After reading Dr. Steve Lemke’s first post on SBC Today about the decision of the Daviess-McLean Baptist Association in Kentucky to not allow Pleasant Valley Community Church to join their association, I began drafting a response. He stated he would post a second time, so I waited until I could read his whole argument. That article is up now, and I’ve since rewritten almost the entire article I’d planned to write. Fully recognizing Dr. Lemke as a brother in Christ, I believe his strong bias against Reformed doctrine has colored his perspective to the point that he’s completely wrong in his … [Read more...] about Theological Discrimination in Kentucky
calvinism
Is it Hard to Hug a Calvinist?
Yes, it is sometimes hard to hug a Calvinist. While I don't mind them embracing a different theology, I often find it hard to get past two key issues: (1) a superior attitude, and (2) a takeover mentality. Lest I be accused of stereotyping, of lumping and dumping, let me say at the start that while every Calvinist does not fit this mold, so many do that it poisons the pot for everyone else. Let me briefly illustrate the two offenses before I run for cover. 1. Superior Attitude The superior attitude suggests that no reasonably thinking Christian scholar, pastor or theologian who takes … [Read more...] about Is it Hard to Hug a Calvinist?
Calvinism: The New Racism in the SBC?
Coming out of last week's meeting in Louisville I feel more optimistic about the future of our convention than I did this time last year. I have a new found respect for Johnny Hunt, a deeper understanding of the decision making process, and reasons to look forward to next years get-together in sunny Orlando. However, as I remarked in my last post, there are still two things that I am thinking about. I will leave the SBC/Acts 29 cooperation aside until a later date, and instead focus on what I find to be is the most perplexing question in Southern Baptist life today: why are there still … [Read more...] about Calvinism: The New Racism in the SBC?
Did W. A. Criswell Preach Calvinism?
I don't know enough about him to know. But I found this video of a sermon he titled "The Bible Kind Of Salvation." He begins by saying it's actually a sermon on election, on the calling and choosing of God. … [Read more...] about Did W. A. Criswell Preach Calvinism?
BF&M: Regeneration Comes Before Faith
This post is inspired by a recent blog by Peter Lumpkins that details some views of B.H. Carroll on regeneration. I enjoy Peter's writing, especially when I disagree with him. This is the mark of all competent writers. But what caught my attention was this sentence: Carroll clearly rejected Founders' strange insistence upon "regeneration precedes faith" To me this didn't sound strange, but familiar. It reminded me of something I have read many times in the Baptist Faith & Message. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ … [Read more...] about BF&M: Regeneration Comes Before Faith