Jimmy Carter: Once a Liberal, Always a Liberal!

This article at American Vision shows that the worst President of my lifetime isn't very good at hermeneutics either!

Paul Washer: Youth Conference Sermon

Probably the greatest sermon ever preached at any youth event anywhere in the Southern Baptist Convention, and it's said he wasn't invited back! Oh how far the SBC has fallen!!



(H.T. Gordan)

Green Pond Baptist Church: Articles of Faith and Principles

Today I am featuring the founding Articles of Faith and Principles of the Green Pond Baptist Church in Polk County, FL. This church was organized in 1894 and a few of my ancestors had a hand in it. This church is historically the home church of most of the people on my mother's side of the family. None of my immediate family is active in the church at this time.

Green Pond Baptist Church Articles of Faith

1. We believe in one true God, The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Equal in ever divine perfection.
2. We believe the Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is a perfect Treasure of Heavenly instruction. That it reveals the principles by which God will judge us.
3. We believe in a converted and regenerated church membership.
4. We believe that Baptism by immersion is the only Baptism of the New Testament and believers are the only ones it should be applied to.
5. We believe the Lord's Supper is a Church and not a Kingdom ordinance and none but believers Baptized are entitled to it.
6. We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all people, through the Gospel. That nothing prevents the Salvation of the Greatest Sinner on earth, only his own voluntary refusal to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Principles of Green Pond Baptist Church

1. The Church is designed to be composed of regenerate persons, who have professed Faith in Christ and have been baptized (immersed).
2. The New Testament is the only rule of Faith and Practice
3. The entire Separation of Church and State.
4. Civil and Religious Liberty be granted to all people.Church Government.
5. The Brethren and Sister[s] Rule and Not Preachers.

These Articles and Principles come from the 110th anniversary (2004 Homecoming Service) booklet I received when I visited the church a few years ago during a trip to Florida. The church is SBC, but in the booklet, it says it was organized under the "Missionary Baptist Denomination."

Here is an article about an event held at Green Pond in 2006. The cowboy holding the Bible in the article is a Deacon named Dale "Shorty" Boyette. Shorty is a friend of the family, a godly man, and a real honest-to-goodness Florida Cowboy!

Evangelists: Fools For Christ?

I was once a State Evangelist for the Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP) in Georgia. As State Evangelist, I wasn't very successful at getting bookings. I think I was only booked for one revival service the entire time I was on staff. In the annals of the greatest failures as Pentecostal evangelists, I'll certainly be ranked at the top!

Many reasons could be cited for why, but I will give four: (1) it obviously wasn't the Lord's will, (2) because I wasn't a member of one of a well known family in the Georgia COGOP, (3) I refused to stoop to the level of becoming a cheesy self-promoting conference hoping religious politician with a goofy grin on my face and a bunch of business cards in my hand, and (4) I'm just not a great preacher to begin with!

I was once told by a seasoned evangelist that the best way for me to get known was to "get in the back pocket of some of the Bishops in the church and ride on their coattails". Like many occupations in the world, I learned that the success of a COGOP evangelist really depended on who you knew -and just knowing Christ wasn't enough! It didn't take me long to realize that I wasn't going to be much of a State Evangelist unless I learned to be good at the fine art of schmoozing. Not long after this epiphany, I resigned the position of Georgia State Evangelist.

In 1 Corinthians 4:10, Paul told the church that the apostles were "fools for Christ's sake", but some folks seem to have taken that verse a bit too literally and applied it to evangelists as well. This morning I spent some time perusing through some websites of certain Baptist evangelists and some of what I saw really bothered me. Moreover, some of what I saw really pained my soul. In the name of "soul winning" some men have resorted to becoming more like court jesters than heralds and ambassadors of the Kingdom of God!

When you look at some evangelist websites, you will often see great claims about how many revival meetings have been conducted and "decisions made for Christ". When I see these numbers touted, I'm not impressed at all. Statistics have shown that modern evangelistic methods have a fall-away rate of about 90%, it makes the statistical boasting of some evangelists about as abominable as an Obstetrician claiming to have delivered thousands of babies, only to learn that 9 out of 10 of those births were stillborn. Modern evangelism and it's pragmatism is a tragedy, not something in which to boast!


When one considers all the magicians, comedians, clowns, and ventriloquists that churches bring in to conduct revival services, is it any wonder that the message of the Christ is not taken seriously and so many people fall away after a "decision for Christ"? Do we really believe that we can entertain people into faith and repentance?

Some will argue that these methods are needed in order to get people in church to hear the Word. Perhaps, but I'm of the opinion that the primary place of evangelism isn't within the church meeting, but in the world. We should evangelize sinners so they might be saved and come to church in order to be discipled from the Word of God. Trying to gear the church service to appeal to sinners is shortchanging Christ's sheep and bound to fill our pews with false converts and future apostates.

I recently heard (or read) somewhere that some full time evangelists are concerned about their future. I'm glad! Some of them need to be! Maybe it will goad some of them into forsaking the silly methods they employ. Frankly, there's a number of them that need to start preaching the unadulterated gospel or quit and get secular job! It's time to put an end results driven revivalism. If not reigned in, these man-centered evangelistic methods will continue too produce thousands of false converts who will eventually fall away.

Now, I realize what I have just written may have just ruffled more than a few feathers. Don't misunderstand, I'm not against evangelists, nor am I against people using their talents for the glory of God. In fact, I wish there were more Christian entertainers. It would be nice to take the family to a show or a movie where we could be entertained by someone using his or her talents for God's glory. However, I think these things have their proper place and that place isn't behind the pulpit.

I also know there are some evangelists who are faithful in preaching God's Word. I thank God for these men. They men need to be commended, supported, and booked for revivals. I have a hunch that many of the best evangelists are probably the ones who don't have to tell you how great they are, rather, they are the ones who's reputation for being used of God will far exceed any boasting or conversion statistics they can put on a website.

