SBC’s Calvinism “Debate” in Warp Speed

For those who have taken the ostrich approach to the latest brouhaha in SBC circles, the “debate” over Calvinism in the SBC has taken on Gettysburg-like proportions. Let’s see if I can keep up the discussion (big breath):

• Dr. Steve Lemke wrote an article about Calvinism, entitled, “What Is a Baptist? Nine Marks that Separate Baptists from Presbyterians”
• Justin Taylor and Timmy Brister both wrote responses to the article (I should also note that the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministryalso included responses to Dr. Lemke’s article)
• Dr. David Allen published a review of the book edition of the “Building Bridges” conference, entitled, Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialogue”, where he, among other things, questioned Lifeway and Southeastern Seminary’s association with Dr. Tom Ascol’s Founders Ministries, who have a Calvinist agenda
• At the John 3:16 conference, Dr. Allen called Drs. Robert Reymond and James White hyper-Calvinists, based on the definition given by Dr. Phil Johnson in his “Primer on Hyper-Calvinism“
• Drs. Johnson and White both responded to Dr. Allen’s claims
• Dr. Allen resonded to their responses
• Dr. Voddie Baucham commented on Calvinism and the SBC
• Dr. Tom Ascol commented on Drs. Lemke and Allen and the John 3:16 conference, calling Dr. Malcolm Yarnell and Dr. Allen, among others, “anti-Calvinists”
• Dr. Johnson re-responded to Dr. Allen
• Dr. Yarnell responded to Dr. Ascol

So there you have it in a nutshell. The Southern Baptist Convention, one big happy (albeit dysfunctional) family. To steal a line from this year’s presidential election, it seems that if the SBC continues at this pace, any effort to build bridges will just lead to nowhere.

[Update: Dr. Ascol responded to Dr. Allen's response, and Ed Stetzer gave a response regarding his stats]

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