The Doctrine Of The Trinity

The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most important beliefs of Christianity. It is central to the Christian understanding of God. This doctrine is held by the large majority of Christianity.

An Explanation of the Trinity

“The doctrine of the Trinity is the belief that there is only one living and true God. Yet, the one God is three distinct Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These three have distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. They enjoy eternal communion and are coeternal and coequal.” -Dr. Bill Gordon, NAMB

“This word [Trinity] does not appear in the Bible. But it is clear that the one God reveals himself as Father, Son, and Spirit (Matthew 28:19). It is a revealed doctrine, not one arrived at by human reasoning. Yet it submits itself to reason.”
-Dr. Herschel H. Hobbs, A Layman’s Handbook of Christian Doctrine, Broadman Press, Nashville; 1974.

Some misunderstand and say Christians believe in three Gods; they do not. The Bible makes it plain that God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29; 1 Timothy 2:5), yet He is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. No one can fully understand the details of the Trinity, but it is taught and revealed in Scripture. Besides, if a lowly human could understand all about God, He would not be God after all. God’s being and understanding are far beyond our understanding.

Scriptural Evidence for the Trinity (there is much more than what is listed here)

While the Bible does not use the term Trinity, it teaches the concept of the Trinity. (Neither does the Bible use other oft used Christian terms: missionary, evangelism, etc.)
1. Obviously, God the Father is God. Psalm 89:26; 1 Peter 1:2, 17; Romans 8:15.
2. Jesus, God the Son, is God. Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1; 20:28; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8 (Psalm 45:6-7); 2 Peter 1:1.
3. The Holy Spirit is God. Acts 5:3-4. The Bible gives characteristics to the Holy Spirit that only apply to God. Psalm 139:7-13; Luke 1:35; Romans 15:19; 1 Corinthians 2:10; Hebrews 9:14.

The Bible describes the Father, Son, and Holy Sprit as distinct Persons.

Several passages speak of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the same context. Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; 1 Corinthians 12:4- 6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 4:4-6; Titus 3:4-6.
 
Illustrations have been used to partially explain or represent the triune nature of God. While none are perfect, perhaps they can give you a hint of the Trinity:
A three leaf clover - it is one, yet three.
A man - he can be a son, a husband, a father.
Water - can be solid (ice), liquid (water), steam (vapor).

God
"There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being."
-Baptist Faith and Message, 2000, the doctrinal statement of the Southern Baptist Convention; full statement can be found at sbc.net.

“God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!”
-Christian hymn Holy, Holy, Holy by Reginald Heber, Baptist Hymnal, 2008, LifeWay, Nashville, TN. Also in many other hymnals.

“Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” -Matthew 28:19

For more information: Jesus Christ is God, and Fights I Didn’t Start and Some I Did (volume 1; great chapter on the deity of Jesus) by R. L. Sumner; biblicalevangelist.org.
 
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 25, AD 2015.

More articles in lower right margin. 

Wine for Your Stomach's Sake; 1 Timothy 5:23

No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. -1 Timothy 5:23
 
This Bible verse has often been misused to justify the recreational use of a mind altering drug (alcohol).

Evangelist Sam Jones told of a man asked by a friend to take a drink. The friend said, “Didn’t Paul tell Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach’s sake?’
The man replied, “Yes, but my name is not Timothy; and even if it were, there’s nothing the matter with my stomach.”

A closer look at 1 Timothy 5:23 reveals no evidence for social or moderate drinking.

First, the wine referred to could have either been fermented or unfermented. The Bible and ancient writings often refer to unfermented wine by the name wine (Isaiah 65:8; Matthew 9:17; etc.).
Modern English translations do so as well.
Ancients knew and practiced multiple ways of preserving unfermented wine. It was available throughout the year. See “Ancient Wine and the Bible” for detailed explanation and documentation of this fact.

Unfermented wine or grape juice has the same, if not more, healthy properties as alcoholic wine; without the harmful side effects.