Let us make no mistake, the Gospel is powerful! It's the preaching of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit that converts a sinner! It's not the Howdy Doody Show or some second rate side show attraction that the church needs to fulfill it's commission, rather, it's personal evangelism, the faithful exposition of God's Word, and the power of the Holy Spirit that we need.

Let us pray and seek God for a true revival!

(Images from and linked back to wikipedia)

The Abstract of Principles

from the SBTS website:

When the original charter of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary was adopted in 1858, it contained the following statement which continues as a part of the “fundamental laws.”

Every professor of the institution shall be a member of a regular Baptist church; and all persons accepting professorships in this seminary shall be considered, by such acceptance, as engaging to teach in accordance with, and not contrary to, the Abstract of Principles hereinafter laid down, a departure from which principles on his part shall be considered grounds for his resignation or removal by the Trustees, to wit:

I. The Scriptures
The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only sufficient, certain and authoritative rule of all saving knowledge, faith and obedience.

II. God
There is but one God, the Maker, Preserver and Ruler of all things, having in and of Himself, all perfections, and being infinite in them all; and to Him all creatures owe the highest love, reverence and obedience.

III. The Trinity
God is revealed to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit each with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence or being.

IV. Providence
God from eternity, decrees or permits all things that come to pass, and perpetually upholds, directs and governs all creatures and all events; yet so as not in any wise to be the author or approver of sin nor to destroy the free will and responsibility of intelligent creatures.

V. Election
Election is God's eternal choice of some persons unto everlasting life-not because of foreseen merit in them, but of His mere mercy in Christ-in consequence of which choice they are called, justified and glorified.

VI. The Fall of Man
God originally created Man in His own image, and free from sin; but, through the temptation of Satan, he transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original holiness and righteousness; whereby his posterity inherit a nature corrupt and wholly opposed to God and His law, are under condemnation, and as soon as they are capable of moral action, become actual transgressors.

VII. The Mediator
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, is the divinely appointed mediator between God and man. Having taken upon Himself human nature, yet without sin, He perfectly fulfilled the law; suffered and died upon the cross for the salvation of sinners. He was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended to His Father, at whose right hand He ever liveth to make intercession for His people. He is the only Mediator, the Prophet, Priest and King of the Church, and Sovereign of the Universe.

VIII. Regeneration
Regeneration is a change of heart, wrought by the Holy Spirit, who quickeneth the dead in trespasses and sins enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the Word of God, and renewing their whole nature, so that they love and practice holiness. It is a work of God's free and special grace alone.

IX. Repentance
Repentance is an evangelical grace, wherein a person being by the Holy Spirit, made sensible of the manifold evil of his sin, humbleth himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self-abhorrence, with a purpose and endeavor to walk before God so as to please Him in all things.

X. Faith
Saving faith is the belief, on God's authority, of whatsoever is revealed in His Word concerning Christ; accepting and resting upon Him alone for justification and eternal life. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit, and is accompanied by all other saving graces, and leads to a life of holiness.

XI. Justification
Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal of sinners, who believe in Christ, from all sin, through the satisfaction that Christ has made; not for anything wrought in them or done by them; but on account of the obedience and satisfaction of Christ, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith.

XII. Sanctification
Those who have been regenerated are also sanctified by God's word and Spirit dwelling in them. This sanctification is progressive through the supply of Divine strength, which all saints seek to obtain, pressing after a heavenly life in cordial obedience to all Christ's commands.

XIII. Perseverance of the Saints
Those whom God hath accepted in the Beloved, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere to the end; and though they may fall through neglect and temptation, into sin, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, bring reproach on the Church, and temporal judgments on themselves, yet they shall be renewed again unto repentance, and be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.

XIV. The Church
The Lord Jesus is the head of the Church, which is composed of all His true disciples, and in Him is invested supremely all power for its government. According to His commandment, Christians are to associate themselves into particular societies or churches; and to each of these churches He hath given needful authority for administering that order, discipline and worship which He hath appointed. The regular officers of a Church are Bishops or Elders, and Deacons.

XV. Baptism
Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord Jesus, obligatory upon every believer, wherein he is immersed in water in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, as a sign of his fellowship with the death and resurrection of Christ, of remission of sins, and of giving himself up to God, to live and walk in newness of life. It is prerequisite to church fellowship, and to participation in the Lord's Supper.

XVI. The Lord's Supper
The Lord's Supper is an ordinance of Jesus Christ, to be administered with the elements of bread and wine, and to be observed by His churches till the end of the world. It is in no sense a sacrifice, but is designed to commemorate His death, to confirm the faith and other graces of Christians, and to be a bond, pledge and renewal of their communion with Him, and of their church fellowship.

XVII. The Lord's Day
The Lord's Day is a Christian institution for regular observance, and should be employed in exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private, resting from worldly employments and amusements, works of necessity and mercy only excepted.

XVIII. Liberty of Conscience
God alone is Lord of the conscience; and He hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are in anything contrary to His word, or not contained in it. Civil magistrates being ordained of God, subjection in all lawful things commanded by them ought to be yielded by us in the Lord, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

XIX. The Resurrection
The bodies of men after death return to dust, but their spirits return immediately to God-the righteous to rest with Him; the wicked, to be reserved under darkness to the judgment. At the last day, the bodies of all the dead, both just and unjust, will be raised.

XX. The Judgment
God hath appointed a day, wherein He will judge the world by Jesus Christ, when every one shall receive according to his deeds; the wicked shall go into everlasting punishment; the righteous, into everlasting life.

The Sad Truth...

