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Bullseye: Perceptive Reflections on a Collapsing Culture: Free Church Press New Release

Click on image to enlarge Free Church Press is excited to announce a new title by William F. Harrell: Bullseye: Perceptive Reflections on a Collapsing Culture. Dr. Harrell is Pastor Emeritus of the historic Abilene Baptist Church, Martinez, Georgia. Bullseye is Harrell's second book. In Bullseye, Dr. Harrell aims his bead for cultural issues facing the church today. Those who purchased Harrell's first volume--Straight Shooting: Pastoral Reflections for Today's Church--will note in Bullseye the very same folksy literary style Dr. Harrell commands. Below are a few of the targets onto... Read more →

What Is Wrong With the Young, Restless and Reformed Movement? An Interpretive Essay by Dr. Paul Owen

Below is a solicited essay by Dr. Paul Owen. Dr. Owen is Professor of Greek and Religious Studies at Montreat College in North Carolina, where he has taught since 2001. Founded in 1916, Montreat College is the only liberal arts college in North Carolina that holds membership in the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Dr. Owen’s academic articles and book reviews have been published in numerous venues, including the Calvin Theological Journal, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Journal of Biblical Literature, and Journal for the Study of the... Read more →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

Brian McLaren Encourages Al Mohler: "Please don't back down" by Peter Lumpkins

Emergent icon and well-known radical theologian, Brian McLaren, posted an encouraging note he wished someone to pass along to Dr. Mohler. Dr. McLaren desires to express his genuine thanks and appreciation to Mohler for his courage to "take a risk and say things that you believe need to be said" even when Mohler knew he would be "maligned for doing so">>> Of course, McLaren is referring to Dr. Mohler's controversial words at the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix when Mohler not only charged evangelicals and Southern Baptists with lying about... Read more →

SBC Attendance Flashback by Peter Lumpkins

If the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix we prognosticate to be approximately 5K is correct, how does this compare with former attendance? Let's take a look >>> 2010 Orlando 11, 070 2009 Louisville 8,790 2008 Indianapolis 7,277 2007 San Antonio 8,630 2006 Greensboro 11,639 2005 Nashville 11,641 2004 Indianapolis 8,600 2003 Phoenix 7,077 2002 St. Louis 9,645 2001 New Orleans 9,594 2000 Orlando 11,951 The last time we were in Phoenix, we had 7,077. However, that’s when Southern Baptists were so miserably dead, nothing short of an organized $250,000... 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 →

Reformed Theologian dubs Steve Lemke's critics 'sad and irresponsible' by Peter Lumpkins

Adjunct Wheaton professor and Reformed author, John Armstrong, is no stranger to Southern Baptists; he used to be one. Though presently he is comfortably at home in the Reformed community of faith, he still holds dear what he learned in his spiritual pilgrimage among Southern Baptists. But Dr. Armstrong's got a contentious bone to pick with unfair critics of Dr. Steve Lemke, Provost and Professor of Philosophy and Ethics at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary >>> Steve Lemke, provost at New Orleans Baptist Seminary, recently examined various points of divergence... Read more →

Love Wins by Rob Bell: A Book Note by Peter Lumpkins

I finally finished my copy of Love Wins: A Book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person who Ever Lived by Rob Bell (hereafter, Love Wins, HarperOne 2011, $22.99). Some wondered why I have not already written a review. Others questioned my motives for posting a Reformed scholar’s review, while one blogger even strangely implicated me in surfing the internet looking for positive reviews of Bell’s book to post. Two quick points: a) I did not sense the urgency in critiquing Bell’s position before I actually read Bell’s... Read more →

On Hell: A Helpful Bibliography by Peter Lumpkins

James Davidson Hunter noted in his 1987 landmark study, Evangelicalism: The Coming Generation (University of Chicago,1987, 38), "…it is clear that there is a measurable degree of uneasiness within this generation of Evangelicals with the notion of an eternal damnation” while Richard Bauckham had already lamented a decade before--since 1800 “no traditional Christian doctrine has been so widely abandoned as that of eternal punishment” (Universalism: A Historical Survey,” Themelios 4 (1979) 48). Indeed Bauckham quotes H.R. Macintosh from 1914>>> “If at this moment a frank and confidential plebiscite of the... Read more →

Annihilationism vs. Universalism: Acceptable Error or Condemnable Heresy? by Peter Lumpkins

My raising the question concerning The Gospel Coalition’s fairly obvious duplicity in describing Rob Bell a heretic for his alleged universalist and/or annihilationist views while theologically cuddling up nice and cozy with Anglican scholar, John R.W. Stott, even though it is common knowledge Stott embraces some form of an annihilationist position concerning the after-life created many defenders who suggested annihilationism, although an error to be sure, hardly meets the “heresy” criteria that universalism does>>> In fact, I had an email exchange with a TGC advocate who alleged my point was... 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 →