Health benefits of unfermented wine (grape juice):
1. Contains beneficial antioxidants.
2. Helps protect cardiovascular health.
3. Encourages flexible arteries.
4. Contributes to healthy blood pressure.
-gleaned from Welchs website; 2009, www.welchs.com.
(But watch out for grape juice with “added” sugar.)

“Older men and women who drank fruit and vegetable juices more than three times a week were 76 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those who drank juices less than once a week, a new study shows.” -alzinfo.org; 2006.

“Alcohol is not actually heart-healthy…Red wine contains some beneficial compounds such as flavonoids and resveratrol, a potent antioxidant in the skin of grapes associated with a number of health benefits. Of course, grapes, raisins, berries, and other plant foods also contain these beneficial compounds. You do not have to drink wine to gain these benefits.” -Joel Fuhrman, M.D., The End of Diabetes; 2013.

However, even if Paul was recommending alcoholic wine:
1. He only said a little wine.
2. Strictly for medicinal purposes.
At most, this is only justifying a little alcohol for medicinal reasons. In addition, today there are usually more effective medicinal drugs than alcohol. 
3. It is also interesting that as a pastor, Timothy, for good reason, had been abstaining from wine.

Stomach health note: If you have stomach problems, many authorities have recognized several things that may help: 1. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits. 2. Drink plenty of water. 3. The live culture in yogurt can be helpful. 4. The live culture in un-pasteurized Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar can be helpful. Incidentally, even vinegar is called wine (sour wine) in the Bible. 5. A pinch of baking soda mixed in water can settle an acidic stomach. (But, see a trusted M.D. for proper medical advice!)

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 9, AD 2015.

Alcohol and Cancer

Deuteronomy 14:26 - Does it Commend Alcohol?
Preserving Unfermented Wine in Bible Times
Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow, the book
Dr. R. L. Sumner on "Ancient Wine and the Bible"

Many more articles in lower right margin.

Resources - Alcohol & Drug Abuse Prevention Sunday; March 15, 2015

Alcohol & Substance Abuse Prevention Sunday is the third Sunday of March each year. This year it will be March 15, 2015. Youth and adults need to be warned to stay away from recreational drugs. Please use this opportunity to do so in your church, Sunday School, and Bible Study classes. You may also want to use good quotes, like the one below, in your church bulletin or newsletter. 

Resources:
“Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence” by David R. Brumbelow
“Alcohol Today: Abstinence in an Age of Indulgence” by Peter Lumpkins
Can be ordered at any bookstore.

American Council on Alcohol Problems (ACAP)
ACAAP.us

Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)
wctu.org

Alcohol And Drug Abuse Prevention Sunday - Free Resources

Note: Some observe this emphasis at other times, such as the month of April. Whatever the date, get good information warning about drug use to others.

“The upcoming generations need to know the havoc brought on our society and upon individuals by the use of alcohol. If we use it ourselves, we recommend its use to others. A Christian should not exercise his freedom to put himself and others at such a risk.” -Judge Paul Pressler (quoted in Ancient Wine and the Bible)

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, February 3, AD 2015.


11 Reasons to Not Drink Alcohol
Other Articles (Labels) and Resources in lower right margin.

Why So Many Reject Man-Made Global Warming

Last year a San Antonio Express News editorial supporting man-made Global Warming was published. It lamented the fact that so many still reject this idea. Following are some reasons why so many Americans reject this agenda. 

1. When I was in grade school, I was taught man-caused “Global Cooling” by the same group of scientists and experts. The first Earth Day saw protests against Global Cooling. Then, the same group began teaching the opposite, Global Warming.
  
2. A meteorologist said he had a difficult enough time accurately predicting the weather a week ahead of time; there was no way he could accurately predict the weather for the next 100 years. Yet Global Warming enthusiasts do so on a regular basis.

3. Sea level rise has actually slowed in recent years, despite carbon emissions. Actual world temperatures have consistently been below Global Warming models / predictions.

4. Our area has just experienced two cold fronts, one the end of July, 2014, the other the first part of August. Earlier this year a Global Warming study ship was trapped by miles of new ice, in the summer, in Antarctica. Isn’t it supposed to be getting warmer?