It's really interesting for me to listen to non-Calvinists bash us. It's always the same old story, "Calvinism kills churches" or "Calvinism stifles evangelism". One would think that an Arminian (or non-Calvinist) would be the most evangelistic Christian there is! Sadly, I don't think that's the case.

Some of my readers may recall that I was once a minister in the Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP). During my time in the COGOP, I was a member of two of their churches: one that was one of the more conservative within that movement and one that was more liberal (by that denomination's standards at least).

Here's some alarming things about the two churches I was affiliated with. Keep in mind, the Church of God of Prophecy is a self-consciously Arminian denomination:

• The Pastor's salary is the largest item in both the church budgets.



• One church only sent $25.00 [or maybe $50.00] per quarter to foreign missions, the other took up a missions offering and then spent it on cleaning supplies and church maintenance!



• Neither conducted any personal evangelism training.



• One of them never conducted any community outreach. The other had a monthly community youth outreach (in conjunction with other churches), but they stopped supporting it because it cost around $100.00 a month.



• One had a Easter program and a Christmas program, but behind closed doors I learned that the biggest reason for these events was because during the events the church would receive larger than average offerings, so much so that it helped to get the financially strapped church "in the black" -remember, the pastor got the lion's share of the tithes that people paid. So they had to do something to keep the lights on!
  
  
• The pastor of one often preached against door-to-door evangelism because "we never had anybody come to church as a result of it".



• The international headquarters of the denomination required a tithe of all the tithes the local churches received, but they wouldn't back their own minister's financially while they tried to plant churches (or re-plant it's derelict churches). The state headquarters wouldn't back the ministers either.

If Calvinism stifles evangelism, then what was the problem with those non-Calvinist churches I attended in the COGOP? Please understand, I'm not trying to bash the COGOP here. (One of my most loyal readers is a pastor in the movement.) I'm sure there are many mission minded churches in the COGOP, I just never had the pleasure of being a part of one of them.

I'm now the youth director of a Southern Baptist Church. Compared to my experience in the COGOP, I am amazed at how much my church does for missions and the SBC cooperative program. That being the case -if the statistics are accurate- many of our people are probably not active in personal witnessing or evangelism.

Here's the sad truth: the lack of evangelism in our churches has nothing to do with Calvinism or Arminianism. It's more to do with fear, apathy, or just plain laziness. The bottom line is that none of us, neither Calvinists nor Arminians, Baptists nor Pentecostals are as evangelistic as we ought to be.

So take it from me, don't buy into the hype that's put out by Arminians and other non-Calvinists about Calvinism stifling the gospel. I've been on both sides of the soteriological fence and the grass isn't very green on the Arminian side either!

God help us!

God help me!

Half Way Across The Bridge

I'm about half way through listening to all the messages from the Building Bridges Conference.

For the most part, I'm liking what I'm hearing. Naturally, I'm biased so I think the Calvinists are making the better case, but I also think the "non-Calvinists" [for some reason they eschew being called Arminians!] have put forth some good stuff too -with a couple of notable exceptions.

Those exceptions include Dr. Malcom Yarnell's somewhat venemous rant entitled "Calvinism: A Cause for Concern". The other low point for the non-Calvinists was Ken Keathley's presentation. In an attempt to give Southern Baptists an alternative to Arminianism and both the Infralapsarian and Supralapsarian versions of Calvinism, Keathley pitches the philosophical theories of a 16th Century Jesuit theologian named Luis de Molina. (a.k.a Molinism).

Yarnell almost caused me to have an aneurysm when he took a hard left turn down the road toward Absurdityville with the "Calvin burned Servetus" story. Folks, maybe I'm being too harsh, but when somebody decides to torch that straw man, it takes all the strength I can muster just to continue listening!

As far as Keathley goes, his presentation had a much better tone than Yarnell, but I don't believe I heard Keathley even read a single verse of Scripture to try and prop up his Jesuit doctrine. Perhaps that sort of thing works for the nobles within SBC academia, but for us Calvinistic serfs, we might have been a whole lot more impressed had there been just a wee bit of exegesis of Scripture!

Thus far, the highlight of the non-Calvinist side had to be Dr. Charles Lawless and his message debunking the stereotypes of SBC non-Calvinists. I really believe Dr. Lawless is a good man. I had the pleasure of meeting and hearing him preach at our church earlier this year. If all non-Calvinists in the SBC were like him, I believe the SBC would be heading in the right direction.

Overall I think this conference was a positive for the Southern Baptist Convention. The fact is, Calvinism is on the rise within many denominations. With that growth, I believe there will be a need for many more conferences just like Building Bridges. Again, if you're in the SBC or curious about the Calvinism vs. "non-Calvinism" debate, listening to these messages will be worth your time -and I reckon that includes Yarnell and Keathley's stuff too...


(Image: Sterling Bridge from wikipedia)

The Great Baptism Debate!

Though we Southern Baptists don't baptize our babies, it's plain to see that we're really big on "baby dedications". Ironically, J.I. Packer has written that these dedications could be viewed as "dry baptisms".

Southern Baptists may decry paedobaptism as administering the ordinance of baptism to the unregenerate -and I agree. However, I also think the fact that the SBC has 10 million missing members should help us to realize that we have been busy baptizing our fair share of unbelievers too!