Young, Southern Baptist...and Irrelevant? by Brad Whitt

The following are excerpts from a piece published today in South Carolina’s The Courier and also on Dr. Brad Whitt’s site (if you have not placed Whitt in your feed-reader, I suggest you do so asap). Brad writes>>> I’m not “young, restless and reformed.” I guess you’d say that I’m young, Southern Baptist and, it seems, increasingly irrelevant. You see, I’m just a pastor’s son who grew up with a love for my denomination — a Southern Baptist boy by birth and conviction… As I travel around the SBC, I... Read more →

On Rob Bell: Burn Heretic! Burn! by Peter Lumpkins

I’m hardly at ease with Rob Bell. Not because I’ve read all his stuff, judging it spiritually unsuitable. Nor am I among the 50K who downloaded his latest sermon this week. Rather for other reasons. Brett McCraken, in his celebrated book, hipster christianity, compares Bell with another controversial figure among Christian hipsters, Mark Driscoll: On the opposite end of the spectrum from Mark Driscoll is Rob Bell, who ironically pastors a church called Mars Hill (in Grand Rapids, Michigan). While Driscoll rails against a chick-ified Jesus and calls his congregants... Read more →

Danny Akin, SEBTS, SBC Voices, and my Take on Acceptable Engagement by Peter Lumpkins

Warning: THIS PIECE IS VERY LENGTHY I initially prepared the piece below (below the double under-lined section) as a comment for this thread. I do think. however, it needs wider exposure. It is a longer comment exposing I think a fundamental divide between what I find as acceptable, honorable exchange and what other bloggers—specifically some Southern Baptist bloggers—judge as the “best” and “worst” in blogging. I think it beneficial if one is interested in knowing what drives me to write as I do. More importantly now, please read at least... Read more →

Here Come Those Boozin' [young, cool, and hip] Baptists: A Problem for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary? by Peter Lumpkins

I'll never forget Baptist Historian, Walter Shurden's little volume on Baptist history--the first history of Baptists I ever laid eyes on and required to actually read--Not a Silent People (link for 2nd edition, not the original edition). In the volume he used the catchy refrain "Here come those battlin' Baptists!" while dealing with several controversies which have shaped Baptists--particularly Southern Baptists--throughout history. Over the past couple of days, Between the Times, the official blog of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, has posted on the subject of abstinence from alcohol. Yesterday, a... Read more →

Troy Gramling Responds by Peter Lumpkins

Raul Palacios, Executive Pastor, Flamingo Road Church (FRC), Cooper City, Florida, and husband to Heather Palacios, teaching Pastor at FRC, posted a link to Lead Pastor, Troy Gramling’s response to questions raised concerning the recent announcement about his nomination to presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastor’s Conference. We thank Pastor Palacios for furnishing us with this link. Furthermore, we’re grateful Pastor Gramling took seriously the questions raised toward his nomination, even if the questions were being raised by those outside the sphere of leadership in the Southern Baptist Convention.... 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 →

A New Kind of Christian: The Emergent Church: Part VI

The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier by Emergent author, Tony Jones has captured my attention for a few weeks now as I have reflected upon this trendy new version of the Christian faith that's appeared over the last fifteen years or so. Self-described as being an expression of the ancient faith, specifically dressed in the spiffy new postmodern attire, Emergents (EC) gladly hold hands with one another as they preside over the memorial service of traditional Christianity, which has thoroughly but unknowingly sold its soul to the failed... Read more →

A New Kind of Christian: The Emergent Church: Part V

I'm continuing to think about The New Christians by emergent (EC) author, Tony Jones. Jones is a very interesting writer and if you have an interest in EC, you will not be disappointed with Jones (check out Jones' book on the scrolling banner to the right). Before I move on to a more substantial post later this week, leading to a final conclusion, there is one dangling item to which I'd like to return--the Enlightenment. Jones in particular brings this up more than once in his book. But it is... Read more →

A New Kind of Christian: The Emergent Church: Part IV

Continuing with our review of The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier (TNC)* by emergent (EC) author, Tony Jones, we'll note briefly an idea that comes up more than once in TNC, the idea that being EC is decidedly humble in nature. Chapter three entitled "Who Are The Emergent Christians?" and chapter four, "It's The Theology, Stupid" sandwiches between them a "Dispatch" about a truck driver named Frank (pp. 86-92; In fact, various "dispatches" separate each chapter in Jones' book). This particular story captures a key attribute about which... Read more →

A New Kind of Christian: The Emergent Church: Part III

Jones begins chapter two with a fairly interesting parable about a young couple who leaves the protection of the family estate back east and, because of an insatiable adventurous spirit, travels to the western frontier looking for their fulfillment. I dare not give the tale away to those who will read "The New Christians" (TNC). The parable's purpose cannot be hard to guess, however. Emergent (EC) dwells on the frontier of our culture seeking to satisfy its insatiable adventurous need to converse with an outside world. It looks to connect;... 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 →

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

Last year when the hullabaloo disrupted over Missouri Baptist, Roger Moran and his critique of emergent Christianity became news, I mentioned on several sites my own let's-just-wait-and-see-attitude about this phenomenon. A year or so later, while I knew little about the Emerging, Emergent Church (hereafter EC) then, I barely know but a wee bit more now. I am trying, though. Be patient. A good will effort toward making more sense out of EC is the current volume I'm working through--The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier by EC leader,... Read more →