peterlumpkins.com

Al Mohler, Homosexuality, and the "New Liberalism" by Peter Lumpkins

Last week, I raised the question concerning Andy Stanley’s perplexing story about a gay couple in his church. I wrote: Stanley tells the story of a couple who divorced while members of his church. The issue was, the husband had fallen in love with another man... The problem is, not once in the entire story did Stanley question the homosexual relationship the two men experienced. Instead he questioned whether or not the men could serve in their Buckhead branch since one of the men was still married... Stanley questioned the... 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 →

"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 →

Update on Rick Warren's bridge to Mecca by Peter Lumpkins

On March 1st, I posted a piece entitled "Rick Warren's bridge to Mecca" tenatively concluding that if Jim Hinch, journalist with the Orange County Register, characterized Warren correctly, "perhaps it's time to officially end any left-over love affairs with Saddleback"1 >>> A day later, Ed Stetzer, VP at Lifeway Resources, wrote a stinging rebuke of those he called "watchbloggers"2 for presumably jumping the gun on an apparent hit-piece on Rick Warren composed by secular journalist (i.e., Jim Hinch). Lifeway's VP wrote: Once again, watchbloggers are accusing Rick Warren of heresy.... Read more →

Al Mohler says to state editors: you must cover Calvinism (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

Following "Al Mohler says to state editors: you must cover Calvinism (part I)" is the final section below (not included here is the Q/A session). As before, while the words summarize sections from his address to Southern Baptist editors, the words are his own words (no commentary is added other than an occasional implied subject in brackets for clarity). I've sought to be true to the context. However, the reader may be pleased to know a transcription of his entire speech is available >>> Dr. Mohler discussed four major headings... Read more →

Al Mohler says to state editors: you must cover Calvinism (part I) by Peter Lumpkins

On February 13-16, 2012, editors of denominational papers across the Southern Baptist Convention met in Phoenix, Arizona at the Chaparral Suites Hotel for their annual meeting. One of the keynote speakers was Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president, Al Mohler. For those who want to know what Dr. Mohler thinks about the role of Calvinism in Southern Baptist life now and the future, he does not disappoint >>> During his lengthy address, Dr. Mohler expressed his thoughts on current controversies within the SBC. Below are summaries from his address in his... 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 →

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 →

Baptist Theologian explains "Radical Reformation Day" by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Malcolm Yarnell is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Director of the Oxford Study Program, Director of the Center for Theological Research, and Editor of the Southwestern Journal of Theology. Dr. Yarnell also authored, contributed to and/or edited several published works including his enlightening monograph on The Formation of Christian Doctrine . In a recent Baptist Press article entitled "Why we celebrate Radical Reformation Day" he explains its significance for Southern Baptists >>> On this day in 1525, after an extended period of intense Bible study in the original languages,... 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 →

Post-ecclesiological Christianity by Peter Lumpkins

Below is a video which visually captures what Southern Baptists have to look forward to if our slide into the murky waters of weakened ecclesiology is not stalled. The truth is, "Gospel order" is a dead language among Baptists. And, with the present emphasis by some neo-Conservative Resurgence leaders to pick Southern Baptists clean of its strong churchly heritage, we'll soon join all evangelicalism in what can only be called post-ecclesiological Christianity. Weep. With that, I am... Peter Read more →

9 Marks Ministries: An Official Ministry of the SBC? by Peter Lumpkins

9Marks Ministries, an organization headed by Mark Dever, Senior Pastor of the Capital Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC made history in two significant ways at the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix, Az. First, they stepped in the gap and offered a workshop for convention attendees during the down-time created by the convention schedule change >>> More significantly, however, is the second way 9Marks made history: 9Marks Ministries had an official booth in the exhibit hall of the Southern Baptist Convention...a first. According to the exhibitor policy (revised 09/2004)--a... Read more →

Brad Whitt Makes Baptist News Again by Peter Lumpkins

On February 28, South Carolina pastor, Dr. Brad Whitt, wrote a provocative piece entitled “Young, Southern Baptist…and Irrelevant?” Within a few weeks, over a half dozen state papers had picked up the young pastor’s essay. He obviously resonated with Southern Baptists all over the United States. Indeed his stated concerns shook loose a rebuttal from two Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary professors, Nathan Finn and Ed Stetzer >>> Truth be told, Whitt has kept those in the convention who desire to change the methodology/ecclesiology of SBC churches from the top-down running... 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 →