5. Everything is used to prove Global Warming. If it doesn’t snow, it’s because of Global Warming; if it does snow, it’s because of Global Warming. If there is a drought, or flooding, it’s because of Global Warming. Yet these climate changes have occurred for centuries.

6. The polar ice cap is melting. But what they don’t explain is the growing and receding ice cap, has been going on for decades. Glaciers are melting in some parts of the world; yet glaciers are growing in other parts of the world. Recently Artic ice is receding, however Antarctic ice is increasing. And despite dire predictions, the polar bear population is just fine.

7. Weather goes in cycles, yet that fact is easy to forget. While the Houston, TX area usually gets down only in the 20s and 30s F. in winter, we forget it got down to 7 degrees F. in Houston in 1989. Few remember the terrible ice storm of 1951. Few know that Galveston Bay froze over at least two times in the 1800s. We have hurricanes in Texas, then we go for years with no hurricanes. Weather changes, regardless of what man does. Despite the predictions of global warming, we will have another bitterly cold winter. Seems it happens here roughly every 20 to 50 years.

8. Global Warming supporters often ignore the Medieval Warming Period (c. AD 950-1250). Global temperatures rose during this period long before our modern day industry and transportation. And, as cycles go, it also eventually cooled without the help or interference of mankind.

9. The Global Warming experts have changed from Global Cooling, to Global Warming, to Climate Change. When this change is complete, they’ll not have to worry about skewing the records or being sure the world wide temperature is rising. They will only have to demonstrate the climate is changing. Now that is a winner! The climate always changes. Even before the “evil” internal combustion engines and big oil, the climate radically changed, and the weather often goes in cycles. 

For those interested in the scientific evidence, see that evidence and documentation at cornwallalliance.org. See also the book, “The Great Global Warming Blunder: How Mother Nature Fooled the World’s Top Climate Scientists,” by Roy W. Spencer, a former senior NASA climatologist.

I’m against pollution and for wise use of our God-given resources. I’m also for responsible big oil, exploration, drilling fracking, and pipelines. Unless you walk or ride a bicycle everywhere you go, you should be too.

Why not simply judge environmental protection by its merits. Instead of creating a false crisis, let’s just consider reasonable limits to pollution.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, January 26, AD 2015.

Note: This article, slightly revised, was published in the Baytown Sun August 6, 2014. 

More Articles (Labels) in lower right margin. 

Quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for other’s?’” 

“The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But…the good Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’”

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

“I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

“Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education.”

“If a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”

“Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.”

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

“The principle of self defense, even involving weapons and bloodshed, has never been condemned, even by Gandhi.”

“Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.”

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, January 19, AD 2015.

The Roman Road of Salvation
 Nelson Mandela Quotes; and Comments About Mandela
Black Lives Matter; All Lives Matter
Other articles in lower right margin (Labels). 

On Small And Large Churches

If a church is a sincere baptized body of believers meeting to worship, study God’s Word, fellowship, and evangelize, then I am for them. 

If a church believes and preaches the Bible, I am for them whether they are large, small or anywhere in between. After all, aren’t we are all on the same team?

Large churches can do things small churches cannot do.

Small churches can do things large churches cannot do.

Large churches have both pluses and minuses.

Small churches have both pluses and minuses.

There are some bad large churches.

There are some bad small churches.

No church, whatever the size, is perfect.

Some folks are more comfortable in a large church.

Some folks are more comfortable in a small church.
Regardless of size, each church seems to develop its own personality. 

God has a place for every size church if it is preaching the Word.

Some small churches become large.

Over the course of time, some large churches become small.

Because of deaths, people moving away, and other transitions, a church, large or small, usually has to work hard just to stay even.

Some churches, large or small, eventually die.

Even if a church dies, that will never erase the good they did during their years of ministry. None of the churches started by the Apostles are operating today, but they accomplished much for the Kingdom of God. Other churches have risen to take their place.

A large church can give a huge gift to missions.

A number of small churches giving small gifts, combined, can give huge gifts to missions. Through both, many are enabled to hear the Gospel.

