peterlumpkins.com

Wash one another's feet?

While foot-washing1 has possessed a negligible presence among Southern Baptists since our actual founding in 1845, its practice may nonetheless be found among some individual congregations affiliated with the SBC >>> Presently, I'm teaching through Article VII in The Baptist Faith and Message dealing with our two church ordinances. Baptism and the Lord's Supper. I found the following quote by a longtime favorite author, Francis Schaeffer, particularly insightful: While most of us think it is a mistake to make this a sacrament, let us admit that it is 10,000 times... 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 →

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 →

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 →

Down in the River to Pray

There was a time in recent memory when both the Ordinance of Baptism and Ordinance of the Lord's Supper were considered sacred moments in the life of the Church. Sadly, too much I sense both have been reduced to showtime. Stage lights for the Supper and dramatic video for the symbolic burial and resurrection replace the reverence of obeying our Lord's command, memorializing our gracious redemption... With that, I am... Peter 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 →

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 →