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Born Guilty? A Southern Baptist View of Original Sin by Adam Harwood

Free Church Press announces a new and exclusive teaching series on biblical, theological, ethical, and ecclesial themes significant for Southern Baptists. The series will target people in the pew rather than those who have a theological background. While we believe all church leaders--including pastors and other staff leaders--will benefit from the series, the goal is to educate the millions of Southern Baptists who neither have theological or biblical degrees nor desire to wade through long, technical works to gain a reasonable grip on the essence of a particular subject. Thus,... Read more →

Mullins proleptical words on "imputed guilt" in the 1925 statement of faith

E.Y. Mullins may be the most controversial theologian in Southern Baptist history. He is routinely cited by conservative and liberal, Calvinist and non-Calvinist as both friend and foe to the Baptist cause1. Nor is Mullins' role as the primary--if not exclusive--literary architect of the 1925 Baptist Faith and Message seriously questioned. Rather it is barely less than universally assumed >>> Therefore, what Mullins actually meant in the 25 articles he chiefly composed and which Southern Baptists subsequently adopted as their first, convention-wide statement of faith remains crucial if we desire... Read more →

Adam Harwood on the dilemma at young, restless, and reformed's "ground zero"

The book was Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists by Colin Hansen. In it, the self-identifying "YRR" journalist dubbed Southern Seminary "Ground Zero" for training and equipping the new army of young neo-Calvinist pastors and church planters to spread the doctrines of grace across the Southern Baptist Convention >>> In a brief commentary on the chapter entitled, "Ground Zero: The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky" (pp.69-94), I wrote a few years back: Finally, we move on to chapter four which stands as perhaps the most... Read more →

Young Truett-McConnell scholar drops a bombshell on Southern Baptist academia

When Karl Barth's classic commentary on Paul's Epistle to the Romans was first published in 1919, a biblical monograph which effectively delivered Old Liberalism its first mortal blow, one German reviewer described Barth's neo-orthodox innovation revealed in his Romans exposition as falling "like a bombshell on the playground of the theologians" >>> And, while one cannot place Adam Harwood's modest theological reflection at SBC Today on such a profoundly global ecclesial scale as was Barth, the Assistant Professor of Christian Studies at Truett-McConnell College just dropped a theological bombshell on... Read more →

Covenant Life Church pulling away from C.J. Mahaney and Sovereign Grace Ministries?

UPDATE: North Carolina pastor Tim Rogers posts a piece raising the question whether Dr. Al Mohler and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary have connections so close to C.J. Mahaney and Sovereign Grace Ministries that the recent lawsuit against Mahaney and his ministry will legally bleed all over Southern Baptists. While I cannot see myself how that could happen, I happily concede I know much too little about the legalities of such a possibility to make a reasonable judgment. Note: do not fail to watch Mahaney's promo video featuring Al Mohler and... Read more →

Susan Burke represents plaintiffs against C.J. Mahaney and Sovereign Grace Ministries in sexual offenses lawsuit

A well-known litigator for sexual abuse claims is representing the three female plaintiffs who filed sexual abuse claims against Sovereign Grace Ministries and new Calvinist celebrity icon, C.J. Mahaney >>> Washington D.C. attorney, Susan L. Burke, of Burke PLLC, a firm which bills itself as a "litigation boutique specializing in complex and class action litigation," is the leading attorney for the plaintiffs. Ms. Burke speaks openly with Christian Talk Radio host, Janet Mefferd, on her latest broadcast concerning the plaintiffs' perspective on the filed claims. Check out the interview: Susan... Read more →

C.J. Mahaney's ministry move to Louisville did not spare them a Maryland lawsuit

Reportedly, Sovereign Grace Ministries (SGM), a ministry founded by high-profile Calvinist celebrity, C.J. Mahaney, is awaiting the official serving of a lawsuit filed in Maryland by three unnamed female plaintiffs. According to Bob Allen of Associated Baptist Press, >>> the parties reportedly claim that SGM did not report abuse allegedly committed by church members to police. Apparently, church leaders allegedly counseled suspected pedophiles about how to avoid prosecution and forced victims to meet with and “forgive” their abuser (//link). In response, SGM's Director of Finance and Administration, Tommy Hill, released... Read more →

