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Category Archives: Calvinism

Defining the “Cage Stage” of Calvinism

Someone has asked, "What is the cage stage?" I have mentioned it a couple of times in various posts, most recently in my series Why I No Longer Celebrate Christmas. In my haste, I failed to adequately define this peculiar term for my readers, so I offer my sincere apologies and the following definition:
cage state [...]

Posted 09 December 2007 § Daily Scribe § Theology ‡ Comments (6) ° Tagged: , , ,

Why I no longer celebrate Christmas :: Part 1

Years ago I began the nightmarish transition through the dreaded cage stage, moving from a dispassionate, atheological, Southern Baptist inerrantist to a tulip-loving, Jerusalem blade-wielding Calvinist. Imagine my journey as a young seminarian, attending Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, with its founder and president publicly railing against Calvinism because "it'll rip the heart out of evangelism [...]

Posted 04 December 2007 § Daily Scribe § Personal ‡ Comments (6) ° Tagged: , , ,

Illinois pastor reflects, “Reformed” training at SBTS not asset to “career” but rather to pastoral integrity

I serious doubt whether anyone has ever heard of J. Kent Kroencke. He serves as the pastor of a small church in Illinois. According to a recent blog article, he has been theologically Reformed since his conversion, but he did not realize how negatively other Christians felt toward the "doctrines of grace" until he began [...]

Posted 11 June 2007 § Ministry § Southern Baptists § Teaching/Preaching § Theological education § Theology ‡ Comments (19) °

Hargrave refutes Vines, challenges Sullivan to “do the right thing”

For those who have not listened to Jerry Vines' message, "Calvinism: A Baptist and His Election," you really should hear it for yourself. Then, I would encourage you to read "An Open Letter of Rebuttal" written by Roy Hargrave, pastor of the Riverbend Community Church in Ormond Beach, Florida. In this letter, Mr. Hargraves [...]

Posted 09 June 2007 § Florida Baptist Convention § Ministry § North America § Southern Baptists § The Church § Theology ‡ Comments (6) °

Getting Hot as Hell in Florida for SBC Calvinists

The state executive director-treasurer for the Florida Baptist Convention (FBC) recently sent every pastor in the state a 4-disc collection of CDs by prominent Jacksonville pastor, Dr. Jerry Vines, on "Baptist Battles" with the subtitle, "Liberalism, Calvinism, Pentecostalism, and Libertinism." While his message, "Calvinism: A Baptist and His Election," represents only one of four [...]

Posted 06 June 2007 § Florida Baptist Convention § Ministry § North America § Southern Baptists § Theology ‡ Comments (38) °

Is there life after Calvinism?

A friend of mine recently posted a comment, "What are we ever going to do with you? I think your time across the 'pond' has been good for you." I really hadn't thought much about it, but I began blogging three years ago, shortly after moving to a new mission field in Wales. Coming [...]

Posted 20 May 2007 § Ministry § Personal § Theology ‡ Comments (6) °