SBC news with a TULIP scent

John 3:16 Conference at Woodstock

2008-11-07T03:53:00.000-08:00

You can read about it here and here.

Strawman

2008-04-23T06:39:00.001-07:00

Strawman
Originally uploaded by marlow_pete

Steve Gaines, Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, TN, revived the Strawman arguments against Calvinism in the SBC recently. Read about it here.

The SBCCALVINIST wouldn't be a bit surprised if another motion is made at the SBC Convention this year by the same guy from Savannah, GA, who we heard from in Greensboro.

2008-03-21T04:56:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered where Baptists stand on Stoning?

15 Evangelists Gather to Beat a Dead Horse

2008-01-12T02:52:00.001-08:00

beating_a_dead_horse.jpg
Originally uploaded by Mycroft Eloi

It's time to identify the Scapegoat.

Best Blog Quote from MO Acts 29 Fiasco

2007-12-15T08:56:00.000-08:00

"Have we really come to the point as a denomination that we encourage muscle-men power teams to come and blow up hot water bottles and break bricks over their heads, but we cannot condone what basically amounts to a Francis Schaeffer approach to cultural engagement with the lost? Acts 29 doesn’t walk on water, but at least there is a serious-minded approach to the gospel that leaves the buttons, balloons, and baloney in the dust." Scott Lamb

MBC Exec Bd. Meets in Jeff City

2007-12-14T09:07:00.001-08:00

They Came from all over the State on Monday Dec. 10, 2007 to put those "young folks" and their "new fangled" ideas in their place.

Read all about it here.

For Christ's Sake, Shut Up!

2007-08-23T03:32:00.000-07:00

Page hollers at the bloggers!

Founders Ministry Announces November Confab!

2007-08-04T05:37:00.000-07:00

Check it out here

Alabama Baptist Paper Launches a Salvo

2007-08-04T05:08:00.000-07:00

Bob Terry has never been known as a friend of Calvinists. Therefore it comes as no surprise to see that the Alabama Baptist has fired a few rounds over the bow of the Founders Ministry.

Here are the links.

Understanding Calvinism (from the editor of the Alabama Baptist)

A Question Facing Baptist Churches

Calvinism: What Does it Mean?

Does Dortian Calvinism Have Weight of Scripture in its Favor?

Have Baptists Always Been Dortian Calvinists in their Confessions of Faith?

How Prominent Baptists Stack Up

What Are the Alternatives to Dortian Calvinism?

Founders Ministries Announces November Confab!

2007-08-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

Founders Ministries Blog: Building Bridges: Southern Baptists and Calvinism Press Release

SBC's Biggest Problem

2007-06-07T17:33:00.001-07:00

Foot in Mouth Disease.

This Month's Golden Foot Award Goes the Florida Baptist Convention for behavior below and beneath the dignity of fair mindedness on the part of at least two of their State Staffers.

Who?

You figure it out. It's easy.

Step 1
Step 2

Jerry Falwell Goes to Heaven

2007-05-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

Jerry Falwell b. August 11, 1933 d. May 15, 2007

SBC Bloggers Commenting on Falwell as of 3:30pm May 15, 2007

Tom Ascol
Al Mohler
Jim Shaver
Timmy Brister
Ben Cole
Art Rogers

Skeleton in SBC Closet

2007-04-05T05:29:00.000-07:00

Rev. Elijah Craig, born in Virginia in 1738, is credited with being the inventor of Bourbon Whiskey.

Yep, he was a Baptist Preacher.

Check If Out!

2007-02-14T06:23:00.000-08:00

The South Carolina Baptist Paper - The Baptist Courier - has an interesting web page here.

Also on that page is the results of a recent poll that asks the question, Do You consider yourself a 5 point Calvinist?

55% of the 306 respondents said Yes and 40% said No with 4% saying they do not know.

No it's not scientific but it sure is REVEALING.

