nincompoops as James White." White routinely... Read more →

Servetus' death a new Protestant policy

"The punishment of Servetus was a stroke of policy. Calvin gained in character with his contemporaries by it. He had justified his faith by his acts, and not left the Church of Rome the sole glory of taking vengeance on the enemies of Christ. All the Protestants approved; Melanchthon emphatically so. Calvin never repented it. Greatly as the Calvinistic Churches have served the cause of political liberty, they have contributed nothing to the progress of knowledge." --Mark Pattison, "Calvin at Geneva" in Essays by the Late Mark Pattison, Sometime Rector... Read more →

A reminder from John Calvin to us as we attend service this Lord's Day

“If anyone sing songs that are unworthy, dissolute or outrageous, or spin wildly round in the dance, or the like, he is to be imprisoned for three days, and then sent on to the Consistory.” --John Calvin, Ordinances for the Supervision of Churches in the Country [Geneva], February 3, 1547 Everybody behave themselves now. Read more →

James White and Historical Hooey (Part 1)

James White UPDATE: James White responded to this piece (perhaps emotionally reacted is a better description. In fact, White appears so emotionally distraught over the post below, he wouldn't even link to it.). And, I must thank him for offering yet another layer to the pile of evidence for my contention that James White routinely specializes in vicious verbal and moral assaults against those who offer public critiques of his considerable errors. Apparently, according to White, I now suffer from some form of derangement. So be it. Perhaps I do.... Read more →

John Calvin: a Real Evangelical Cover-up

James White is the director of Alpha & Omega Ministries, a small and apparently struggling1 apologetics ministry located in Phoenix, Arizona. I listened fairly regularly to White several years ago but grew tired of what I perceived to be a narcistic infatuation with his personal accomplishments not to mention his patently unique apologetical method of making those with whom he disagreed out to be liars.2 Going back several years, James White has persistently harassed and morally denigrated Ergun Caner and anyone--including reputable scholars, local church pastors, capable apologists, Southern Baptist... Read more →

‘We’re the Lord’s elected few, let all the rest be damned’

On November 12, 1986, Beeson Divinity School Dean and Professor of Divinity, History and Doctrine, Dr. Timothy George, addressed the faculty at Southern Baptist Theology Seminary in a presentation entitled "Dogma Beyond Anathema: Historical Theology in the Service of the Church."1 A printed version of the address appeared in the Fall 1987 edition of Review and Expositor.2 In the address, George criticizes the pretense of exploiting biblical doctrine as a pretext to propagate "all kinds of evil and intolerance in Christianity." As an entertaining illustration in how Old English Particular... Read more →

Spurgeon On Faith...Again...

I recently posted some golden nugget quotes from Charles Haddon Spurgeon on faith. Here's another. Spurgeon, once answered the question, “What is faith?” this way: “Now what is faith? In one word, it is trust—the trusting of the soul in God’s promise made in Christ Jesus. My faith is that which enables me to believe that God is true, to believe that he sent his Son in the flesh to suffer for my sins; to believe that, through the merit of his blood and the virtue of his holy life,... 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 →

From Heaven He Came And Sought Her: A Review by David Allen

I recently made note of a new book release by Crossway entitled From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective. The 700+ page volume is purported to be the definitive volume on T.U.L.I.P. Calvinism's most vulnerable petal, Limited Atonement. Some of neo-Calvinism's brightest theological lights are among the contributors, theological lights including Henri A. G. Blocher, Michael A.G. Haykin, Paul Helm, Robert Letham, Thomas R. Schreiner, Sinclair Ferguson, and Carl Trueman. Dr. David Allen, Dean of the School of Theology, Professor of... Read more →

What does biblical submission for wives include? John Piper answers

WARNING! Every female take serious care: What you are about to see and hear may very well disturb you. Don't click on this video if you're already in a bad mood. And for heaven's sake, if you've had a good day and looking forward to a nice weekend with your husband, don't click on this video. Finally, if you've been a bit suspicious we biblical complementarians are shifting toward becoming more and more theologically doofy than ever, please, please, please don't watch this video. John Piper draws hermeneutical blood: We've... Read more →

Does Gender Egalitarianism reduce to a 'false gospel'?