One paedobaptist theologian I enjoy reading is R.L. Dabney. Dabney was a committed paedobaptist. In his Systematic Theology, he writes at length on the issue. He had something interesting to say about us "Immersionists" and our "inconsistencies" on this subject. When I first read the following quote, I had to smile and chuckle a bit:

"The Immersionist says that our communion is only saved from utter corruption by our own inconsistency; that while our constitution calls our children Church members, we fortunately treat them, as they do, as not Church members. Whereas the Immersionist charges us with a wicked inconsistency, I will retort upon him the charge of a pious one: Those of them who are truly good people, while they say their children are not Church members, fortunately treat them as though they were. They diligently bring them under the instructions, restraints, and prayers of the Church and pastor. Happily, the instincts and influences of the Christian family are so deeply founded and so powerful, that a perverse and unscriptural theory cannot arrest them. These Christians discard the Bible conception of the visible Church, as an organized body whose integers are Christian "houses," and adopt the unscriptural and impracticable theory of a visible Church organized of regenerate individuals. But, blessed be God! the light and love of a sanctified parent’s heart are too strong to be wholly perverted by this theory; they still bring the family, as a whole, virtually within the Church. And this is the reason that true religion is perpetuated among them." (R. L. Dabney, Systematic Theology p. 795)

I can see that though we disagree on what constitutes the visible Church, as well as the mode and subjects to be baptized, there is at least one similarity between paedo and credo Baptists.

Whether we have baptisms or dedications, it seems that what's consistent about true Christian people is that we believe there is a need to have our children presented to the Lord with a promise to rear them to fear and honor Him -and I believe this is a good thing.

Even though I don't agree with their practice, I am thankful for my paedobaptist brethren and their commitment to rearing "covenant children." Perhaps I'm a bad Baptist, but I simply will not anathematize someone over this issue.

Some of you who've read my blog for a while know that I'm not often so charitable. So why do I have such an irenic spirit toward paedobaptists you ask?

Well, I happen to love one in particular with all my heart...

That's right.

I love my wife!

You see, there's very little my wife and I disagree about theologically, however, we do differ on the subject of infant baptism. She believes babies born to Christian parents should be baptized as "covenant children". I disagree with her based upon the absence of a didactic Scriptural foundation for the practice.

With a new baby on the way, this topic has started to be debated around the house once again...

When it comes to theological disputes, she's one tough cookie and she won't cut me any slack. She's even jokingly threatened to have a Presbyterian minister come baptize the new baby in the hospital when I'm not there!

Please pray for me during these trying times!

(photo: Infant baptism from Wikipedia and my eldest son just before his credobaptism earlier this year.)

Building Bridges: Southern Baptists and Calvinism

Many of you are probably aware of the Nov. 26-28 Building Bridges conference held at the Lifeway Ridgecrest Conference Center in North Carolina. This was a historic meeting that discussed Calvinism and it's role in the Southern Baptist Convention. From the accounts I have read, this meeting was a huge success.

All the messages are freely available here and I really hope that folks on both sides of the theological divide will take time to listen to the sermons. I've saved the messages to my computer and I'm listening through them now. So far both sides have (for the most part) presented their case maturely and with a spirit of Christian charity.

Soli Deo Gloria!

GBC Blogging Resolution

I had thought about writing an article to address the Georgia Baptist Convention's recently passed resolution on blogging, however, my good friend Josh Hitchcock must have used some kind of wild clairvoyant mind meld skills to see what I had planned in my brain and then decided to beat me to it...

Since Josh has addressed the resolution so well, I will simply refer my readers to his article instead of writing my own rant.

I will say this:

You'd think that a denomination that cannot account for 10 million of it's members might have bigger fish to fry...

Is The Baptist Church a Church of Christ?

The following article is transcribed from an article by Church of Christ minister, Erman Hagar. It appeared in the Metter Advertiser this past week and is just one of many of Hagar's diatribes against all who are not part of his little cult:

The phrase "of Christ" means that it by or from Christ. If anyone can show me that Christ built a "Baptist Church," then I would agree that it is a church of Christ. Friend, if you are a member of the "Baptist Church," don't get mad. However, you should make sure that you are ready to go to the judgment as a member of a church you cannot read about in the Bible. I used to be a member of the "Baptist Church," but when I could not find the name in the Bible I immediately became suspicious. And when the "pastor" could neither show me the name or the doctrine, I got scared. Then when I found out later that he had been lying to me, I was angry with him.

By the way, I was a young man, not knowing much Bible and this "pastor" could not even defend that which he taught to a novice. Now that I know a little more than I knew then, none of the Baptist preachers will engage me in a public debate. We all love our parents and family, but neither I nor you will be ready on the day of judgment to go to hell for them.

A few facts about the church Jesus built: (1) The Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth (John 16:13). (2) We are to believe on Jesus through the word of his apostles (John 17:20). (3) Jesus gave them the power to [bind] and loose (Matthew 18:18). Pardon my bluntness, but don't say you believe the words of Jesus if you don;t believer Matthew 18:18. (4) If anyone teaches anything other than what the apostles taught, then they have a curse on them (Galatians 1: 8,9) The "Baptist Churches" teach many things contrary to what the apostles taught. I repeat, many things! Here's another thought you may apply directly to your forehead: If you are afraid to meet with me to discuss your religion, then you better be afraid of the judgment.


Minister Hagar publishes his email address with his articles: essapark@iglide.net.

New Baptist Church Covenant for 2007

"Having been led, as we believe, by the feeling we got during the sermon we heard last Sunday, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior by the raising of our hand and repeating of the Sinner's Prayer during an altar call, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of the Pastor, and the Deacons, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one of the many Baptist churches in this small town.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of frequent pot-luck dinners, to eat together in Christian charity; to strive for the advancement of the Republican Party, in campaigns, primaries, and the general elections; to promote our own prosperity and ease of life, not neglecting to attend Masonic Lodge meetings; and to care nothing at all about sound doctrine; to contribute every now and then to the local church for the support of the cooperative program, the entertainment of the church, the relief of the Humane Society, the spreading of the Southern Baptist Convention in all nations, so we will look good when our statistics are compared to other churches.