Founders Ministries Blog: Boyce is back

2006-11-09T04:03:00.000-08:00

Founders Ministries Blog: Boyce is back

"Pewboy" Monologues

2006-10-27T03:49:00.000-07:00

Over at the Religious Herald the News Journal of the Baptist General Association of Virginia, the editor, Jim White, has a little conversation between "Pewboy" and "Alter Ego" about Calvinism. Written with a sort of tongue in cheek style it's obvious that "Pewboy" doesn't have a clue about what Calvinism is really all about in the SBC and that "Alter Ego" is really not concerned with dispensing any real knowledge on the subject instead choosing to parade out his version of the Calvinist "boogey man".

Makes you wonder sometimes if History is important to anyone? Makes you wonder sometimes if being editor of a Baptist paper automatically dulls the mind?

Then you read Tammi Ledbetter's coverage of the failed debate between the Caners and White and Ascol and you recover your optimism for fair and balanced Baptist journalism.

So spare us, Mr. White, any future trivia and get out in the bushes and round up some real Calvinists and do some real reporting. Opinions are like.......Oops better not say that here.

WHAT?

2006-10-17T05:35:00.000-07:00

Southwestern Baptist Seminary is going to transfer its funds from the Texas Baptist Foundation to a company that invests in alcohol related businesses?

Marty Duren blogs about it here.

Ergun Tilts At Windmills Again

2006-10-10T04:25:00.000-07:00

"What giants?" asked Sancho Panza.

"Those you see over there," replied his master, Don Quixote, "with their long arms. Some of them have arms well nigh two leagues in length."

"Take care, sir," cried Sancho. "Those over there are not giants but windmills. Those things that seem to be their arms are sails which, when they are whirled around by the wind, turn the millstone."

Ergun Caner illustrates what is wrong with his wing of the SBC by his latest irresponsible usage of stereotypical labels when attempting to explain why his and Emir's Oct 16 debate with James White and Tom Ascol is off.

Is James White a hypercalvinist? I don't think so. Is Tom Ascol a hypercalvinist? Not at all. But Caner who has become the heir apparent of the Falwellian propensity for making enemies both within the Christian community and without has no problem labeling White and Ascol as hypercalvinists.

This is the kind of rhetoric that will ultimately divide the SBC.

Sadly, I believe that is the agenda for Caner's segment of the SBC.

I would comment BUT.........

2006-09-27T15:02:00.000-07:00

I would comment on this article but I just don't have a sense of urgency about it.

Article in Tennessee State Baptist Paper.

WHEW !! IT'S ONLY 10%!!!!

2006-09-26T05:11:00.000-07:00

A collective sigh of relief could be heard throughout the SBC as the publishing arm of the SBC, Lifeway Inc., recently released the results of a survey it had taken of 413 SBC Pastors during July/August '06.

Big Question - "DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A FIVE POINT CALVINIST?"

Only 10% of the relatively small sample responded affirmatively.

An even more interesting response came from 4% who said they didn't know! And then there was 1% who wouldn't dignify the question with an answer!

A Suggestion from the SBC CALVINIST. Just ask me why Calvinism is Growing in the SBC. I've already answered these questions.

THE SBC OUTHOUSE

2006-09-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

You would think that with a name like that no fresh wind could blow from such a source. Jerry Grace of Mississippi proves that wrong in almost every blog he writes.

You can read his stuff on the sbc outhouse blog.

Don't tell him I said so but I'm not going to mind spending an eternity in heaven with this nonCalvinist.

Oh if you drop by his blog - tell him he's earned a 4 tulip-rating on the SBC CALVINIST.

Why Southern Baptists Shouldn't Take Bobby Welch Seriously

2006-08-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

"What A Pathetic Joke!", These blogging Baptist pastors just blew their collective cork!" "Sipping Saints", "Sober Soul Winners" Those were just some of the "sound bite" phrases Dr. Welch used in a letter to Southern Baptists published in the August edition of SBC Life.

He actually wrote this, "I understand one pastor's blog site indicates he believes his drinking assists him in soul-winning! What a pathetic joke! These blogging Baptist pastors just blew their collective cork!"