I remain hopelessly convinced that a correct and consistent reading of biblical revelation inevitably leads one to embrace some form of gender complementarianism. Hence, I tend agree with the broad biblio-theological contours of The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood (CBMW). I say "broad" because just as there is hard Calvinism and soft Calvinism so there is hard complementarianism and soft complementarianism all of which have representatives in the Southern Baptist Convention. For at least the last decade or so, the CBMW has increasingly tilted toward the hard side of... Read more →

If the Top Men take over, who will ask the hard questions? - Reformed theologian and author Carl Trueman on Reformation21 Blog

The Mefferd-Driscoll controversy points to another aspect of celebrity culture: celebrities are routinely allowed to behave in ways which would not be tolerated in ordinary mortals. For example, being drunk on the job and hurling abuse at an employer would make one unemployable in the real world. Not for Charlie Sheen. A conviction for rape would be enough to have you characterized as a monster in the real world who had forfeited the right to sympathetic media exposure. Not for Mike Tyson or Roman Polanski (just ask that champion of... Read more →

Mark Driscoll peeved at Janet Mefferd and hangs up--"you're rude and unkind"

Seasoned journalist and Christian Radio Talk Show host, Janet Mefferd, interviewed Mark Driscoll on his stop-by attendance at John MacArthur's Strange Fire Conference. She especially queried him concerning whether Driscoll's books he was giving away free were confiscated by security police his tweets suggest. As Mefferd went on in the interview, she also questioned Driscoll about a section in his newest book, A Call to Resurgence: Will Christianity Have a Funeral or a Future? (Tyndale House Publishers, 2013. $19.99), where Driscoll allegedly has a section 14 pages long reflecting the... Read more →

Neo-Calvinism proposing the definitive statement on Limited Atonement

A new volume is scheduled for release on November 30, 2013: From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective (Crossway, $50.00). Edited by David Gibson and Jonathan Gibson with the Foreword by evangelical icon, J.I. Packer, the 700+ page volume is purported to be the definitive volume on T.U.L.I.P. Calvinism's most vulnerable petal, Limited Atonement. While dissent within Reformed theology from Limited Atonement remains one of neo-Calvinism's widely held historio-theological secrets (or perhaps denials is a better term), From Heaven He Came... Read more →

Weekend funny: small church pastor preaches as thousands across the Southern Baptist Convention listen

Times exist when I take myself much too seriously. It happens less now than when I was younger but it still happens nonetheless. Paul's words come to me as an inspired reminder: "I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment" (Romans 12:3 ESV). Perhaps strict Calvinist, J. D. Hall, might want to join me in remembering the Apostle's humbling words: Hall's full sermon may be found here. UPDATE #1: Piratechristian radio logged on and... Read more →

James Denney on the proper motive to missions

Below is an excerpt from a sermon entitled “Propitiation” preached at the annual meeting of the Baptist Missionary Society, April, 1911 by 19th century Scottish theologian, James Denney (1856-1917). Denney taught at Glasgow's United Free Church College, first as Professor of Systematic Theology and then from 1900, as Professor of New Testament Language and Literature, a post he held until his death in 1917. According to Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership lecturer, Jason Goroncy, it was during those final decades that Denney’s theology reached its full maturity – drawing... Read more →

Earl Blackburn at 1845 Conference--'I can work with a flaming Arminian'

According to Louisiana Southern Baptist pastor, Earl Blackburn, Arminianism is not rampant in the Southern Baptist Convention. Rather Pelagianism and Semi-Pelagianism is and has crept into Southern Baptist churches and institutions. After rehearsing a brief historical sketch of the Pelagian controversy in the fifth century A.D. in which Pelagius's teaching on human depravity was condemned as being "outside the bounds" of orthodoxy, Blackburn laments in his sermon "A Historic Southern Baptist View of the Fall of Man" (beginning at the 54:50 mark): What is sad today...What is sad as I... Read more →