Monergism.com snubs two Southern seminary professors' book by Peter Lumpkins

Drs. Peter J. Gentry (PhD, University of Toronto), professor of Old Testament Interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and director of the Hexapla Institute, and Stephen J. Wellum (PhD, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School), professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and editor of The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, just released their latest volume, Kingdom through Covenant: A Biblical-Theological Understanding of the Covenants, to high-five accolades from a broad swath of pleased supporters within the Reformed community >>> According to the cover, Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner,... Read more →

Response to Whomever He Wills: Part II by David Allen

UPDATE: Note: four parts are now available. Check out the links at the bottom of the post... We linked to Dr. David Allen's introductory remarks concerning the newest release by Founders Press, Whomever He Wills , edited by Drs. Matthew Barrett and Thomas J. Nettles. Since Allen's opening remarks were posted, Dr. Fred Zaspel, author of the book's Preface which Allen critically engaged in his introductory remarks, has offered a brief response to Dr. Allen >>> In Part 2 (which will be offered in several increments due to length), Dr.... Read more →

Preaching "Regeneration precedes faith" deadly for Baptists in the Mississippi Valley in the 19th century by Peter Lumpkins

In Whomever He Wills , Dr. Matthew Barrett writes in his chapter entitled, "The Scriptural Affirmation of Monergism" concerning the doctrinal significance of what has become known as regeneration precedes faith--or, in short, monergism. He writes: "For some, such a debate [i.e. synergism vs. monergism] may appear insignificant. To the contrary, God's glory hangs in the balance. If God's working in calling and regenerating the sinner is conditioned upon man's will, then God cannot receive all of the glory in salvation. But if God works alone, effectually to call and... Read more →

Tom Nettles and the takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention (part II) by Peter Lumpkins

In part I, we rehearsed the historical relationship Dr. Tom Nettles, professor of historical theology, at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has had with Founders Ministries since its inception in 1982. Nettles still sits on the board of directors for Founders Ministries. Nor has Dr. Nettles been rhetorically shy about stating in forceful language precisely how he sees those Traditional Baptists who deviate from what Director of Founders Ministries, Tom Ascol, has called "historic Southern Baptist Orthodoxy." Nettles wrote: >>> Southern Baptist beginnings were self-consciously and vigorously Calvinistic. This is... Read more →

Founders Calvinist Tom Nettles and the takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention (part I) by Peter Lumpkins

Kentucky pastor and SBC Voices contributor, Jared Moore posed a series of questions to "Traditionalists" about the address Dr. Tom Nettles, Professor of Historical Theology, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, recently gave at the Founders Breakfast held during the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans. >>> To be specific, Moore wondered "how traditionalists answer Nettles's [sic] assumptions here. Do you view the entities of the SBC as only your property, or as only the property of those who affirm a "majority" soteriological viewpoint beyond the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, instead... Read more →

We're down to 2 Point Calvinism by Peter Lumpkins

This week was an interesting week on SBC Tomorrow. On Wednesday, we offered a piece on Andrew Broaddus (1770-1848), a legendary figure in his own time... >>> A strict Baptist of the south, Broaddus remained a positive influence for evangelical Christianity all over the region. The famed Calvinist, J.B. Jeter, a friend and supporter who preached Broaddus' funeral homily, hailed him as the most formidable foe against whom Alexander Campbell contended on the historic Baptist side of the Campbellite controversy, a controversy which wreaked havoc on 19th century Baptists. Yet,... Read more →

E. C. Dargan rejects total depravity; or, Was E. C. Dargan actually a Semi-Pelagian? by Peter Lumpkins

Edwin Charles Dargan was born on November 17, 1852. A native of South Carolina, he converted to Christ at age sixteen and went on to earn two degrees from Furman University (B.A., M.A.) and later enrolled in Southern Baptist Theological Seminary studying theology under the famed founder of Southern, James. P. Boyce >>> After serving the pastorate for several years in Virginia and California, Dargan was invited to join the faculty of his beloved alma mater in 1892. Hence, he became the professor of homiletics and ecclesiological history and remained... Read more →

W.T. Brantly on denying irresistible grace by Peter Lumpkins

William Theophilus Brantly, Sr. (1787-1845) was a popular preacher in the south during the first half of the 19th century, and served Philadelphia's historic First Baptist Church as pastor. Additionally, as editor of The Christian Index, Georgia Baptists denominational state paper, he was one of the most prolific Baptist editors in the United States. The Christian Index is the nation's oldest continually published religious newspaper dating back to 1822 with the legendary Luther Rice as its first editor. Brantly edited the newspaper from 1827 to 1833, at which time the... Read more →