Southern Baptists not Reformed Baptists by Peter Lumpkins

Below is a document circulated in 1827 to Baptists in North Carolina. All our Southern Baptist brothers who love the "Reformed" moniker may want to consider this document before they so boldly testify, "I'm a Reformed Baptist" >>> In the Kehukee Association record, we find: 1827. This session of the Association was one of the most remarkable ever held by her. At this time came up for consideration the Declaration of Principles submitted at the last session to the churches for approval or rejection. And upon a full and fair... 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 →

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

Below is Part I of a portion included in an essay originally published in the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry (Vol. 3 No. 1 Spring 2005: 188-212) entitled “Elder Rule and Southern Baptist Church Polity.” It’s author is Dr. Robert A. Wring, 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... Read more →

Free Church Theology vs. Reformed Theology Redux by Peter Lumpkins

I recently raised the question of an inevitable collision in the SBC between Free Church theology on the one hand and Reformed theology on the other, especially as theologically teased out in eccleesiology. My fellow Georgian pastor, William Thorton, offers commentary on two recent "Reformed" perspectives concerning the way the SBC operates (or "supposed" to operate according to the younger "Reformed" perspectives). In a piece entitled "Sorry, the SBC isn't one mammouth megachurch..." Thorton writes: "There is no principle of submission to the authority of SBC leaders, or to decisions... Read more →

Reformed Theology vs. Free Church Theology in the SBC: Disaster Inevitable by Peter Lumpkins

I started blogging in 2006. The reason I gave then, is the reason I state now: the aggressive Calvinist agenda being promoted among Southern Baptists. In 2006, Founders Ministries was the kingpin blog. Tom Ascol peeled every non-Calvinist banana who dared mention the "doctrines of grace." Indeed it would be hard to name a then, mega-church pastor in the SBC, who did not feel the wrath of Founders' blog and blog thread. They were "exposed" for the "Arminians" (i.e. "heretics") they were... >>> A new day arrived for Southern Baptists... Read more →

Judgment is No Joke by Peter Lumpkins

A few years ago, I preached a message entitled “Judgment is no Joke” based upon perhaps the most provocative words the Lord Jesus ever spoke; so provocative, in fact, some scholars deny the Lord of Glory spoke them. In part Jesus said>>> "And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire…And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to... Read more →

Spontaneous Baptisms: Capturing the Scripture or Caving to Culture? by Peter Lumpkins

In some contemporary worship philosophies, observing the Lord’s Supper has become, as it were, an old-fashioned hindrance to meaningful interaction with the Lord. I mean, indicative of the Supper, are reflection, contemplation, and memorial elements which simply cannot be expunged. But such be-still-and-know-that-I-am-God qualities do not mix so well with flashing lights, fog machines, dramatic videos, jumping, hollering, loud guitars, and percussion beats which remind one of the ZZ Top’s golden years Solution? Place the Lord’s Supper on the back burner somewhere that it won’t conflict with genuine worship.After all,... Read more →

Christ’s Prophets or Culture’s Pollsters: To Whom Do We Turn? by Peter Lumpkins

Typically argued by church-growth gurus a half-generation ago was for the 20th Century church to stop using 19th century methods to reach a 20th century audience. Remember this book? Among the many culprits often indicted was the "boring" church which ignored the sharpened sensory tastes of a media-driven society soaked in the tub of cutting edge video, graphics, and the ever-ready, almighty microchip. The stats were in... young people spent about 15-20 hours a week absorbing this new, very powerful venue. Hence, the church which did not reach kids through... Read more →

Unauthorized Consent: Self-perpetuating Trustee Boards Violate Historic Baptist Principles: A Position Essay by Malcolm Yarnell, III

A recent crisis arose at Baylor University between the Administration and the Baylor Alumni Association. Apparently Baylor University Administration is seeking to shut down all dissent by swallowing the independent Baylor Alumni Association whole. This unprecedented maneuver to squelch free and open discussion offers few warm fuzzies to Baylor students/alumni (//link). Rightly so. Moderate Baptist faith communities proudly pave their streets with enriched diversity and seal them with open dissent. As a counter-measure, a Baylor dissenter posted on a forum thread an older essay by Dr. Malcolm Yarnell entitled "Unauthorized... Read more →

