peterlumpkins.com

Is Racism embedded all over the Southern Baptist Convention?

I've been trying to stay away from denominational politics. Honest! At times, however, it's impossible to stay on the wagon. Indeed as my good friend, Chris Gilliam, indicated in the Facebook thread (see below), one gets tired of the simplistic rhetoric. Below is a brief commentary I pecked out on my cell phone in response to an article detailing Russell Moore's indictment of widespread racism allegedly embedded within the Southern Baptist Convention. A Facebook friend asked me to post it on my blog so he could point his friends to... Read more →

President of Southern Baptists' ERLC on suspending Duck Dynasty's patriarchal leader

Phil Robertson (pic source) Dr. Russell Moore offered commentary on the recent A&E suspension of Phil Robertson, Duck Dynasty's patriarchal figure. Moore described the network television decision "censorious cultural fundamentalism" that is neither “progressive” nor “pluralistic.” The ERLC president went on to conclude: "Let’s have genuine diversity, meaning let’s talk honestly with one another about what we believe and why. Muting one another isn’t what debate is for in a free society. It’s what remote controls are for." Read the entire statement-- "Duck Dynasty?" on the president's blog, Moore to... Read more →

C.J. Mahaney, The Victims, and Depths of Darkness

I got about two-thirds of the way through the Second Amended Class Action Complaint and Jury Demand filed by attorneys representing the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against young, restless, and reformed icon, C.J. Mahaney, Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM), two SGM churches, one SGM school, and ten other SGM leaders.1 Truth is, I couldn't go on. It's most horrifying and even solicits the deepest anger and rage from a person's soul. To imagine these poor children--children then the ages of my five grand babies now--might have suffered such degraded... Read more →

Heritage Foundation Fellow hounded by Piers Morgan and Suze Orman for his position against gay marriage

(pic source) Ryan T. Anderson serves as the William E. Simon Fellow in Religion and a Free Society for The Heritage Foundation, a conservative thinktank in Washington, DC. According to his bio, Anderson researches and writes mainly about marriage and religious liberty, but also has expertise in justice and moral principles in economic thought, health care and education, and bioethics and natural law theory. In addition, he co-authored the book entitled What Is Marriage?: Man and Woman: A Defense (Encounter Books, December 2012) along with two Princeton scholars, Robert P.... Read more →

Lifeway VP Ed Stetzer on fallen pastor Jack Schaap by Peter Lumpkins

Just last week, Dr. Ed Stetzer, Vice-President of Lifeway Christian Resources, minced no words in condemning a few so-called "Christians" for publicizing to the evangelical community an allegation claimed by a scorned male participant of a supposed homosexual encounter with Stetzer's young friend, Jonathan Merritt. Dr. Stetzer wrote on his blog defending Merritt against Merritt's purported fiend(s), penning an emotive but decisive judgment: My heart grieves to see such low integrity, particularly when done by a person who claims the title "Christian"--and I am deeply disappointed with a few "Christians"... Read more →

9 year old stands up to Westboro Baptist's homo-hatred

NPR reports about 9 year old, Josef Miles, who stood up to Westboro Baptist Church's hate-filled protest against "fags" with his own personal protest--"GOD HATES NO ONE." Below is a picture courtesy of his mother, Patty Akrouche, who posted the pic on facebook, a pic now shared over 100k times. And we think protests don't work any more... Josef Miles (photo courtesy of Patty Akrouche) Read more →

Homosexual hatred justly condemned

Close to a cool three-quarters of a million viewers have watched a minute and a half clip of Charles Worley's Mother's Day sermon uploaded to youtube. I suspect every pastor would like that kind of traffic on a sermon he'd preach >>> However, the longtime pastor at Providence Road Baptist Church, a "King James Only" independent Baptist church in Maiden, North Carolina,1 did not receive the views he did because of his magnificent preaching skills. Instead, he got viewed for the hatred he spewed about homosexuals: ...the Bible's against it... Read more →