Tom Ascol, Regeneration, and the Baptist Faith and Message by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Tom Ascol, Director of Founders Ministries, is presently doing a lengthy series1 of responses to the recent Traditional Statement (TS) released by Dr. Eric Hankins, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Oxford, MS. As indicated here and elsewhere many times since the initial TS release, Hankins' statement of faith generated a sizeable amount of criticism—both sober and vitriolic in nature--particularly but predictably from Baptist Calvinists. Even Al Mohler publicly lamented the document's creation and content; and thankfully, Mohler represented the more sober criticism to date even if TS supporters understandably took... Read more →

Calvinists recruit W.A. Criswell to their cause by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Tom Ascol is Director of Founders Ministries, the largest network of Calvinists affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Founders Ministries maintains that since Southern Baptists have “lost the gospel”, it apparently will be up to like-minded Calvinists like themselves to assist us in finding the gospel* >>> *I remain very much aware I broke my own ususal standard in posting such a long piece. I only hope I have not presumed upon my readership for whom I am always thankful... Of course, their understanding of the gospel is summed... Read more →

Al Mohler and Hyper-Calvinism vs.The Traditional Statement and Semi-Pelagianism by Peter Lumpkins

I’m told one of the high-lights of the 2006 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors’ Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina was the formal exchange between Drs. Al Mohler and Paige Patterson on the biblical doctrine of election. Entitled “Reaching Today's World Through Differing Views of Election” each speaker took a different perspective on biblical election, Calvinistic and non-Calvinistic respectively. Especially enlightening are Al Mohler’s words defending Five Point Calvinism against the charge of Hyper-Calvinism >>> Some Background First Some billed the exchange between Mohler and Patterson as a dream come true while... Read more →

Al Mohler, Semi-Pelagianism, and being "Traditional" Southern Baptists by Peter Lumpkins

I’m personally appreciative Al Mohler responded to “A Statement of the Traditional Southern Baptist Understanding of God’s Plan of Salvation” (TS) released to the public last week by Dr. Eric Hankins, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Oxford, Mississippi >>> Entitled “Southern Baptists and Salvation: It’s Time to Talk” Dr. Mohler demonstrates that the issue the document discusses is really worth our time as Southern Baptists. Several worthy responses to Mohler are already logged including Eric Hankins, Truett-McConnell, Malcolm Yarnell, and Adam Harwood. I hope Dr. Mohler will contemplate well these... Read more →

Reformed Theology coming under more published scrutiny by Peter Lumpkins

The publication of Whosoever Will (edted by Drs. David Allen and Steve Lemke) was the result of The John 3:16 Conference held at the Woodstock First Baptist Church November 6-7, 2008. Contra some Southern Baptist Calvinists' unwavering confidence, the scholarly contributions in Whosoever Will demonstrated that Reformed theology is not the only, viable theological kid on the block. In fact, the composite thrust of the contributors to Whosoever Will makes it fairly clear that strict Calvinism as a system must be abandoned for a more robust biblicism >>> Since the... 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 →

Al Mohler and Charles Spurgeon: the making of a legend by Peter Lumpkins

Below is a video we've all anticipated: "Al Mohler and Charles Spurgeon: the making of a legend." Enjoy... 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 vindicates Brad Whitt: "there is a creeping Presbyterianism amongst us" by Peter Lumpkins

Just about a year ago, Dr. Brad Whitt fired a shot heard in most sectors of the Southern Baptist Convention. Being a young South Carolina, Southern Baptist pastor, he just didn’t fit the mold of the young, restless, and reformed travelling around the country by the tens of thousands (literally) to hear all the cool, calm, Calvinist speakers at the latest Passion, T4G, TGC, SGM, YRR conferences >>> In his piece “Young, Southern Baptist and…Irrelevant? ” a piece picked up by several state convention papers as well as Baptist Press,... Read more →

Al Mohler: "Calvinism is the shape of our future" by Peter Lumpkins

Recently, Dr. Al Mohler spoke to the annual meeting of Baptist state convention editors and made this plain but provocative remark concerning the theological future of Southern Baptists >>> "Calvinism is the shape of the future, because the options otherwise don’t very much exist" When will Southern Baptists finally admit we're facing an inevitable head-on collision with aggressive Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention? More in an upcoming post... With that, I am... Peter Read more →

