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New Calvinism Gets a New Critique by Peter Lumpkins

When I started blogging another lifetime or so ago, there were few (if any) blogs among those considered "Baptist" which were also unwed to strict, non-negotiable, in-your-face, Five Point Calvinism. Non-Calvinist Baptist bloggers were viewed at best a theological anomaly and at worst an evangelistic prospect to "recover the gospel." No longer are non-Calvinists silent. Nonetheless, the blogging arena reflected in many ways what was happening in pop Christianity across America. Indeed only last March did Time Magazine name "The New Calvinism" among the top "10 Ideas Changing the World... Read more →

Dr. Malcolm Yarnell on Romans 9: "God's Electing Purpose" by Peter Lumpkins

When's the last time you either heard an exposition (mp3) or read an endorsement on a Southern Baptist blog concerning Romans 9, the contents of which were not decidedly strict Calvinism? And the answer is... Precisely. Malcolm B. Yarnell III is presently Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (//link). He is Editor for the Southwestern Journal of Theology as well Editor of BaptistTheology.org (//link). Furthermore, Dr. Yarnell directs two other educational programs at the seminary: The Oxford Study Program and The Center for Theological Research.... Read more →

Helpful Study Links by Peter Lumpkins

Below are some helpful study links....Maybe... Be warned, however. The content on these sites is for serious readers only. No blogger dumbing down the messy details. Nor are all papers biblically or baptistically sound. Also, some are conservative, some on the extreme theological left. Yet most represent scholarly presentations nonetheless (NOTE: some journals are now defunct but contents are still available. Also, some have only partial availability). Save them in your bookmarks or download the papers to searchable pdf files. And, the best part???............................ All content is free! Journal of... Read more →

Dr. Jerry Vines on Caveats and the Great Commission Resurgence

The Great Commission Resurgence (GCR) document has gathered more than 3,000 signatories, many of which are current or former Southern Baptist Convention leaders. Not all, however, were quick to sign their name on the dotted line. Drs. Paige Patterson and Jerry Vines, both of whom are past presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention, as well as key prophetic voices of the Conservative Resurgence, recently signed their names to the GCR. Yet their signatures uniquely bear a brand not found on other signatories—“with caveats.” The uninformed might immediately but crassly conclude... Read more →

Bob Ross on Wade Burleson: Splat! Splat!!

The story of Buford Pusser, the legendary sheriff of McNairy County Tennessee, is fascinating. Pusser's career as a wrestler came to a close so he moved his family back to his home place to run a sawmill with daddy Carl. He's shocked to discover the level of corruption going on. And after he is a victim of it, including 200 stitches he received slice-n-dice style from the Lucky Spot, he decides from then on he'd be prepared. Pusser became well known for his four foot hickory club he used to... Read more →

Malcolm Yarnell Grossly Misread: Tennessee Pastor Calls for Founders to Apologize

In his present post, Tom Ascol and Reading Comprehension, Tennessee Pastor, Tim Guthrie, offers a devastating critique of Tom Ascol's unfortunate misreading of a sermon preached by Dr. Malcolm Yarnell, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS). Ascol explicitly condemned Yarnell's position as "dangerous to biblical Christianity," Ascol's condemnation already being questioned in an earlier essay on SBC Tomorrow (link/). Many professors at SWBTS are no stranger to unsubstantiated charges, some of which were exposed as flat out fabrications. Only recently did defrocked IMB trustee, Wade Burleson... Read more →

Founders on Dr. Malcolm Yarnell: "Dangerous to Biblical Christianity" by Peter Lumpkins

When I attempted the blogging gig a few years ago, a few blogs were the obvious Kingpins. Wade Burleson's ceaseless attacks on the IMB trustees was one of them. In the beginning, like most who read but resist comment, I just loitered around in the background, observing what churned his butter. I finally logged on and churned mine. Today, Burleson is out of the mainstream Southern Baptist commodity, his blog being thoroughly infested with anonymous wackos from Lord knows where. Pioneer Baptist blogger, Marty Duren, was the strongest site, pulling... Read more →

The Washington Post on Southern Baptists: A Southern Baptist Professor Responds

Recently, the online version of the Washington Post ran an editorial by David Waters, editor of On Faith, entitled "Southern Baptist Decline and God's Bottom Line." In the essay, Waters did not present a stellar estimation of Southern Baptists. After rehearsing several reasons he believes Southern Baptists are "declining," Waters concludes: "Shouldn't the church find more faithful ways of measuring its success? Mercy instead of membership? Forgiveness instead of financial contributions? Baptisms lived in the world instead of baptisms recorded in a book? Justice instead of just stats? When it... Read more →

