In a recent blog post, Pastor Travis Smith attributed the closing of Clearwater Christian College largely to a change in its position and standards. I agree with Pastor Smith that those matters certainly played a role. Still, the “change and die” narrative does not really explain why fundamentalist schools have closed. Some institutions have made… Continue Reading
I don’t know Pastor Travis Smith, but I like and respect him. For one thing, he has ministered at the same church for thirty years—an exceptional achievement, and one that I believe glorifies God. For another, he has a pretty decent blog, “From the Heart of a Shepherd,” in which he specializes in applying principles… Continue Reading
Ephesians 4:4 requires every Christian to endeavor to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. This exhortation assumes that Christian unity comes from the Holy Spirit. Christians do not create unity, but Christians can either damage it or maintain it. Parachurch organizations often specify the kind of churches to which they… Continue Reading
The Iowa Association of Regular Baptist Churches has entered its ninth decade. Messengers from its 90 churches gathered in Nevada, Iowa on April 13-14. I had the opportunity to attend the meeting as a representative from Central Baptist Seminary. It was a bittersweet experience. The sweetness came from a long history with the IARBC. At… Continue Reading
Spurgeon. Pillsbury. Atlantic. Calvary. Northland. Now Tennessee Temple. These are all names of fundamentalist educational institutions that have closed their doors (through dissolution, merger, or “gifting” their campus to another entity) over the past decade or so. The most recent, Tennessee Temple, had been standing on wobbly legs for years. This week its board voted… Continue Reading
Occasionally I have written and spoken on what I call “hyper-fundamentalism.” My argument is that some self-identified fundamentalists incorporate unnecessary and even harmful features into their definition of fundamentalism, resulting in a position that deviates from normal fundamentalism by going beyond it. This assertion is often greeted with incredulity. People seem to think that I… Continue Reading
Over the past few months, I have been responding intermittently to Pastor Matt Recker’s evaluation of the New Calvinism, and particularly to his assessment of The Gospel Coalition. What I would like to do now is to summarize my responses and to offer a word of appraisal concerning the larger dimensions of the discussion between… Continue Reading
During the summer of 2014, Pastor Matt Recker published a series of blog posts in which he argued that the New Calvinism is essentially a recapitulation of the New Evangelicalism. The New Evangelicalism was a movement that began during the 1940s, blossomed during the late 1950s and early 1960s, and broke apart during the 1970s… Continue Reading
Faced with numerous denials of inerrancy from professing evangelicals, theologians and church leaders gathered in 1978 to form the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy. Meeting at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago, the new organization adopted a statement that attempted to explain the historic evangelical understanding of Scripture. This document, called the “Chicago Statement on… Continue Reading
The wording of 2 Timothy 3:16-17 forces the reader to certain conclusions about biblical inspiration. First, the writings and not the writers are inspired. Second, the words and not merely the ideas of Scripture are inspired. Third, inspiration is about a result and not about the process by means of which the Scriptures were produced.… Continue Reading
In his recent series on The Gospel Coalition, Pastor Matt Recker devoted an entire essay to the doctrine of Scripture. Pointing to a 1956 article in Christian Life magazine, he noted that one element in the development of New Evangelicalism was a “re-opening of the subject of biblical inspiration.” He argued that this re-opening led… Continue Reading
For many years, Matt Recker has been a church planter and pastor in New York City. He has started churches in Brooklyn and Queens, and he presently pastors the Heritage Baptist Church in Manhattan. He has written and taught on urban ministry, becoming recognized among fundamentalists as something of an authority in these areas. Recently,… Continue Reading
Organizations often choose names that advertise their purpose or emphasis. The Federal Aviation Administration regulates aviation. The American Automobile Association helps drivers of automobiles. Alcoholics Anonymous is devoted to alcoholics—and anonymity. Names correlate with purposes. Consequently, when an organization calls itself The Gospel Coalition, one assumes that it focuses on the gospel. One supposes that… Continue Reading
During June and July, I attended the meetings of three significant Baptist Fellowships: the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International, the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches, and the Minnesota Baptist Association. Taken together, these three meetings provide a glimpse into the current state of Baptist fundamentalism. I am presenting one brief report on each organization and… Continue Reading
From their earliest days, Baptists have erected organizations to assist them in coordinating ministries that are beyond the ability of most individual churches. Among these organizations are both church associations and individual fellowships. Over the past month, I have had the opportunity to attend the meetings of three such organizations, two at the national level… Continue Reading
Last week brought the news that Steve Pettit had been chosen as the fifth president of Bob Jones University. Then on Saturday Ken Endean was installed as the president of International Baptist College in Chandler, Arizona. We rejoice that God has provided outstanding leaders for two of mainstream fundamentalism’s institutions of higher learning. In all… Continue Reading
The Fundamental Baptist Fellowship International is giving thoughtful fundamentalists an occasion to reflect upon our principles. It is also giving an occasion for thoughtless critics to say, “Gotcha.” What is the occasion? The FBFI has invited Clarence Sexton to return to its platform. Some leaders of the FBFI have been friends with Sexton for years.… Continue Reading
Multiple-views books have become a bit of a fad. The format lends itself to comparison and contrast, allowing readers to weigh and judge the evidence for each position. Several publishers are now producing volumes covering a bewildering variety of theological disagreements. Indeed, one wonders whether new disputes aren’t being invented just to provide a platform… Continue Reading
I’ll never forget the feeling, years ago, of sending my daughter to kindergarten on the first day. It was a milestone, to be sure, and her mother and I anticipated that she would flourish in school. It was also a bit of a heartbreak, knowing that we were withdrawing our direct supervision and permitting others… Continue Reading
For years I have wondered how certain fundamentalist churchmen could remain so powerful in spite of their shallow, manipulative, arrogant, abusive, and even immoral behavior. In some cases, these men are able to retain a significant following even after being exposed publicly. Often, they are connected with the version of fundamentalism that Jack Hyles once… Continue Reading