peterlumpkins.com

Criticism of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Role of Discernment Blogs: Part I

Last week, The Capstone Report, a popular website that focuses on issues it perceives as troubling in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), released a story concerning the president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Jason Allen, claiming he was personally lobbying the Missouri governor to settle more refugees in the state. The story turned out to be false. Don Hinkle, longtime editor of The Pathway, Missouri Baptists' state denominational paper, wrote a brief but scathing rebuttal, accusing the author of "fake news": "I know fake news when I see it. This... Read more →

A real word on repentance by Chris Gilliam

There is much in the mind of religious people on the issue of a Christian's repentance. It has long been preached that the person repenting MUST confess ALL sins with specific detail to ALL people who are injured by the sin and to ALL who heard about it. There is a large group of people who will not give grace until all the nitty-gritty details are acknowledged, verbalized, restitution is made and reconciliation applied for. Some even demand a complete telling of ALL past sins before grace can be applied.... Read more →

New Calvinism gets reviewed by young British Baptist Calvinist

Jeremy Walker, co-pastor of the Maidenbower Baptist Church in the United Kingdom has penned a well-balanced critique of the young, restless, and reformed movement in the evangelical church. Entitled The New Calvinism Considered: A Personal and Pastoral Assessment , the volume is available in the United States in both paperback and digital versions.1 Walker himself theologically identifies with Calvinism as a confessional, Particular Baptist assuring his readers his intentions are not to "mindlessly ignore, attack, or defend any particular group, but to deal fairly with the new Calvinism."2 In fact,... Read more →

What it means to grow spiritually by Peter Lumpkins

I intend to explore this subject a bit this Lord's Day morning. My chief texts will be 1 Peter 1:3, 2:2, and 2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) which respectfully read: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... "as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby... "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior... Read more →

Southern Baptists Move Away from Rigid Calvinism: The Influence of F.H. Kerfoot: by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Franklin Howard Kerfoot (1847-1901) though not a name widely recognized in Baptist circles today was, during the latter quarter of the 19th century, a formidable leader among Southern Baptists. He served as pastor, denominational leader and seminary professor. Dr. Kerfoot was born a Virginian but died a Georgian. After serving in the Confederate Army for a short period, he enrolled in Columbian College in Washington D.C. and excelled in his studies such that, in only three years, he received his M.S. and L.L.B. which normally took six. Afterward, Kerfoot... Read more →