On the Doctrines and Practices of Baptists (1857) by Peter Lumpkins

We often hear how settled the question was pertaining to the "doctrines of grace" amongst the 19th Baptists. Indeed, as Professor Tom Nettles suggests, to deny the almost universal strict Calvinism (i.e. 5 point Calvinism) of our Baptist forefathers in the Southern Baptist Convention, is to embrace what he calls "theological apostacy" and what Dr. Tom Ascol indicates is a departure from "Baptist orthodoxy" (//link) >>> Even so, we do not have to look far before we find, in the 19th century, not only numerous but also significant exceptions to... Read more →

Tom Nettles, Tom Ascol, and Southern Baptist orthodoxy by Peter Lumpkins

Ever curious what top representatives from the largest network of Baptist Calvinists in the Southern Baptist Convention think about those of us who are Southern Baptists but do not embrace the "doctrines of grace"? Let's consider clear words from two prominent Calvinists in the Southern Baptist Convention network: >>> Dr. Tom Ascol: "Call it what you will--Calvinism, reformed theology, the doctrines of grace--these truths are nothing less than historic Southern Baptist orthodoxy. This is the theology which gave rise to the formation and early development of the great missionary and... Read more →

The Calvinists are here: a guest editorial by Gerald Harris

UPDATE: the word is LifeWay is preparing a detailed response to Gerald Harris' essay and is scheduled to post this evening on Baptist Press. I'm anticipating precisely what facts in the essay LifeWay intends to dispute. ======================= Below is the current editorial in The Christian Index, the Georiga Baptist Convention's state paper. Dr. Gerald Harris has served as editor of The Christian Index since May 2003. We happily publish by permission Dr. Harris' latest editoral, "The Calvinists are here" >>> SBC Tomorrow welcomes Gerald Harris as guest contributor* John Calvin... Read more →

Tom Ascol on Gerald Harris by Peter Lumpkins

I called to get permission to post Gerald Harris' latest editorial on SBC Tomorrow. The Christian Index graciously gave me permission to do so. It was scheduled to publish at 5:15 A.M on Friday. The reason for permission is two-fold: a) plain, old-fashioned courtesy; b) at the bottom of the editorial page there is a clear indicator I needed to get the permission. It reads: Even so, Tom Ascol, Director of Founders Ministries, put up a piece just a short time ago criticizing Harris' editorial including a full version of... Read more →

James P. Boyce's practice: convert the "rank Arminians" by Peter Lumpkins

I recall standing in our small kitchen at B-10 Seminary Village in the early 80s. I remarked to Kathy as I read her some of the topics from James Petigru Boyce's systematic theology that this is why I came to seminary...to learn the deeper truths of God's Word >>> Over the next few years I would embrace Boyce's theology and develop a settled appreciation to Ernest C. Reisinger for making the volume available to me as a gift.1 Boyce, after all, was a master teacher we're told. In the front... Read more →

Calvinists react to Jerry Vines interview (part I) by Peter Lumpkins

SBC Today, the rising star among Southern Baptist blogs, has continued a helpful series of posts interviewing well-known personalities throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. Mentionables include Jim Richards, Fred Luter, Brad Whit, Bryant Wright, Mac Brunson, Emir Caner, Ergun Caner, Johnny Hunt, Frank Cox, Steve Rummage, Hayes Wicker, Frank Page, and the most recent, Jerry Vines >>> Like many of the Conservative Resurgence leaders including Adrian Rogers and Paige Patterson, Jerry Vines remains a household name among those Southern Baptists who marched arm-in-arm through the 20 year+ battle over the... Read more →

Baptist Have Always Been Calvinists? by Peter Lumpkins

Recently, I contested Dr. Al Mohler's confidence that it was well into the twentieth century before any knowledgable person could dispute the theo-historical assertion that Baptists were anything but Calvinists. To be precise, Mohler is claimed to have said >>> Even the opponents of Calvinism must admit, if historically informed, that Calvinism is the theological tradition into which the Baptist movement was born. The same is true of the Southern Baptist Convention. The most influential churches, leaders, confessions of faith and theologians of the founding era were Calvinists—it was not... Read more →

Al Mohler, Calvinism, and Baptist origins by Peter Lumpkins

I received my copy of Ministry By His Grace And For His Glory: Essays in Honor of Thomas J. Nettles1 only a few days ago and have made half the journey through the first reading. I do not plan to review the entire volume since a volume of this nature defies brevity. With over 20 different contributors writing independently of one another, one is left with either a mammoth task to accomplish or a shotgun blast so broad, it gives justice to no single author or idea. In my view,... Read more →

