He put her in a straw-man suit, and there he kept her very cute…
Peter Lumpkins is against Southern Baptist Calvinists leading a certain number (that he will not name) of SBC leadership positions. This is his reasoning for making the above video.
1. First, whether or not 90-95% (this percentage cannot be proven) of Southern Baptists are or are not Calvinists does NOT matter. In order for Lumpkins’ argument to carry any weight, he must prove that these 90-95% care that some Calvinists are leading them. Instead, he makes a straw-man argument, assuming that since 90-95% are not Calvinists, that they too do not want Calvinists leading them. He has NO proof to validate his argument.
Furthermore, the statement “90-95% of Southern Baptists are not Calvinists” is not a true statement. When asked “Is this a verifiable statement?” Peter writes, “No, the 90-95% is a deduction–a reasonable one I think–from what we presently know of the SBC.” Well Peter, shouldn’t you at least attempt to prove your grandiose statements? This is why I think Peter’s main issue with SBC Calvinism is personal. He is trying to stir others up in the convention because he has a personal issue with SBC Calvinism being affirmed by too many (some arbitrary number in his mind) in SBC leadership.
A study carried out by Lifeway back in 2006 found that out of 413 Southern Baptist pastors surveyed, only 10% were 5-point Calvinists. At least based on this study in 2006, Lumpkins seems correct; but, what about 4-point Calvinists?
In 2007, NAMB released a New Millennium Ministers Study. All 1998-2004 Masters level seminary graduates from Golden Gate, New Orleans, Midwestern, Southeastern, Southwestern and the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary were invited to complete the survey late 2006. The total number of usable surveys was 2,134. A limited subset of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary graduates was available for the study. Lumpkins has argued that “Calvinists have an entire seminary” due to Southern’s faculty having to sign the Abstract of Principles. Due to the limited number that were able to participate in this study, Lumpkins cannot argue that Southern’s graduates skewed the numbers…
By seminary: Golden Gate (N=270), New Orleans (N=287), Midwestern (N=148), Southeastern (N=403), Southwestern (N=978), Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary (N=11), Southern Seminary (N=52).
1,234 of these 2,134 respondents served as pastors or staff members at Southern Baptist churches as well. Within this group, 527 served as a senior or solo pastor of a congregation.
Out of 2,134 Southern Baptist Seminary graduates surveyed…
-27% identified themselves as 5-point Calvinists. This seems to take some validity away from Lumpkins’ grandiose statement above; but, this was not what startled me (the stats I’m about to mention will bug Lumpkins; and others that see Calvinism as a threat).
- 67% affirmed that “God’s grace is irresistible.”
- 58% affirmed, “People do not choose to become Christians; God chooses and calls people who then respond to Him.” These previous stats mean that near 60% of seminary graduates are 4-point Calvinists.
-The study also found that those who graduated in 2004 were 13% more likely to be 5-point Calvinists than those that graduated in 1998.
-Furthermore, those who graduated in 2004 were 12% more likely to affirm that God’s grace is irresistible than those that graduated in 1998.
Finally, one of the study’s conclusions was that “church growth statistics in terms of annual baptism rates indicates that there is little difference between Calvinist (8.8 per 100 in attendance) and non-Calvinist (9.4 per 100 in attendance) led churches.”
2. Second, I am the student that said, “Southern’s faculty is so vocal about Calvinism that a non-Calvinist would feel “out of place” since Calvinism is universally taught as truth.” What I meant is that Calvinism is taught as normal at the seminary, since the entire faculty at least affirms 4-point Calvinism. Whenever I attended my first class at Southern, I was not a Calvinist. I had however been leaning that way for several years. I felt “out of place” in my first couple of classes because Calvinism was taught as truth, not as “it might be true.” Since the professors universally affirmed it, they universally taught it as truth as well. The difference however is that Limited atonement is not universally held. Dr. Mohler is a 5-pointer, Dr. Moore is a 4-pointer/ Dr. Wright is a 5-pointer, Dr. Ware is a 4.5 pointer (You gotta know Ware). Even though I felt out of place because I believed differently than my professors and many of the students, I was amazed at the godliness and evangelistic passion of my professors. Some of the godliest men I have ever interacted with in Southern Baptist life are professors at Southern. Dr. Ware’s “Doctrine of God” class was the first class I took at Southern. His passion for God’s glory in all areas of life was and is contagious!
3. Third, Lumpkins statement “Southern Baptists have historically insisted that the Bible alone is our standard for truth; not Calvinism, not Arminianism, not any human-creed or system,” is not an accurate statement. Historically, Baptists have been a confessional people. Here are some Baptist confessions, just to name a few…The London Baptist Confession of 1644, Midland Association Confession of 1655, Second London Confession of 1689, The Goatyard Confession of 1729, Philadelphia Confession of 1742, Sandy Creek Confession of 1816, Terms of Union of 1801, New Hampshire Confession of Faith of 1833, and The Baptist Faith and Message of 1925, 1963, 2000. What Lumpkins fails to realize is that every time someone reads the Bible, they interpret or “confess” specific truths. Confessions simply communicate what we as a people believe the correct interpretation of Scripture is and is not. So, whenever a confession says what the Bible says, where it speaks, God speaks! However, where a confession does not say what the Bible says, it must be discarded. The Scriptures have always been the final authority in Baptist life, and are today in Southern Baptist life as well; however, confessions have also been a part of Southern Baptist life, and should be today as well!
4. Finally, concerning whether or not Southern Baptists can handle the truth, I say, “Yes, they can!” The truth is that Calvinism is NOT a threat to Southern Baptist life. Contrary to what Peter is arguing, Calvinists are not taking over the SBC. There is room for both groups. Why can’t the gospel be our emphasis, instead of winning others to our theological systems? Since these Calvinist leaders are soul-winners and Southern Baptists, why shouldn’t they represent all of us? Peter, why must there only be some arbitrary number of Calvinist Southern Baptist leaders? Why does it matter? Why can’t you view these men as simply Southern Baptists that are leading us?
. They should be jumping in front of their pastor, taking that punch like a champ 
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