Now everyone who is even remotely familar with recent history in the SBC knows this is an open swipe at Wade Burleson and the many SBC bloggers who made a significant impact on this year's SBC Convention. And anybody who is thinking realizes that the whole alcohol discussion at the SBC Convention rapidly dissolved into a thoughtless debacle which quickly lost an opportunity to demonstrate the Biblical integrity of the SBC.

The SBC Calvinist believes this is just another sign that there are many in the SBC in positions of leadership who will have it their way even if it divides Southern Baptists further. It is our opinion that Bobby Welch is not a uniter but a divider in the SBC.

A Concerned NonCalvinist SBC Blogger

2006-07-26T06:23:00.000-07:00

Jerry Grace is an SBC layman from Mississippi who is definitely not a Calvinist but neither is he our worst enemy. He has some interesting perspectives from the SBC pew. His fertile mind produces blogs that are usually worth reading.

SBC Outhouse

Baptist Blogger - Dr. Timothy George

2006-07-26T06:15:00.000-07:00

Ben Cole has reproduced Dr. Timothy George's article from First Things in his Blog. Is that legal?

Anyway read it while it's still there.

Baptist Blogger

Patterson/Mohler Debate Now Online

2006-07-15T05:40:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to The Main Event. In the blue trunks, the Challenger and representing the upstart Calvinists in the SBC - Albert Mohler! In the red trunks, the reigning Champion of the Conservative Resurgence and representing the new Status Quo in the SBC - Paige Patterson!

Gentlemen - You know the rules. No Strawmen, No Historical Revisions and No Argumentation from Silence. Let's keep it fair and as much as possible for two Baptist Preachers keep it brief. Go to your corners and when the bell rings come out debating.

Caner's New Blog

2006-07-06T05:50:00.000-07:00

Ho hum!

Dr. Ergun Caner, President of Falwell's Seminary at Liberty, has formally entered the blogging world. His new blog, Beyond the Pulpit, contains only one blog so far. It will be interesting to see how prolific he becomes. Caner impresses me as a man who needs a "live" audience. I think he will find the blogosphere less than fulfilling.

Need Help Organizing Your Life?

2006-06-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

If so then click here, where I blog about two tools that may help.

No Winebibbers Need Apply

2006-06-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

Jesus and the Apostle Paul have both been officially bypassed by the Southern Baptist Convention by the adoption of a resolution stating that no person who uses alcoholic beverages can be an elected servant of the SBC.

While the SBCCALVINIST understands the motivation behind the resolution it is strange that a people who pride themselves on being a people of the book so easily disregard its clear message.

Page is President of the SBC

2006-06-13T14:37:00.000-07:00

An important page in SBC history may have been written today as Frank Page was elected on the first ballot to the Presidency of the SBC.

Dr. Page won over Dr. Ronnie Floyd and Dr. Jerry Sutton, who basically split 50% of the vote between themselves. Dr. Page garnered 50.48% of the total votes for president.

Dr. Page has been outspoken against Calvinism in the past as he authored a book entitled The Trouble with Tulip that has been cited many times in the run up to this election. Whether or not he will reach out to Calvinists and include them in his vision of the SBC remains to be seen.

This has certainly been an interesting Convention so far.

The C-Word Keeps Coming Up

2006-06-13T08:02:00.000-07:00

And I don't mean the Cooperative Program.

Morris Chapman said today that we should keep Calvinism out of our Churches. Amazing.

Amazing because Charles Spurgeon didn't keep it out of the Metropolitan Tabernacle.
Amazing because W.A. Criswell didn't keep it out of the pulpit of FBC of Dallas, Texas.
Amazing because Southern Baptists didn't keep it out of Southern Seminary in 1859 or in 1993.
Amazing because Southern Baptists support the teaching of it through CP Gifts.

A pastor from Georgia made a motion that we study Calvinism and see what its effect is on the SBC.

I'm beginning to get the impression that Calvinism is concerning many Southern Baptists!

Dr. Fish Called As Interim Pres. of NAMB

2006-06-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

Dr. Roy Fish has been called in a unanimous vote by the NAMB trustees to be the interim President of the North American Mission Board.