Rick Warren's absurd call for Al Mohler to apologize by Peter Lumpkins

Al Mohler's recent post entitled "Is the Megachurch the New Liberalism?" raised questions not only concerning megachurch pastor, Andy Stanley, and his all-but implicit acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle, but Mohler also drew fire from unsuspecting critics1 >>> Legendary Saddleback pastor, Rick Warren, did not just take issue with Al Mohler's piece; rather the father of the purpose-driven movement called for the seminary president to apologize for unduly offending thousands of churches for the lone reason the church happened to be big. Reportedly, Warren tweeted to Mohler: @albertmohler Would a... 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 →

Take heed lest you fall by Peter Lumpkins

The inspired Apostle gives us both exhortation and warning. He writes: >>> Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (1 Co 10:12) Our hearts are directed first to the victims of this moral and criminal lapse. Though it taxes our minds in discovering appropriate words to collectively express our disappointment, our anger, our frustration, we nonetheless are morally obliged to do so. We hurt for and with the victims. We also possess a moral obligation to denounce as sinful and depraved this criminal act allegedly... Read more →

Fundamentalists always attacking? by Peter Lumpkins

Cultural critic, best selling author, and openly gay woman, Tammy Bruce writes, "...as a gay woman, I expect tolerance. But I understand that tolerance is not "acceptance" or "buy-in." I don't expect other women to run out and become lesbians just because they tolerate me, or even if they like me or admire the stands I have taken. A fundamentalist Christian may think my lifestyle is wrong, but it's not fundamentalist Christians that have attacked and demonized me over the last seven years" (italics added) The Death of Right and... Read more →

J. Budziszewski on engaging the homosexuality issue by Peter Lumpkins

The Family Research Council sponsors an annual Witherspoon lecture symposium dealing with public policy, political philosophy, and moral issues. Those who give lectures are among the most accomplished scholars in their respective fields. A decade ago, natural law philosopher, Jay Budziszewski delivered the Witherspoon lecture >>> Dr. Budziszewski is an associate professor in the departments of government and philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin. His most recent books include Written on the Heart: The Case for Natural Law (InterVarsity Press, 1997) and The Revenge of Conscience (Spence Publishing,... Read more →

Al Mohler "chides" some evangelicals for holding homosexuality a choice that’s "relatively easy to change" by Peter Lumpkins

UPDATE: Dr. Mohler seems to have answered Gilgoff's inclusion of him as an example of "cooling" toward reparative therapy. I suspect more literary energies will be required in defending himself from those who perceived a shift in his thinking about homosexuality, a shift primarily stemming from his confusing words spoken at the SBC in Phoenix. ========================================================= According to CNN.com Religion Editor, Dan Gilgoff, among those evangelicals who are "cooling" to conversion therapy for gays is...Dr. Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Citing Mohler's answer to a question at... 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 →

Christianity Today records "surge in sexuality debates" by Peter Lumpkins

Christianity Today posts an interesting twist on the recent debates over same-sex marriage. Of interest to Southern Baptists is its subtle display of disagreement between Al Mohler and Richard Land. Mohler is "Targeted for “Appearing to Pander to the Homosexual Lobby”". Satisfying clarity from Dr. Mohler on this issue is yet to appear. With that, I am... Peter READ THE FULL ARTICLE Read more →

Al Mohler, homosexuality, and continued moral confusion (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

continued from part I >>> The second public response Mohler offered was in personal correspondence he allowed North Carolina pastor, Les Puryear, to post on his site. Mohler was responding to Puryear's personal question to him concerning his statement about "homophobia" and the reference to "we've lied…" In part Mohler wrote: "...I point out that I never said anything remotely like what you suggest in your message. As you must know, my original statement made no reference whatsoever to the Southern Baptist Convention nor to Southern Baptists, but was a... Read more →

Al Mohler, homosexuality, and continued moral confusion (part I) by Peter Lumpkins

Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, made headlines at the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix when he openly affirmed quoted words by Jonathan Merritt: "We've lied about the nature of homosexuality and have practiced what can only be described as a form of homophobia…We've used the 'choice' language when it is clear that sexual orientation is a deep inner struggle and not merely a matter of choice" (//link). In response to whether those words were accurately quoted, Mohler said: >>> "I'm thankful for the question, my brother, and... Read more →

Can Al Mohler Remain Silent about Southern Baptists Lying about Homosexuality and Practicing Homophobia? by Peter Lumpkins

How long can our president of Southern Baptists' flagship seminary, Dr. Al Mohler, hold out before addressing the confusion he created at last week's Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix, AZ by publicly aligning himself with Jonathan Merritt, a decidedly gay-lifestyle sympathizer who believes strongly that his generation will not stand for traditional sexual mores but will be more neutral toward homosexual unions? >>> Many Mohler advocates praised Dr. Mohler's speech as brilliant, timely, and, literally, a "well deserved beatdown" toward the duly elected Southern Baptist Convention messenger1 who asked Dr.... Read more →

Baptist Press rectifies the silence on Al Mohler's controversial words--''homosexuality comments reflect Scripture"

Baptist Press just posted an explanation on the provocative words spoken concerning homosexuality at the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix, AZ by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president, Dr. Al Mohler. Michael Foust, staff writer for Baptist Press, writes: Seminary president R. Albert Mohler Jr. says comments he made about homosexuality at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting reflect biblical teaching, and his remarks are receiving support from two prominent evangelical leaders who minister to the homosexual community. Dr. Mohler received strong support from Alan Chambers, who serves as president... 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 →

Question Raised Over Baptist Press Silence Concerning Al Mohler's Provocative Claim about Homosexuality and Southern Baptists by Peter Lumpkins

North Carolina pastor, Tim Rogers, raises the question concerning Baptist Press' silence about Dr. Al Mohler's claim at the SBC in Phoenix that evangelicals broadly and Southern Baptists particularly "have lied about the nature of homosexuality" and practice "what can only be called a form of homophobia." During the Q/A time at the end of the seminary report at the SBC, Dr. Mohler affirmed the words were his and accurately quoted by cultural critic, Jonathan Merritt >>> In his article entitled, "Where is Baptist Press Coverage?" Rogers explains: "When one... Read more →

Al Mohler and Homosexuality: Setting the Record Straight by Peter Lumpkins

Now that we have moved into some calmer waters since last week's rapids over my question and Dr. Al Mohler's response at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), I thought it necessary to set the record straight. My understanding concerning Al Mohler's position on homosexuality before the SBC has been entirely swept aside by much of the internet buzz >>> Why people make such broad-brush implications in the face of clear facts remains a tribute to the unmitigated nonsense one finds so often on the internet. It really makes me ashamed... Read more →

Al Mohler on the Southern Baptist Convention: Liars and Homophobes? by Peter Lumpkins

Below is an edited video with the relevant portions of my question to Dr. Al Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, along with his direct response to the question posed at the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix, AZ. The truth is, almost of all Dr. Mohler's response, after the first portion of his answer, addressed concerns he introduced, possessing little, if any, relevance to the concerns I specifically raised >>> Hence, this video is shorter in length.* It only has a selected snippet of... Read more →

Associated Baptist Press: "Mohler says Baptists must repent of homophobia" by Peter Lumpkins

Bob Allen, ABP, interprets Al Mohler's concession that the words attributed to him by Jonathan Merritt indicate that Southern Baptists must repent of their "homophobia". Allen writes: >>> The president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary said June 15 that Southern Baptists need to repent of a “form of homophobia” that keeps gays and lesbians out of their churches. Albert Mohler responded during his report to the Southern Baptist Convention to a question from Peter Lumpkins, a Southern Baptist blogger, about whether comments attributed to him in a March 24 Christian... Read more →

"The president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary says his denomination needs to repent for a "form of homophobia" by Peter Lumpkins