It is unseemly for large church pastors to run down small churches or pastors of small churches.

It is unseemly for small church pastors to run down large churches or pastors of large churches. At least they should not run them down simply because they are large or small.

Thank God for the large churches that lead hundreds to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Thank God for small churches that may lead one or two or ten to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When you count how many church members it takes to lead someone to Christ, sometimes the small church may be the most effective, but certainly not always. There are many variables and fruit will vary from year to year, but all should be telling others of Jesus and His salvation.

Regardless of church size, some church fields are more responsive than others.

One church may be more effective in some areas, other churches in other areas. But God can use us all.

Ultimately, God will be the righteous Judge of each church and pastor.

Large and small church pastors have struggles and stress those who are not pastors will never understand. Some of that stress is the same between large and small church pastors, some is different. But all those pastors need our prayers and support.

Being a large church pastor has its advantages and disadvantages.

Being a small church pastor has its advantages and disadvantages.

You can raise a family well in a large or small church. Again, each will have advantages and disadvantages; but if a family is faithful and committed to the Lord, it can be done and done well.

Inevitably some small churches will lose members to large churches.

Often, however, large churches lose members to small churches.

Each can offer things the other cannot; perhaps it all balances out in the end. Regardless, Christ is being preached.

I read somewhere that you will get to know about 50 people well in your church, regardless of it’s size. So, in some small churches, you will know everyone!

Large churches have small groups. Some churches are a small group.

I believe God is honored by a faithful church, regardless of the size.

Some need to repent of their arrogant attitudes against large churches.

Some need to repent of their arrogant attitudes against small churches.

All believers should be a faithful part of a Bible believing church, whatever the size of that church. May God bless you and your church.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, January 1, AD 2015. 

Other Articles:
Church Buildings - Dos and Don'ts #1
Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow; the book
Lester Roloff Letter to Joe Brumbelow / Separation
Conservative United Methodists
Baptists on Tithing
More articles in lower right margin
 

Christmas; Or Happy Holidays, Xmas?

At this time of year some Christians write articles saying the use of holiday and Xmas, instead of Christmas is just fine. After all, “holiday” comes from “holy day,” and the “X” is an abbreviation of the Greek name of Christ. Some say early Christians, under persecution, used the “X” as a secretive way of referring to Christ and Christianity. I disagree. 

I understand “Happy Holidays” is sometimes used to include Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. However, it is also often used to be politically correct and so no one will be offended by the “Christ” in “Christmas.” It is regularly used to secularize Christmas. As a comedian said, “I’m dreaming of a secularized generic holiday.”

I also agree that some Christians can get obnoxious in arguing with store clerks about Christmas. Please use a winsome attitude in wishing someone a Merry Christmas!

I still like “Christmas” as being more understandable, meaningful, and descriptive than “Holiday” and “Xmas.”

A holiday can be as much Presidents Day or Columbus Day as Christmas. Very few would ever stop and consider, or know, that the word began as “Holy Day.” To most it just means a day off work. Holiday has become a generic term.

We may derive comfort that to a very few the X stands for Christ.

But the X seems to be just as secretive today as it may have been in the first or second centuries.

I doubt one in a hundred knows or considers, “Oh, the X in Xmas stands for Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem.”

I also doubt many know much about the ancient Greek language.

Abbreviations are often not understood, so why not take the time and effort to write it out?

Many more Americans understand the name Christ, rather than understand the name “X.”

To many, “X” stands for the unknown. Others may view Xmas as X-ing out the name of Christ.

I would not recommend an evangelistic preacher to go around preaching about X. They might think you’re talking about Malcolm.

So while I may not angrily protest, I do prefer stores have the courage to actually use the word Christmas. Recently I heard the Houston mayor speak of the city “Holiday Tree.” And yes, I suspect she was trying to not offend atheists, non-Christians (who usually have no problem with using the word Christmas), and to be politically correct.

So to all I wish you a Merry Christmas!

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 18, AD (In the Year of Our Lord) 2014.