We also engage to maintain family and secret gossip; to educate our children in government schools; to seek to end Global Warming; to promote Antinomianism in the world; to be victorious in our lawsuits, faithful in our 2nd and/or 3rd marriages, and work for the deportment of the 12 million illegal aliens currently residing in the USA; to avoid all restaurants that serve alcohol, as well as avoid Wednesday evening prayer meetings and all Sunday Evening services; to abstain from the sale of, and use of, destructive literature containing Reformed Soteriology; to shun Bible reading, Systematic Theology, and Speaking in Tongues; to be overzealous in our efforts to advance the sale of Dr. Page's "Trouble with The Tulip".

We further engage to watch over one another like "big brother"; to remember one another on our birthdays; to send cards to one another in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian self-esteem and warm fuzzy feelings, and to refrain from cursing or smoking cigarettes in front of the preacher; to be slow to take offense except in business meetings or during a sermon, but always be mindful of the rules of Parliamentary Procedure and to secure a copy of Robert's Rules of Order without delay.

We moreover engage that when we eventually do get our feelings hurt and leave this church we will, as soon as we get around to it, unite with some other church where we can carry out a study of The Purpose Driven Life and apply the principles of Your Best Life Now."

Proposed SBC Anti-Calvinism Resolution Leaked to Public

The Baptist News Network Press -Savannah, GA.

Anonymous sources have informed The Baptist News Network Press that the recently formed Southern Baptist Counter Reformation Task Force (or "SBCTRF") will introduce an anti-Calvinism resolution during the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention that will be held in Louisville, Kentucky.

Why wait until 2009 in Louisville, KY.?

Our sources tell us that Louisville was picked because of the location of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS), and also because it will give the SBCRTF time to gain grassroots level support for their resolution. SBTS is considered by the SBCRTF to be a "training camp for the Calvinist Taliban insurgency." Other sources within the SBCRTF tell us that the passage of this resolution in Louisville will be a significant blow to Calvinists and may perhaps be "the final nail in the coffin of this so-called 'Reformed Resurgence.'"

Below is a transcript of the resolution that was leaked to The Baptist News Network Press earlier today:


The 2009 SBC Anti-Calvinism Resolution

WHEREAS, Southern Baptists should be taught that the initials "J.C." stand for Jesus Christ and not John Calvin; and

WHEREAS, we've all read Dave Hunt's "What Love is This?"; and

WHEREAS, Calvinism stifles evangelism, kills churches, and complicates the doctrine of "Once Saved, Always Saved"; and

WHEREAS, John Calvin was a beret wearing, wine drinking, snail eating, baby baptizing Frenchman; and

WHEREAS, the French are bad for not supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

WHEREAS, John Calvin ruled Geneva like Fidel Castro rules Cuba; and

WHEREAS, John Calvin brutally murdered Michael Servetus, in cold blood, for no apparent reason; and

WHEREAS, whereas the late Jerry Falwell declared "Limited Atonement" a heresy; and

WHEREAS, Billy Graham is not a Calvinist; and

WHEREAS, whereas Calvinists are worse than Muslims; and

WHEREAS, we were "Elected because we selected"; and

WHEREAS, Calvinism produces legalistic resolutions about church membership integrity; and

WHEREAS, Calvinism created opposition to a sensible resolution concerning the total prohibition and eradication of all alcoholic beverages from the face of the planet; and

WHEREAS, Calvinists have been known to fall in the floor -seized in Charismatic type fits of laughter- while reading Dr. Page's "Trouble with the Tulip"; and

WHEREAS, Calvinism leads to attendance of Together for The Gospel conferences which can lead to too close of contact with Charismatics such as C.J. Mahaney; and

WHERAS, Calvinism leads to attendance of Ligonier Conferences which in turn leads to too close of contact with Presbyterians such as R.C. Sproul; and

WHEREAS, Calvinism leads Baptists to doubt Dispensational theology and the Pre-Tribulational Rapture; and

WHEREAS, Calvinism has lead to a drop in Baptism numbers throughout the Southern Baptist Convention; and

WHEREAS, Calvinism has lead to the explosive growth of Reformed blogs where people criticize the great evangelist Charles Grandison Finney; and

WHEREAS, we have not been able to silence Calvinist bloggers; and

WHEREAS, Calvinism makes God the author of sin; and

WHEREAS, Calvinism denies God's chief attribute which is omnibenevolence; and

WHEREAS, Calvinism denies Free Will and makes man into a robot; and

WHEREAS, we know that God gives His Grace to all who deserve it when they simply raise their hand during an altar call; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that we the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention being assembled in Louisville Kentucky hereby condemn Calvinistic theology as heresy; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the entire Southern Baptist Convention repent of any Calvinistic beliefs held in previous years and then rewrite Convention history as to exclude any references to having believed Calvinistic theology at all; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we urge all Southern Baptist entities to summarily fire any and all pastors or employees who hold to the "Five Points of Calvinism"; and be it further

RESOLVED, that we urge all Southern Baptist entities to conduct background checks, polygraph tests, and wire taps on all future candidates for employment to determine if applicants Calvinists; and be it further

RESOLVED, that all applicants found to be Calvinists should not be considered for employment; and be it finally

RESOLVED, that the Southern Baptist Convention shall auction off the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary to the highest bidding Presbyterian denomination.

A Resolution for The Southern Baptist Convention

It's getting close to Convention time once again. And of course, everybody is gearing up with new resolutions on everything from the problem of unregenerate church members to the practice of praying in tongues in private.

Some will pass and some will fail, yet if understand things correctly, none of the resolutions will really matter at all if local SBC churches (which are actually autonomous) decide to ignore them anyway!

Just to get in the spirit of it all, I thought I'd add a resolution that I expect some lukewarm Baptists will present at a Convention in the not too distant future!