While the SBCCALVINIST has great respect for Dr. Fish and his service to Southern Baptists we still have two questions.

1. Is Dr. Fish the Best Choice among all Southern Baptists for this important task?
2. Will Dr. Fish's well known anti-Calvinist bias allow him to serve all Southern Baptists?

The SBCCALVINIST ENDORSES SUTTON

2006-06-08T05:24:00.000-07:00

Check out the full story here.

Caner Can't Change SBC History

2006-06-07T04:47:00.000-07:00

But he can surely try. The latest Caner shot at Calvinists is posted on the Jerry Falwell Ministries Site. You can read it for yourself here.

The SBC Calvinist's Take on All of This? Professors are human too. They are many times wrong on many subjects. The historical evidence of Calvinism among early Southern Baptists is obviously a part of Caner's neglected studies.

Too Funny Not To Link To

2006-06-01T04:13:00.000-07:00

Calvinist Romance

AntiCalvinist Links Strangely Disappear

2006-05-31T09:17:00.000-07:00

May 31, 2006 - We just noticed it so we cannot confirm an actual time or reason but the infamous Caner Sermon on Calvinism preached at Thomas Road Baptist Church on April 9 cannot be accessed online. It seems to have disappeared. Anybody have more info?

Also - has Baptistfire.com really disappeared? A thorn in the side of SBC Calvinists for almost a decade apparently has mysteriously disappeared also from the web. While we would not discourage any Baptist from having an opinion on any subject we would like to know who really was behind Baptistfire.

And we could not help wonder is the disappearance of both these links in any way connected?

Another Professor Airs Bias

2006-05-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

May 26, 2006
In an opinion piece in the Baptist Standard, Roger Olson, professor of theology at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary lets loose another example of Anti-Calvinist bias toward Southern Baptist Calvinists.

His most startling misconception? Here it is - brace yourselves. "Calvinism is belief in divine determinism; God is the all-determining reality who sovereignly plans and controls all events, including the free choices of humans."

In other words Dr. Olson believes that Calvinistic theology makes God the author of sin originally and for all time. Read the article for yourself here. It's not as bad as some but makes one wonder if the future for graduates of Baylor's seminary includes a predisposition toward Open Theism?

Ronnie Floyd To Be Nominated for SBC President

2006-05-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

May 7, 2006
In an unexpected move, Dr. Johnny Hunt announced this week that he plans to nominate Dr. Ronnie Floyd of Arkansas as a candidate for the SBC presidency. Read the press release here. It is unknown at this time by the SBC Calvinist what position Dr. Floyd takes on Calvinism in the SBC.

SBC LIFE Runs Two Articles on Calvinism

2006-04-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

April 2006 - Nashville, TN.

The monthly publication of the Executive Committee of the SBC ran two stories related to Calvinism in its April 2006 Edition; Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility by Daniel L. Akin, Ph.D. (Dr. Akin is President of Southeastern Seminary) and The Tulip of Calvinism by Malcolm B. Yarnell III, Ph.D. (Dr. Yarnell is Assistant Dean for Theological Studies at Southwestern Seminary).

The SBC Life Editor's Note says these articles are designed to prepare readers for the upcoming discussion on Calvinism between Al Mohler and Paige Patterson in Greensboro at the annual SBC Pastors' Conference.

The SBC Calvinist wonders out loud why at least one of the articles was not written by an advocate of Calvinism in the SBC!

What Trickles Down Is Often Nasty

2006-01-30T09:08:00.000-08:00

01/30/2006 - Dr. Tom Ascol was recently made aware of an article in the Northwest Florida Daily News written by a Rev. Joel McDuffie, Jr., Pastor of First Baptist Church, Valparaiso, Fl., that publicly planted doubts that John Calvin was in heaven. Dr. Ascol's treatment of McDuffie's article in his Founders Ministries blog was devastating to McDuffie's unsubstantiated allegations concerning John Calvin and Calvinism in particular. Apparently McDuffie responded to the blog with vitriolic emails.