B.H. Carroll on Limited Atonement

This will be my final installment on quotes from B.H. Carroll for a while. Many may wonder why I take the time to rummage through historical documents looking for what "they" believed. What's really important is what we believe, right? Or, more importantly, what the Bible teaches, right? Well, it depends on what one is looking for when scavenging through our past. If I were desiring to know what Scripture teaches on a particular subject, history may play a less prominent role. However, if I were desiring to know what... Read more →

Hyper-Calvinism: Professor David Allen Responds to Critics

Update: James White offered a response to this post here. I offered some initial remarks toward White's response which I may, after a coat of polish, post on the main page in due time. Since the John 3:16 Conference, there has been an excessive amount of attention to my comments concerning James White on the various Calvinist blogs. Allow me to set the record straight on three fronts: 1) what I said, 2) the context in which I said it, and 3) why I said it. By Dr David Allen... Read more →

Hyper-Calvinism: Professor David Allen Responds to Critics...

Tomorrow, I'll post Dr. Allen's lengthy response to critics concerning his paper on Limited Atonement which he presented at the recent John 3:16 Conference. He especially deals with critics pertaining to his remarks on Hyper-Calvinism. Stay Tuned... Read more →

Dr. David Allen: On Calvinism: Part II

I hope you took the time to scan Dr. Allen's review of Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialogue posted at Center for Theological Research at SWBTS. It is worth your time, I assure. I offer two particular quotes I found interesting, each of which is a part of Dr. Allen's query into Dr. Tom Nettle's paper entitled "A Historical View of the Doctrinal Importance of Calvinism Among Baptists" and Dr. David Dockery's paper entitled "Southern Baptists and Calvinism: An Historical Look." First, after offering a brief summary of Dr. Nettle's conclusion,... Read more →

Dr. David Allen: On Calvinism

One of the participants at The John 3:16 Conference (J316) is Dr. David Allen, Dean of the School of Theology, Professor of Preaching, Director for the Center for Expository Preaching, and George W. Truett Chair of Ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS). Professor Allen's paper will focus on Limited Atonement. We expect his contribution to invigorate the discussion on what I view as the definitive chink in the Dortian Calvinist's armor. As an introduction to Dr. Allen's paper, interested attendees especially may want to read his book review just... Read more →

The John 3:16 Conference

One week away, November 6-7, The John 3:16 Conference (J316) will be held at the Woodstock First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Georgia. Some have wondered whether or not the conference would succeed. Evidently, J316 has not only settled that ambiguity, registration is now limited: "Registration for the conference with meals has ended due to reaching capacity. You may still register for the conference only." Thus, if you were planning to come to beautiful North Georgia and reap theological rewards but procrastination got the better of you, you can still come, and... Read more →

Wade Burleson Falsely Accuses Southern Baptists of Semi-Arianism

For six months or so, Enid, Oklahoma pastor, Wade Burleson set blogging aside to focus on other more pressing issues. Those who have kept up with the posts Burleson has published for approximately the past two years, have surely noted that he does not avoid controversy. To the contrary, he faces it head on, so to speak. Even more, there are some who sense that when no real controversy exists, Rev. Burleson heads to his laboratory, mixes a secret formula and pumps it into the water supply of the SBC.... Read more →

Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialogue: A Brief Critique: Dr. Greg Welty: Part III

This is the the third post I offer on Dr. Greg Welty's paper in the Building Bridges Conference collection (see links below) I recommend this series as a great resource in understanding some of the issues surrounding the Calvinist Resurgence within the Southern Baptist Convention >>> As I stated in Part I, Dr. Welty is an admirable scholar who offered, within the collection Lifeway published, by far, the most sophisticated presentation from the Calvinist perspective. And, even though the exchange on Part I, along with a subsequent email exchange between... Read more →

Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialogue: A Brief Critique: Dr. Greg Welty: Part II

I want to tease out one aspect of my former post concerning Dr. Welty's paper given at the Building Bridges Conference last fall and collected as part of a series published by Lifeway. In Part I, I wrote: "The initial impression I had as I read the scriptural summaries Welty offered, especially pertaining to Ephesians 1:3-11, was the obvious absence of any engagement with the corporate configuration of election that clearly rules in Paul's thought pattern in Ephesians." With that in mind, I'd like to proceed >>> Dr. Welty focuses... Read more →

Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialogue: A Brief Critique: Part I: Dr. Greg Welty