Whereas, NASCAR is way more interesting than hearing expostitional preaching through the book of Romans; and

Whereas, The fish are biting real good; and

Whereas, The weather has been real nice lately; and

Whereas, Our parents forced us to go to church every time the door was open when we were kids; and

Whereas, Sunday is our only day to rest; and

Whereas, There's not a single verse of Scripture to support it; and

Whereas, We have better things to do; and

Whereas, Gas is too expensive to be driving to church twice on Sunday; and

Whereas, It's really asking way too much of people; and

Whereas, Nobody goes to church on Sunday evenings anyway; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention express our total opposition to having church meetings on Sunday evenings; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge Southern Baptists to take an active role in opposing Sunday evening church meetings in other denominations as well; and be it finally

Resolved, That we urge Southern Baptists to be actively involved in educating people both near and far concerning the destructive nature of having church meetings on Sunday evening.

Baptist Church Discovers Secret to Boosting Church Attendance!

Pastor Discovers Key to Rapid Church Growth
The Baptist News Network Press -Savannah, GA.

Reverend Todd Blackburn, age 42, has been pastor of Rehoboam Baptist Church for 12 years. Before accepting the call to pastor the small Southern Baptist church in Pooler, GA., Pastor Todd attended Liberty Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, VA. where he graduated from Liberty's Master of Divinity program. Now, after 12 years of full-time ministry, and after trying every church growth method on the market, Pastor Blackburn believes he has found the key to rapid church growth, and the key is Food!

Pastor Todd explains, "our church membership roll was a bit over 100, yet we never had more than 40% of the membership in attendance for anything we did. We tried the 'Purpose Driven' 40 day program, we tried skits, revivals, rock music, gangsta rap, puppet shows, carnivals, and other programs, but nothing seemed to work out for us. We had been seeing a steep decline in baptisms too. However, I noticed that anytime we had a fellowship meal or 'finger food night' after an evening service, we would see members come to church that we thought had died or maybe joined the French Foreign Legion."

That got Reverend Blackburn thinking. After consulting the deacons, the church called a committee and had a vote. What came out of that vote has now caused Rehoboam Baptist to be one of the fastest growing churches in Southeast Georgia.

Many other Baptist churches have fellowship meals, but Rehoboam Baptist has a meal after every single worship service, every Bible study, and every committee meeting. Pastor Blackburn says he's never seen anything draw the crowds and cause members to be more excited about church than when food is involved.

"In just 3 months", Pastor Todd says, "we've had 221 baptisms, 65 re-dedications, 95 join by letter, 43 join by statement of faith, and every altar call has been packed out. "However," the pastor confesses, "I have to admit that the large responses to my altar calls may have something to do with the free coffee and donut holes we offer people when they come forward to accept Jesus. During each altar call I tell our seekers that the donut holes we offer them represent the 'God shaped hole' they have in their hearts. It really works well!"

This new approach has even had a profound impact on the leadership of Rehaboam Baptist.

"Now all my deacons and committee members come to every church service and prayer meeting!" exclaims Pastor Todd with a big smile. "I have one Trustee who had a fear of going to church on Sunday evenings. He said it was related to childhood psychological trauma from his parents forcing him to go to church on Sunday evenings. Now that we have food following the evening services, this brother has been able to overcome his phobia! Praise the Lord!"

One key to making this program work, according to Pastor Blackburn, is variety:

"You gotta have variety. That's what keeps the people coming. It keeps things interesting. My people love fried chicken, but sometimes you just have to change it up a bit and offer ribs, or pork chops, or even steaks. Our Friday night Bible study features a fish-fry that's been a great outreach for Catholics. We are even considering having a kosher night once a month in order to reach out to Jews in our area."

With all the success Rehaboam Baptist has been having, not all are pleased with their efforts. Many conservative pastors and even a few "bloggers" have spoken out against Pastor Todd's methodology. Most notably, a blogger named Rhett Kelley, of Metter Georgia, has written the editor of The Baptist News Network Press calling Rehoboam Baptist's methods "an outright abomination" and that Pastor Todd "needs to quit pretending to be a pastor and go get a job at Shoney's."

Pastor Blackburn is unfazed by Kelley's criticisms. "He's a hyper-Calvinist," remarks Blackburn with a smirk, "that Rhett Kelley guy probably has nothing better to do than sit around all day reading the "Team Pyro" blog or something. No wonder he has no concern for evangelism. People like that are just quenching the spirit... Dr. Ergun Caner has been warning of such people."

Pastor Blackburn contends that this method is Biblical. He cites many examples from both the Old and New Testaments:

"Well, you see, if one takes a fresh look at the Old Testament sacrificial system, it really appears that God was just throwing a gigantic barbecue! In the New Testament we see Jesus feeding thousands of people with just a few loaves of bread and some fish. Think about the Passover meal and the other Jewish feasts. Look at the Lord's Supper. It's apparent to me that God is all for food, fun, and fellowship! I don't see what all the fuss is about. Jesus called himself the Bread of Life for goodness sakes! I haven't found a single verse saying we can't do this. As long as we be sure the poorer folks get plenty to eat and we abstain from getting drunk like the Corinthians did, I can't see anything wrong with our approach."

When asked if he believes the leaders of the Georgia Baptist Convention will support his methods, Pastor Blackburn confidently replied, "the leaders of the Convention are very supportive. They have even pledged to help underwrite the cost of our meals if we need help. They really want to see this program take off. With the SBC's sluggish baptism numbers, the 'Rehaboam growth model' is really turning heads. I am expecting an invitation to preach a series of messages on our model at First Baptist Church of Woodstock [Georgia] any day now. Who knows, I may even get the chance to address the entire Southern Baptist Convention if all goes well."

Rehoboam Baptist Church is located just 1/2 mile north of Interstate 16 on Old Rehoboam Lake Church Road in Pooler, GA. For more information or to speak to Reverend Blackburn call (912) 555-2007

(btw, this article is a satire)

The Most Ridiculous Item of the Year

I found this video while searching for videos about Ergun Caner on Youtube.