Baptist Press (BP) should note the headline below. For some reason, BP strangely failed to include in its seminary report from the SBC, Mohler's question asked to him from the convention floor, a question concerning his words spoken to Jonathan Merritt. Akin's question concerning a Calvinistic thrust on the SEBTS campus, on the other hand, was worthy of note. Did Baptist Press not think Mohler's public confession Southern Baptists have lied about the nature of homosexuality would not be newsworthy? Others are already catching on... >>> Seminary president: Baptists have... Read more →

Encouraging a Culture of Intimidation in the SBC by Peter Lumpkins

Thoughts about the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix do not lack as I prepare for my flight back to a rain-soaked West Georgia. We actually needed the rain. My grass was beginning to look like some I’ve seen in Phoenix! One particular thought I want to pitch to my readers pertains to what I see as a culture of intimidation being promoted in the Southern Baptist Convention. Allow me. I mentioned at least twice on my site, I thought Dr. Al Mohler needed to answer a particular question about... Read more →

Al Mohler on Jay Bakker but NOT on Jonathan Merritt by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Al Mohler, President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, just posted a stinging critique of Jay Bakker’s latest book, Fall to Grace: A Revolution of God, Self, and Society (Faith Words, 2011).>>> Entitled, “The Church and the ‘Clobber’ Scriptures—The Bible and Homosexuality” Mohler spanks little Jay where it hurts. Indeed one may hardly disagree with Dr. Mohler’s studied conclusion: “The Bible’s condemnation of same-sex behaviors is comprehensive and clear. It is interwoven with the Bible’s message concerning God’s plan for humanity, marriage, and society — and the Gospel. Human flourishing... Read more →

Merritt vs. Merritt on Homosexuality by Peter Lumpkins

I recently posted some pieces raising questions toward Jonathan Merritt's innovative approach to the gay agenda systematically imposed on our culture. In my view, young Merritt's position forfeits entirely too much ground to aggressive policy-hawks who desire to cater to homosexual lobbyists. No only so, Merritt's stern condemnation of evangelicals' moral reservations in supporting homosexual lifestyles, consequently making gay orientation and gay practice no more culturally prohibitive than people who gossip, cannot reasonably stand as a socio-ethical option conservative Christians can honestly consider. For those desiring a refresher, below are... Read more →

Jonathan Merritt and Al Mohler: Have Southern Baptists Lied About Homosexuality? by Peter Lumpkins

I recently published a piece on Jonathan Merritt’s provocative strategy for reaching the gay community entitled “Jonathan Merritt, Evangelicalism, and God’s New Game Plan for Reaching Gays.” From all appearances, it seems Merritt’s views on social ethics edge farther and farther away from his biblically conservative father, James Merritt, pastor of Cross Pointe Church, Duluth, Georgia, a church where Jonathan himself is on staff as college/singles minister...>>> One of my chief complaints in the piece I published had to do with Merritt’s bold affirmation that Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president,... Read more →

Everything You Know about Evangelicals is Wrong (Well Almost Everything): A Book-Look by Peter Lumpkins

Beginning in the last quarter of the 20th century, evangelicals rode their white horses to religious stardom. As Liberal and mainline denominational colleges and seminaries shrunk, evangelical student bodies swelled fat and prosperous. Fame was short-lived, however. While Newsweek proclaimed 1976 as “the year of the evangelical,” church historian Martin E. Marty predicted rough days ahead for evangelicals as early as 1989. Indeed, some theologians now question whether the term “evangelical” has not expended itself completely. For example, >>> Westminster Theological Seminary professor, D. A. Hart, suggested in his book,... Read more →

Rick Warren: Does He or Doesn't He Support Gay Marriage?

I like Rick Warren. I always have. God used him in marvelous ways to influence masses of people for the gospel. Like others who've questioned at times some of his methodical means of getting the gospel out, I've had my own reservations. Also, there are portions of the purpose-driven life I personally find inadequate. Millions upon millions of believers register their disagreement with me, however. Nor do such differences lessen my respect for him. My respect and appreciation aside, Warren has unfortunately scorched his skillet full of tasty corn this... Read more →