I finished my initial reading of "Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialogue," a collection of papers given at Ridgecrest Conference Center in the fall of 2007 for the Building Bridges Conference. The forum was the result of a meeting between Drs. Danny Akin, Thom Rainer, Tom Ascol, Ray Clendemen and Brad Waggoner, who met in the spring of the same year to brainstorm a way to facilitate healthy debate and analysis concerning the rising influence of Calvinism in the Southern Baptist Convention. The conference was phase one of their strategy and... Read more →

Dr. Sheri Klouda: Hearing Her Lament, Honoring Her Lord

UPDATE AT END OF POST* This post may constitute the most careful post I've penned in the almost two years now I have been blogging. It surely possesses the most potential for provocation. As it opens up, the reader will see precisely why. Mr. Wade Burleson currently posts what's entitled "An Email From Dr. Klouda Revealing Her Feelings". It stands a moving note of gratitude to Mr. Burleson and Mr. Cole for the "continued support" they afforded her. Indeed she openly confesses "If it were not for both of you,... Read more →

Response to Grace and Truth to You: Southern Baptists Cooperating With Charismatics and Women Senior Pastors for the Sake of the Gospel

Dear Wade, Thanks for the heads up on the Conference where supposedly Baptist Pastors are cooperating with Charismatics, not to mention being on the same platform with women who serve as Senior Pastors. I am confused, however, why you think Ed Young, James Merritt and Ken Whitten's cooperating with Charismatics and women senior pastors is analogous to Dwight McKissic, Dwain Miller and Scott Camp's* appearance on TBN. I am quite sure that either of these men will preach the truth as he sees it, albeit the conference may dictate the... Read more →

SBCOutpost's 'Friday Free-For-All' on Dr. Paige Patterson

Once again, our friends at Outpost demonstrate nicely the emptiness of their claim to be a credible 'news and commentary' source for Southern Baptists. On June 27 of this year, the press release for their new site read in part: "...the online conversation concerning the future of the Southern Baptist Convention will move forward as a group of prominent bloggers merge their efforts to provide a forum for ministry ideas, missionary support, church revitalization, and denominational reform. SBCOutpost.com...will be launched as one of the premier sites for Southern Baptist news... Read more →

Boyd Luter, SBC Outpost and Mr Anonymous Professor: A Needed Word & Fit Example from the Great Commission Council

There is a needed word from Dr. Frank Page in his timely article in the Baptist Press. All those who've recently attacked the character of our SBC leaders--specifically Drs Patterson and Mohler--should note well his counsel. Dr. Page offers what he believes are "glimpses of revival" which include, among other things, both a "love for God's word" and a "love for evangelism." Michael Foust, assistant editor of Baptist Press, describes the sacred scene before Dr. Page spoke: "Before Page spoke, the Great Commission Council -- which is made up of... Read more →

Dr. Boyd Luter: Anonymity: Some Biblical and Cultural Reflections: A Brief Response by Peter Lumpkins

Last week, Dr. Boyd Luter posted an anonymous letter from a trusted friend who allegedly is a Professor in one of our six seminaries. The anonymous letter predictably generated a lot of heat. I posted twice about it (here and here). Others stated reservations as well. Dr. Luter's post today which defends anonymous letters is entitled Break in series (II): “Anonymity: Some Biblical and Cultural Reflections” Below is a brief critique based upon some of my personal reflections about anonymous letter writing, especially in light of Dr. Luter's very well... Read more →

Anonymous Rants: The Moral Reasoning of SBC Outpost and Dr Boyd Luter

The recent posting of an anonymous letter by SBCOutpost, originating from Dr. Boyd Luter who assures us of its authenticity, may be the sleaziest strategy to date by a site that only a few short months ago, boasted of the support of the highest leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention, including the President of the SBC, Dr. Frank Page. Within weeks of giving their support, all leaders publicly withdrew their names and most of them spanked Outpost's bottom on their way out. This recent fiasco stands precisely why SBCOutpost must... Read more →

Dr. Tom Ascol: Is Courage Anonymous?

It's no surprise to my readers when I have disagreements with Founders Ministries and some of the views embraced and taught there. When one can agree, it should be so stated >>> SBC Outpost presently has a letter allegedly penned by a current Professor at one of our seminaries. The letter evidently originated at Dr. Boyd Luter's site. Of course, the charges are typical of what Outpost has printed since its inception immediately after the June 07 SBC in San Antonio, TX. The letter mainly is an anonymous rant against... Read more →