My jaw dropped and I laughed really hard when I saw this, so I'm posting it here so others can see it and have a laugh too!

I mean no offense to Ergun Caner --or the goat!

2 Peter 3:9: Does it defeat Calvinism?

Dr. Jerry Falwell has now declared that the Reformed doctrine of the Atonement is heretical. As my pastor has pointed out on the Reformed Mafia blog, Falwell must then include Baptists such as Spurgeon, Gill, Fuller, Carey, Dagg, and Boyce as heretics as well.

One of the main proof texts people like to use to attack the doctrine of Particular Redemption is 2 Peter 3:9 which states "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

Does this text overthrow Calvinism? Or could this passage -when take in context- actually be further proof that the Reformed view is actually the true teaching of Scripture? Please watch the YouTube video below for an eye opening exegesis of the passage.





Somebody forward this to Dr. Falwell! Please!

A Perversion of Perseverance

Of all the doctrines I ever despised in the past, the doctrine of Eternal Security, or "Once Saved, Always Saved," had to be at the top of the list.

I can remember teaching Sunday school during my days in the Church of God of Prophecy, ranting and raving about how Baptists in particular "believe a person can get saved and live like the devil for the rest of their life and still go to Heaven."

To make matters worse, I could look around and see plenty of examples of Baptist folks who were not living up to the faith they professed on Sunday morning. I had seen people who professed faith in Jesus and later became hard hearted "backsliders," therefore I had all the evidence I needed to repudiate the doctrine of Eternal Security -or so I thought....

When I finally decided to investigate the doctrine of Eternal Security, it was because I saw some things in Scripture that I couldn't reconcile with my old semi-Pelagian theology. I began a journey to seek after truth, instead of what fit the mold of my theological tradition. I wanted to understand why seemingly decent Christian people believed that their salvation was eternally secure, while others seemed to use it as a cloak for their sinful living.

I began my search to understand Eternal Security by getting a copy of Charles Stanley's Eternal Security: Can You Be Sure?. I had thought Stanley would be a good source because much of what I had heard him teach sounded okay. As I read his book, some of the arguments made sense to me. Some almost convinced me. Then I hit a big snag...

The snag was in chapter 8. It was there that I could no longer follow Stanley's line of reasoning. You see, in chapter 8, Stanley argues that once a person has made a profession of faith, the person can go as far as totally losing all faith in Christ and yet be Heaven bound!

Stanley compares salvation with getting a tattoo:

"If I choose to have a tattoo put on my arm, that would involve a one-time act on my part. Yet the tattoo would remain with me indefinitely. I don't have to have to maintain an attitude of fondness of for tattoos to ensure that the tattoo remains on my arm. In fact I may change my mind the minute I receive it. But that does not change the fact that I have a tattoo on my arm. My request for the tattoo and the tattoo itself are two entirely different things. I received it by asking and paying for it, But asking for my money back and changing my attitude will not undo what is done. Forgiveness/salvation is applied at the moment of faith. And its permanence is not contingent upon the permanence of one's faith."

Before I was a Baptist I rejected such theology and now that I am a Baptist I still reject such theology!!! In my opinion, this sort of nonsense is why the Southern Baptist Convention has millions of absentee members as well as churches full of false converts!

If Dr. Stanley's theory is true, then even Dan Barker, the faith healing evangelist turned apostate God hating atheist, is just as bound for Heaven as the most God fearing saint alive! Stanley's theology is pure Antinomianism. It's nothing more than "Easy believe-ism," plain and simple. Thankfully, I was able to find out that Stanley's version of Perseverance is not in line with the Bible, nor with historic Baptist theology. It is a perversion of perseverance.

Salvation is in no way analogous with getting a tattoo! A tattoo is only skin deep, but Biblical salvation is a work that takes place in the very soul of a man. For God himself tells us "a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." (Eze 36:26-27)

Salvation is not a "one time act" on our part: it's a new beginning! It's the temporal realization of what God planned to do in the life of an individual sinner in eternity past! It's a New birth! A life changing experience! Though Stanley's doctrine allows for a person to totally apostatize and eventually be saved, the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith says something quite a bit different:

"And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end." (LBCF 17:3) emphasis added

Stanley believes a person can totally lose his or her faith and still persevere, yet historic Baptist teaching says despite their shortfalls, the believer will be "preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end!!!" Quite a difference if you ask me!

Stanley's version of Eternal Security denies that God is "able keep [us] from falling, and to present [us] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy! (Jude 24) It overlooks the fact that we "are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:5). Once a person has truly met Jesus Christ, they can never be the same. Apostates and those who forsake Christ for "another gospel" show that they were never truly saved to begin with! (1 John 2:19) "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new!" (1 Cor 5:17)

Our security is not based upon our ability to hang on and hold on, but rather we are secure because God is working to "make [us] perfect in every good work to do His will, working in [us] that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ." (Heb 13:21) God has not saved us so that we can live like the devil and abuse his marvelous Grace, but on the contrary, "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10)

R.C. Sproul sums up my position well:

"The perseverance of the saints could more accurately be called the preservation of the saints... The believer does not persevere through the power of his unaided will. God's preserving grace makes our perseverance both possible and actual. Even the regenerated person with a liberated will is still vulnerable to sin and temptation, and the residual power of sin is so strong that without the aid of grace the believer would, in all probability, fall away. But God's decree is immutable. His sovereign purpose to save his elect from the foundation of the world is not frustrated by our weakness"

Rejoice dear reader! For if you have been truly saved, you can be "confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ!!!" (Phil 1:6)

Soli Deo Gloria!