A grassroots Southern Baptist "gets it" on the undeniable Calvinist agenda within the Southern Baptist Convention by Peter Lumpkins

After a full five years of blogging, including 900 & a quarter K page views and 15K+ comments, I thought it'd be nice to hear from reader and frequent commenter on SBC Tomorrow, "Mary" >>> Mary is a longtime Southern Baptist but she doesn't live in Birmingham, nor any city in the south. And, those who have challenged Mary's contributions on threads at SBC Tomorrow know by experience she's hardly the ordinary 'housewife' stereotype far too many new generation Baptists overlay onto traditional Southern Baptist females. Instead, Mary is a... Read more →

Al Mohler says New Calvinism remains the only, viable theological option by Peter Lumpkins

Below is a clip lifted from a video on The Gospel Coalition site. The interview is a short discussion between Kevin DeYoung, Ligon Duncan, and Al Mohler. The full video is entitled "DeYoung, Duncan, Mohler: What's New About the New Calvinism." At one point in responding to something DeYoung said, Dr. Mohler's words well illustrate the fundamental problem in the Southern Baptist Convention over Calvinism. According to Mohler, no convictional, thinking evangelical who wants to embrace the apostolic faith will come to any other conclusion than "The Reformed." There exists... Read more →

William Lane Craig on Matthew 27:52-53

Below is a clip from a debate between William Lane Craig and James Crossley. In the course of Craig's presentation, he referenced the resurrected saints in Matthew 27. At the Q/A time in the closing segment, a questioner appealed to Craig to explain his understanding of the resurrected saints about which Matthew mentions. Craig's answer is enlightening: Those who've kept up with my site know my appreciation for William Craig, even describing him as perhaps the foremost Christian apologist living today. However, in light of the recent Licona/Geisler-Mohler contention over... Read more →

Norm Geisler defends Al Mohler by Peter Lumpkins

Dr. Norman Geisler offered a stunning rebuttal to Mike Licona's critique of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary president, Al Mohler. Geisler concludes >>> Unfortunately, Mike Licona refers to Dr. Mohler and I as "detractors." In response, I would like to repeat that I have both love for Mike as a brother in Christ and respect for him as a scholar. However, I have a higher respect for the truth of God's inerrant Word and for my duty to defend it. And I am firmly convinced that the Gospel record is seriously... Read more →

Memo from Licona to Mohler and Geisler: "unpersuasive and misguided" by Peter Lumpkins

Mike Licona is not backing down. While he softened his wording found in his published book in the open letter to Norm Geisler, it seems he's once again taking a polarizing position on the Matthew 27:52-53 text. Indeed after going back and fairly well arguing strongly for his original position in his book, The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach, Licona boldly asserts >>> The calls of Drs. Geisler and Mohler for me to retract my opinion that it is possible Matthew intended for his readers to understand the... Read more →

Al Mohler vindicates Norm Geisler by Peter Lumpkins

For those who've pooh-poohed Dr. Norman Geisler's questioning of former North American Mission Board apologist, Mike Licona, concerning his entirely unacceptable view of the resurrection saints in Matthew 27:52-53, dubbing Matthew's meaning as little more than "special effects" which the Apostle “added” as a “poetic device” to show a great king had died (i.e. the “Son of God”), and consequently judgment awaited Israel (The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach, pp.552-553) need to listen carefully to Dr. Al Mohler in his latest post >>> The question of biblical inerrancy... Read more →

Mike Licona Responds to Norman Geisler by Peter Lumpkins

Apparently, Dr. Mike Licona has openly responded to Dr. Norman Geisler's public criticism. A copy of Licona's response is posted on Licona's son-in-law's site* (I could not locate it on Licona's site). Dr.Licona writes: An Open Response to Norman Geisler Norman Geisler has taken issue with a portion of my recent book, The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach, in which I proposed that the story of the raised saints in Matthew 27:52-53 should probably be interpreted as apocalyptic imagery rather than literal history. In response, Dr. Geisler has... Read more →

Evangelism: A Biblical Response to Today’s Questions: A Brief Review by Peter Lumpkins

J. D. Payne serves as a National Missionary with the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and an Associate Professor of Church Planting and Evangelism in the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Evangelism: A Biblical Response to Today's Questions ($17.99 Biblica Publishing, 2011) answers questions about evangelism from an admittedly Calvinistic perspective (47) >>> Dr. Payne addresses 33 questions about evangelism in a decidedly conversational style. Each question is a chapter; and adding a Foreword (written... 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 →

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 →