Is God's saving love for all people a disputable claim? Tom Hicks and Founders Ministries apparently think so

Founders Ministries' writer, Tom Hicks, posted a critique of a statement Eric Hankins recently made in a chapel sermon at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The claim Hicks questioned had to do with Hankins speaking of the all-inclusiveness of God's saving love for the entire world. The specific statement Hankins made which Hicks challenges is "All means all and that’s all all means." Why Hicks would question Hankins concerning this particular statement seems odd. Does Hicks and/or Founders type Calvinists not embrace the all-inclusiveness of God's saving love for... Read more →

Janet Mefferd on Joe Carter's 'stop slandering Christ's bride' corrective--'an unwarranted scolding discouraging Christians from speaking on issues of neglect'

On Friday of last week, Joe Carter, Southern Baptists' new ERLC1 Director of Communications posted a piece entitled "Stop Slandering Christ's Bride" which sparked considerable fire in the comments section of Carter's post. Overwhelmingly, Carter's post logged negative responses toward his piece. In it Carter basically argued that since no one knows whether a particular issue is being addressed or not in the 350,000+ congregations in America, they need to stop suggesting they do by claiming the issue does matter and the church should speak up about it. Apparently according... Read more →

The Baptist General Tract Society (1835)-- 'infants dying in infancy saved by the blood of Jesus’

In 1835, the Baptist General Tract Society compiled various pamphlets it had published into a single volume entitled The Baptist Manual: A selection from the Series of Publications of the Baptist General Tract Society.1 In tract number 45, “The Scripture Guide to Baptism,” a series of questions are posed concerning infant baptism to which the tract gives its Baptist answer. Question number 8 asks, “But if you refuse to bring children to baptism, do you not keep them away from Christ, and in case of their dying in infancy, endanger... Read more →

Former Swedish Lutheran Divine turned American Baptist- 'all infants dying in infancy covered by the blood'

Swedish Baptists can be traced back to the mid-nineteenth century in America. According to Baptist historian C. Douglas Weaver, the first Swedish Baptist church started in the United States was in 1852 at Rock Island, Illinois organized by a Swedish immigrant named Gustaf Palmquist.1 Palmquist came to America presumably a Lutheran but after attending a Baptist revival, became a Baptist. Afterwards, he organized the first Swedish Baptist Church, an organization of which, according to Weaver, marks the founding date of the Swedish Baptist General Convention in America—at least until 1945... Read more →

Popular 19th Century Baptist scholar George Clark on infant salvation

According to William Cathcart, George Whitefield Clark was born at South Orange, N.J., in 1831. He was converted and baptized at twelve years of age, joining the Northfield Baptist church. Graduating from Amherst College in 1853, Clark completed his theological course at Rochester in 1855 and was ordained pastor of the Baptist church at New Market in 1855. Four years later, Clark became pastor of the First Baptist church in Elizabeth until 1868 and then went to the Baptist church at Ballston, N.Y. In 1872 Rochester University conferred upon him... Read more →

English Baptist Charles Spurgeon on Wine at the Lord's Table--'We use unfermented wine at the Tabernacle'

I was looking for something else and stumbled across the little gem below I first posted in 2008. At that time, a lot of guys were ridiculing my moral reluctance toward imbibing intoxicating beverages for either recreation or worship, a reluctance based on moral principles derived from my understanding of biblical teaching and sound moral reasoning. After I posted several pieces on wine and the Bible amongst Southern Baptists I was pointed to a piece written by Trevin Wax on Spurgeon's practice as well as others who claimed Spurgeon loved... Read more →

19th century Baptist scholars Albert Arnold and David Ford on infants dying in infancy--'grace in Christ secures salvation of all with no personal sins to answer for'

In their commentary on Romans 5:18, 19th century Baptist New Testament scholars Albert Arnold and D.B. Ford write: “A few words in regard to the future condition of those dying in infancy. We scarcely need an apostle to tell us that a condemnation and death has been visited upon them on account of sin not their own; hence on account of Adam's transgression. A part of this penalty they, in common with us all, must suffer. The great trouble respecting their case has reference to the evil that is in... Read more →