Editor's Opinion - When Southern Baptist mega church pastors feel free to attack Calvinism in the SBC from the safety of their powerful pulpits or from the podium at the SBC Convention or other large meetings, they do so knowing that their sermons will not return to them void. When average Joe Southern Baptist pastors, like McDuffie, who look up to these men, hear those sermons and attempt to duplicate them in their own locales, the result is often very nasty and reveals much about the character of the anti-calvinistic sentiment that springs up in the ranks of average SBC pastors.

Will all of this rancor ultimately lead to a split of the SBC?

Yes, if the influential Southern Baptist pastors don't stand down and defuse their rhetoric against the Founders Ministries and against Southern Baptist Calvinists in general. They should know better.

AntiCalvinistic Sermon Distributed in Missouri

2005-11-29T09:01:00.000-08:00

November 29, 2005
At the close of a conference on preaching held in Jefferson City, MO., copies of a Roy Fish sermon preached at Cottage Hill Baptist Church, in Mobile, Alabama on August 11, 1997 were made available to the attendees.

The title of the sermon is "The C-Word (Calvinism)."

The SBCCalvinist has obtained a copy of this sermon and quite frankly we've been scratching our heads and wondering what would an anti-Calvinistic sermon preached in Alabama eight years ago have to do with Missouri Baptists in 2005 unless there is an anti-Calvinistic agenda being pushed by somebody in Missouri?

We don't want to prejudice you against Dr. Fish or this sermon but you read it for yourself and form your own conclusions.

Steve Gaines Jumps on Calvinism

2005-10-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

October 16, 2005
Dr. Steve Gaines the new pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, began his ministry at his new assignment by preaching a series of "I Believe" messages on Sunday Morning. October 16, 2005 marked the day when Dr. Gaines preached a message entitled "I Believe in Salvation". Taken from 1 Timothy 2:1-10. During that message, Dr. Gaines led the congregation in reading article 4 of the Baptist Faith and Message Statement in unison. He then preached on the How of Salvation with several swipes at Calvinism.

Go hear the sermon for yourself - Dr. Gaines' message

Dr. Gaines joins the ranks of Johnny Hunt, Bobby Welch, Jack Graham, and other leading SBC Personalities who are preaching against the "UnBiblical Theology of Calvinism"

Bobby Welch Weighs In

2005-07-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

July 10, 2005
Bobby Welch, President of the SBC, chimes in on Calvinism in his church's newsletter.
You can read the newsletter at his church's website. read it

Johnny Hunt Fires a Salvo

2005-06-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

June 20, 2005
This date will go down in the history of the ongoing debate within the SBC over Calvinism. It was on Monday evening of the Pastors' Conference in Nashville prior to the SBC Convention that Johnny Hunt fired a broadside attack at his fellow Southern Baptists who hold to the Doctrines of Grace or Calvinism.

Don Elbourne, a pastor in Louisiana took Dr. Hunt to task on his blog page and the outcome is - well you decide. Read Don's blog and make up your own mind.

Locust and Wild Honey

Jack Graham on Grace

2005-06-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

June 12, 2005

Jack Graham, Pastor of one of those Texas megachurches, Prestonwood Baptist Church, showed his lack of grace by preaching a sermon entitled "The Truth About Grace" which turned into an attack on SBC Calvinists.

A Quote from that sermon.

"There is a brand of elitist theology that is being taught aggressively today in some seminaries, and Christian universities, some churches, well known Christian ministries. A brand of arrogant theology that claims that God only loves the elect and that the rest of the world is without a prayer, without a hope without a chance to know this grace of God. And this perverted form and theology-this hyper view of the grace of God-is an abuse of Scripture."

Another quote.

"The Good News is the worst news to those who aren't chosen."

Another one.

"That Slanders the Character of God. It is an arrogance that borders on blasphemy."

And it gets worse.

You can hear the sermon here. Listen

You can listen to Dr. James White of Alpha and Omega Ministries as he addresses Dr. Graham's sermons.

1st part

2nd part

3rd part