A Rant on Theological Ignorance

I want to begin this Rant by way of illustration:

One Sunday morning, a preacher takes his position behind the lectern. He opens his Bible, reads a passage, and then he prays. Then for the next 30 minutes he passionately expounds upon what his dog did yesterday, how his last fishing trip went, how good his mama's sweet tea is, and how wonderful the dogs were barking on his last coon hunting trip. He finishes the "sermon" with a heart wrenching appeal for people to come to Jesus for Salvation in which he follows it with the standard "heads bowed, eyes closed, and nobody looking around" type altar call. After that the pastor dismisses the service and everyone leaves out at 12:00 pm shaking his hand and telling him what a "wonderful message" he preached.

Same Sunday, but this time in a different church...

Another preacher takes the pulpit. The congregation still swaying and praising as a result of 45 minutes of their favorite 7 praise choruses being played about 11 times each. The preacher opens his Bible, reads a passage, and says a prayer. Before he can finish praying, people are back to shouting and running around the church house again! He closes his Bible and they continue for at least an hour and a half praying, singing, and praising. After everything finally calms down, the pastor says a few words, says another prayer, and closes the service. The people leave the service all excited about the wonderful time they had and boast "the service was so good the preacher didn't even get to preach!"

The first scenario was what my friend would experience almost every Sunday at his Southern Baptist church. The second scenario is what I occasionally experienced, and what happens often in a number of Pentecostal and Charismatic churches around here.

These are two vastly different scenarios but the common denominator in them both is that I have personally witnessed that neither produces spiritually mature, theologically sound Christians! Neither scenario emphasises the exposition of the Bible, the teaching of systematic theology, nor practical discipleship. Both patterns were failing in their commission to teach God's Word and make disciples of all nations.

Honestly folks, I am very tired of not being able to have a basic Biblical discussion with the average church goer!!! I believe there is no excuse for a person going to church for decades and not even being able to articulate the most basic truths of the Christian faith! I have had to deal with this ignorance with the most Spirit filled Pentecostals, as well as with some of the most hardcore Southern Baptists. It never ceases to amaze me at the ignorant things that come out of the mouths of professing Christians. (Some even follow in the footsteps of Joel Osteen and will not even take a firm stance on Jesus being the ONLY way to Heaven!!)

I was watching Ravi Zacharias this evening and he too affirms that one of the greatest problems in the American church is the fact that people are too lazy to THINK when it comes to the things of God. It's like people want to put their minds in neutral as soon as they get to church or something! All too often American Christians are happy to listen to vain jangling from the pulpit and formulate their theology more from silly clichés than from the Bible.

I am also quite disturbed by the fact that many Christians think we have nothing to learn from those spiritual giants who have gone before us. I am often ridiculed by a good friend for "reading those theologians." He thinks it is a waste of time. While it is certain that the theologians of yesterday may have not been correct in every point of doctrine, it does not excuse us for ignoring what God taught them in their day. It delights me to meet another Christian who reads Spurgeon or some other "old school" teacher. Unfortunately, I have found those people are few and far between.

I've also observed that many Christians think that only the clergy are to be educated in the things of God! We are now in a day where the "preaching" and writings of Joel Osteen (and many other heretics) are considered profound by many American Evangelicals. These things ought to alert us that something is terribly wrong!

On page 18 of his Systematic Theology, Dr. Wayne Grudem has summed up my feelings quite well:

"I am convinced that there is an urgent need in the church today for much greater understanding of Christian doctrine, or systematic theology. Not only pastors and teachers need to understand theology in greater depth - the whole church does as well. One day by God's grace we may have churches full of Christians who can discuss, apply, and live the doctrinal teachings of the Bible as readily as they can discuss the details of their own jobs or hobbies - or the fortunes of their favorite sports team or television program. It is not that Christians lack the ability to understand doctrine; it is just that they must have access to it in an understandable form. Once that happens, I think that many Christians will find that understanding (and living) the doctrines of Scripture is one of their greatest joys."

So... What must we do to reverse this problem?

I think the best thing we can do is pray... Pray that God would birth a great awakening in the American church. Pray that God would regenerate the large number of false converts that sit upon our pews. Pray that God might see fit to ignite a hunger for truth in our pews and in our pulpits. We must demand more than shallow preaching and meetings where the Bible is replaced with emotionalism and chaos. We need the truth of God's Word to unashamedly sound forth from the pulpits of America!

It's time for the American church to repent of its apathy! It's time to restore the preaching of God's Word to a place of prominence in the churches! Its time for our people to get off the milk and move onto the meat! It's time for a Reformation in the United States of America!

"I dream of a new Reformation, a Reformation that is not simply a renewal of life but a new vision of life: a vision that yields new forms and structures in society and culture. As long as Christians restrict their Christianity to a religion, a faith that is compartmentalized and isolated from life, they can have revival but never, ever Reformation." --Dr. R.C Sproul

Soli Deo Gloria!


Please Note: I am not implying that all Baptist or all Pentecostal churches are guilty of what I have described above. I have used these two examples because I have been in and around both movements and I have personal experience dealing with the fruits of both extremes. I grant that there are many pastors in both camps who are faithful to preach and teach God's Word. I am "painting with a broad brush" in this Rant.

By His Grace and For His Glory

The past few weeks I have been studying the history of the Protestant Reformation and Puritanism, so yesterday I began reading the book By His Grace and For His Glory by Dr. Thomas J. Nettles.

I figure it would be a good idea to go ahead and see what Dr. Nettles has to say about the history and historic theology of the Southern Baptist Convention as well.

I start this book today with an expectation that, by God's Grace, it will be the final nail in the coffin of all the historical/theological revisionism within the Southern Baptist movement.

I thank God that Dr. Nettles and Founder's Ministries have made available this resource for this generation of Baptists! May we not be fooled by those who wish to deny the theological roots of our movement.

Soli Deo Gloria!