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'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 →

Louisiana College and its critics: a textbook example where the cure may be worse than the disease

UPDATE: Joshua Breland has just posted what he calls his final piece on Louisiana College (LC). While he speaks of the remarkable blessings he received from LC, it cannot be he can end his series without asserting "Louisiana College needs to figuratively burn to the ground and start afresh before health and prosperity can return." The freshly graduated college senior adds that "The Louisiana Baptist Convention (LBC) is also in need of much correction" since the Executive State Director, David Hankins, remains "part and parcel of the deception and wickedness... Read more →

Why all the buzz? Further thoughts on the present Calvinism conversation by Earl Blackburn

Below is the final of four entries on the purported Calvinism issue posted on March 12, 2013 in The Message, Louisiana Baptists' state paper. Editor Kelly Boggs generously sent all four articles to me so non-subscribers could access the important articles dealing with the unfortunate situation developing at Louisiana College. The three prior articles are linked at the end. The final piece appearing in The Message is penned by Louisiana pastor, Earl Blackburn. Blackburn serves the Heritage Baptist Church in Shreveport, LA, a Founders-friendly church affiliated with the Louisiana Baptist... Read more →

Louisiana's Message republishes "The Calvinists are here" by Georgia's Christian Index editor, Gerald Harris

The Baptist Message recently posted a series of articles on the purported issue over Calvinism at Louisiana College. I received permission from The Message editor to re-post the four articles in full on my site since many Southern Baptists outside Louisiana are watching with concerned interest the fiasco taking place on the Baptist campus. Yet since so few of us outside Louisiana subscribe to The Message, we were left completely in the dark as to the content of the articles. You may find the first and second articles linked after... Read more →