Ecumenism Unplugged: by Peter Lumpkins

Thorwald Lorenzen was for years professor of systematic theology and ethics at the International Baptist Seminary in Ruschlikon, Switzerland. He earlier had taught New Testament at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (1971--1974). Lorenzen's contribution has perhaps mostly been in the field of ecumenical studies. The paper, Baptism and Church Membership: Some Baptist Positions and Their Ecumenical Implications (Journal of Ecumenical Studies, 18:4, Fall 1981) fairly represents Lorenzen's vision to see Baptists become absorbed into the larger Christian community on a global scale. I intend to offer a more thorough engagement... Read more →

Weekend Quotes: A Time to Consider

"I define myself above all other things as a believer. I am indeed a passionate believer. God is the ultimate reality in my life... Like the psalmist of old, I have the sense of God's inescapableness. I am what I would call a God-intoxicated human being... [I seek] to build a world in which all barriers to full humanity for every person have been removed. That is why, for me, no prejudice can ever be allowed to exist within that entity that has come to call itself "the body of... Read more →

Interview with Pastor & Author, Bob Pearle: "The Vanishing Church: Searching for Significance in the 21st Century"

Dr. Pearle is pastor of Birchman Baptist Church in Ft Worth, Texas and his latest book is published by Hannibal Books in Garland, Texas. I recently offered a review on The Vanishing Church, emphasizing its fundamental difference from many "emergent-like" approaches to doing church today. In my view, The Vanishing Church is a much needed antidote to the poisoned ecclesiology so often found flowing through the contaminated bloodstream of many trendy new ways in doing church. The unwritten subtext beneath the seductive statistics cited as evidence that the church needs... Read more →

Baptism, The Lord's Supper, and Southern Baptists: Some Options: by Nathan Finn: A Brief Review by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Nathan Finn* writes recently that "Southern Baptists are clearly divided in their views of the ordinances"* (p.1). In light of such division, Finn offers a "taxonomy...[which describes what] most Southern Baptists embrace... when it comes to their respective practices concerning baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and church membership" (p.2). Following are four positions historically held among Baptists: Option 1: Some Southern Baptists are Landmarkers who practice closed communion and closed membership** Option 2: Some non-Landmark Southern Baptists practice both closed membership and closed communion Option 3: There are some Southern... Read more →

The Vanishing Church: Searching for Significance in the 21st Century by Dr. Bob Pearle

A fellow blogger and frequent commenter on SBCTomorrow, Ron Phillips has posted a review of his pastor's newest book, The Vanishing Church: Searching for Significance in the 21st Century. Dr. Pearle serves as pastor of Birchman Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas and is also President of the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention. Ron writes: "For this Baptist, I am delighted that my pastor deals with an issue most dear to me: ecumenism within our Southern Baptist Convention and the need to recover our Baptist distinctives...Pearle articulates a sound biblical... Read more →

A New Kind of Christianity with a New Kind of Christian: Exploring the Emergent Church: Part II

We were introduced to The New Christians (TNC) and its author, Tony Jones, in our first post. Since 2001, "emergent" (EC) has been the official self-designation and preferred socio-religious title to this movement within the church. We continue our review with looking briefly at chapter one entiled, "Leaving The Old Country" (pp.1-30). Jones' writing style is very interesting. He soaks the pages of his book with a never ending reservoir of personal stories and experiences that captivate his audience. In fact, styles of communication stand a staple of EC. For... Read more →

The Power of the Church

The following sermon I preached a couple of years ago. It reflects my deep conviction as I lament the frail, impotent, feel-good approaches employed by some today in their desperate attempt to 'make the Church relevant'. God's Church, as she employs her God-given power, will never cease to be relevant. *Update: Click here to subscribe to Podcast feed. It may be helpful. You may listen from your feed reader... "The Power of the Church" *Thanks to Jon, the file is now on my site. All should be able to listen...... Read more →

Salvation, The Sovereignty of God and The Great Commission: An Expression of the Will of God