Southern Baptist theologian E. C. Dargan on John 3:16 as 'simple illustration of man's free choice'

“For God's love is as great as his ways are wonderful. With that same authoritative tone unchanged, and even a higher claim asserted, with that mysterious doctrine of a new birth unrepealed, and presenting a simple illustration of man's free choice, the Heavenly Teacher comes to the grand culmination. He states the most glorious and important truth ever proposed to man's acceptance: "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." O ruler among the... Read more →

Baptist theologian Alvah Hovey -- 'all infants dying in infancy regenerated'

“At this point it may be proper to notice the relation of the propitiatory death of Christ to children who die in infancy. So far as now appears, such children are put in no practical relation to the atonement, unless it be by the secret and renewing work of the Spirit. Assuming, as we must, that this life is the only period of grace for mankind as sinners, and that the death of Christ was in some way for all our race, it follows that dying infants are regenerated by... Read more →

Former SBC president Jerry Vines -- WHOSOEVER: Revealing the Riches of John 3:16

Dr. Jerry Vines is arguably one of the most capable biblical expositors in the Southern Baptist Convention. Recently, Free Church Press released his latest book on the most famous verse in all Scripture--John 3:16. Entitled WHOSOEVER: Revealing the Riches of John 3:16, Dr. Vines digs deeply into the Greek text and offers both new believers and scholars alike valuable, practical commentary on virtually every word in the verse. For a limited time, Free Church Press is making his exegetical study available in a special hardback edition. Normally retailing for $17.99,... Read more →

Baptist theologian E. H. Johnson--'Scripture does not state dying infants are saved but justifies such an inference'

E. H. Johnson was a well-known Baptist pastor and theologian in the latter quarter of the 19th century. According to one archived newspaper report, Johnson pastored churches in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. He also served successfully as interim pastor, once following his friend and colleague, James M. Pendleton at the historic Upland Baptist Church in Upland, Pa. In 1882, Johnson became professor of systematic theology at Crozer Theological Seminary, Chester, Pa. While teaching at Crozer, he wrote his An Outline of Systematic Theology which went through five editions (1895).... Read more →

Influential 19th Century Baptist Andrew Broaddus--'infants saved by virtue of the death of Christ'

According to Baptist Calvinist, J.B. Jeter, Andrew Broaddus (1770-1848) remained a Baptist legend in 19th century Virginia. Broaddus’ rhetorical skills and keen intellect apparently made him a theological "genius" of sorts (p.45). Jeter's description of Broaddus surely places him in the position of being one of the most influential Baptists during the first half of the 19th century. In his Sermons and Other Writings, Broaddus indicated concerning infant baptism and infant salvation: “If there were no other way of saving infants but by the gospel and its ordinances, they would... Read more →

Conversation on Calvinism by two Southern Baptist theologians: Matthew McKellar and Malcolm Yarnell

Dr. Matthew McKellar serves as Associate Professor of Preaching and Chair of the Preaching Department at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. McKellar joined the faculty at Southwestern in 2009 after having served as a senior pastor for 28 years. His current research interests include preaching Old Testament narrative texts and the exposition of the parables of Jesus. Dr. Malcolm Yarnell serves as Professor of Systematic Theology, Director of the Oxford Study Program, Director of the Center for Theological Research, and Chair of the Systematic Theology Department at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.... Read more →

Baptist scholar Alexander Carson--'by the Gospel no infant can be saved'

Certainly; if there were no way of saving children but by the Gospel, this conclusion [i.e. that infant salvation would be impossible] would be inevitable. The Gospel saves none but by faith. But the Gospel has nothing to do with infants, nor have Gospel ordinances any respect to them. The Gospel has to do with those who hear it. It is good news; but to infants it is not news at all. They know nothing of it. The salvation of the Gospel is as much confined to believers, as the... Read more →