A recent book edited by Dr. R. Stanton Norman, Vice President for University Development at Southwest Baptist University, contains essays from various Southern Baptist scholars and pastors. The Mission of the Church: Baptist Leaders Look at Modern Faith Issues is a collection of papers presented at a 2005 conference on "The Mission of Today's Church" sponsored by my Alma Marta, the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary >>> Presenters included Daniel Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Charles Kelly, President of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Jerry Sutton, Pastor, Two... Read more →

Being Bold About Being Baptist: Classic Preaching on Baptist Identity: Sermon #1, Part #2

"Distinctive Baptist Principles," a sermon preached by Rev. James. E. Carter, Editor of the "Western North Carolina Baptist", the Baptist state paper for the Western Baptist Convention (1845-1897), was delivered at the assembled Convention October 20, 1883. The text was Acts 5. 32: "We are witnesses of these things." Part one of this sermon may be read here. IV. Church Independency. No principle has more distinctly marked a difference between Baptists and other persuasions of Christians than that of the independency of the Churches. There can be no such thing... Read more →

Being Bold About Being Baptist: Classic Preaching on Baptist Identity

Today, I begin a new series of posts entitled "Being Bold About Being Baptist: Classic Preaching on Baptist Identity." I fully understand that some may inevitably view this series of posts as both unkind to Christians in other denominations as well as blatantly arrogant to even suggest we emphasize our differences. I not only want to say I stand unashamed of the differences my Baptist heritage brings but I glory in it! Indeed I would think--to name only a few--that our Methodist, Presbyterian, and Pentecostal spiritual brothers and sisters in... Read more →

Church Discipline: The Old Way

Whereas, John Spencer, formerly a member of said Church [Sandy Creek Baptist Church] applied for a letter of dismission, which was granted him; and whereas, the said Spencer, after obtaining said letter became very wild in his deportment, and pursued a very disorderly course to the injury of the cause of Christ; he was notified that the Church would expect him to return his letter, which he promised to do but failed to do so, and left this section of the country, and has gone to parts unknown; the Church... Read more →

John L. Dagg: An Interview: Final part

This is the final installment of my "conversation" with Mr. Dagg. My previous parts of this series are here and here. Though not an original thinker or possessing an especially broad engagement with other theologies, nevertheless Professor Dagg rightly stands as a model theologian for Southern Baptists doing theology today. He unapologetically wed his belief system to Scripture, insisting that the "unerring Word" finally tips the scales in what we believe. Most of all, in contrast to those who believe the pursuit of theology is more or less a pursuit... Read more →

J. L. Dagg: Interview Continued

My regrets offered to those who regularly read SBCTomorrow. I meant to post the "interview" with Mr. Dagg at closer intervals. Below is part two (first one here). I trust you enjoy... Peter: Ahhh...There is nothing like a great cup of coffee in the evening as far as I'm concerned. Mr. Dagg: I've been in Georgia since 1844, but I've never eaten an Ellijay fried apple pie. I now shall eat them till I meet my Maker in Glory. Peter: I'd like to move on in our conversation to the... Read more →

J. L. Dagg, Southern Baptist Theologian: An Interview

John Leadley Dagg was perhaps the leading theologian among Baptists in the south during the second half of the nineteenth century >>> And that so, even though he was far from the leading intellect among southern theologians. James Boyce, for example, could be considered, compared to Dagg, the brighter star among Baptists in the south. Boyce's Abstract of Systematic Theology, available in print and online, engaged both sophisticated theological questions as well as the theologians themselves. Dagg, by contrast, quoted few, if any, theologians of repute; he simply rehearsed Scripture... Read more →

Baptism & The Lord's Supper: The Role of Ordinances in Baptist Life

Though a tired, old cliché pertaining to Baptist life, there nevertheless remains some truth: "Ask two Baptists the same question and you'll get three opinions." I suppose that stems, at least in part, from our historic commitment to the reformational idea of the priesthood of all believers...>>> One phenomenon, however, that seems to be virtually universal is Baptists' understanding of church ordinances, specifically Baptism and The Lord's Supper. At the outset, it must be admitted that in Baptist history in general, these two have not been the only ordinances Baptists... Read more →