Articles:
"Merry Christmas" is Preferred by Customers
10 Commandments for Christmas
Young Preachers - Finding a Place to Preach; Part 1
More articles / Labels in lower right margin. 

Quotes On The Free Will Of Man

Some time ago a Calvinist angrily said that there is no such thing as free will in the Bible. He was seriously wrong.

Free will is found throughout the Bible. Every time God gives a command, that command speaks to our free will. Every time Scripture says receive, repent, turn, believe, trust, have faith, call on the name of the Lord, it is speaking of man’s free will.

If man does not have free will:
1. Then men are robots and puppets, doing only what they are instructed, or hard wired, to do.
2. Then God is the author of sin. Some actually openly agree with this statement.
3. Then God does not love everyone; some people God wants to go to Hell.
4. Then God is mocking man, who has no ability to choose, when He commands him to choose, repent, believe, accept.

Without free will, this world becomes a fatalistic puppet show.

I recently told a fellow pastor of how two strong Calvinists had now become atheists. The pastor replied, “There’s not much difference between the two.” I would not go that far, but some have noticed the similarity between hard determinism (man has no free will) and atheistic fatalism. As Kenneth Keathley, author of “Salvation and Sovereignty,” said, “Most determinists are not Calvinists, but atheists and Muslims.”

A few quotes on free will:
“I just happen to believe that God is sovereign enough that He can make a man totally free if He wishes to do so.” -Paige Patterson, president, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX, SBC president.

“Now, if you say that only certain people are elect and only certain people, therefore, can be saved, you take all the ‘whosever’s’ in the Bible and make them a lot of mumbo jumbo. The Bible is full of ‘whosoever will.’”
On Matthew 23:37, “Now, friend, if they could not rather than they would not, this is the biggest charade in history. Jesus is weeping salty tears, and He said, ‘I would, but you would not.’ That’s not unconditional election.”
-Adrian Rogers, SBC president and pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, TN.

“Indeed, it is manifest that every call, every threat, every expostulation, every exhortation in the Bible supposes that man is a free agent. If he be not free, if he be the passive victim of inexorable, irresistible destiny, the Sacred Volume is a compilation of glaring inconsistencies--of sheer downright falsehood and mockery...
If we attempt to explain and reconcile the doctrines of predestination and free agency, we find impassable barriers hemming us in, and sharp adamant striking us back. Their harmony we must leave with God.”
-Richard Fuller, Predestination; 1885. Quoted by Peter Lumpkins at SBCTommorrow. Fuller was president of the SBC. He was a strong Calvinist who also believed in the free will of man.

“And yet, and yet, with us down here in this world, there's no violation of our moral integrity, or our free choice, or the sovereignty of our own lives. The two go together. The great decree of Almighty God leaves me absolutely and perfectly free. I am not bound; I am at liberty. The decree of God has in it my own free choice, and the two are not antagonistic. They go together in the will of God.”
-W. A. Criswell, SBC president, pastor of First Baptist Church, Dallas, TX.

“Reasons that make free will important:
* Without free will, how can we be truly responsible for our actions?
* Without free will, what truth is there in words of praise for another’s efforts, courage or creativity? If the person is simply reacting chemically and has no choice in his or her actions, then such praise is meaningless.
* Without free will, we cannot have any measure of dignity over any other aspect of nature. There is nothing special about being just another cog in a machine.
* Without free will, what value is there to the love we have for another? Similarly, what value is there in friendship? Love is simply one set of chemical reactions to another’s chemical reactions.”
“Scripture has revealed that people are bearers of God’s image. God did not make us mere machines. We have the ability to choose that makes us morally responsible.”
-W. Mark Lanier, Christianity on Trial, IVP; 2014.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, December 16, AD 2014.

You may be interested in these brief books:
“Predestined for Hell? Absolutely Not!” by Adrian Rogers
“An Examination of TULIP” by R. L. Sumner
“What is Calvinism?” by Peter Lumpkins
　
Other articles:
Books on Calvinism, Predestination
Unlimited Atonement, Jesus Died For All
Adrian Rogers on Predestination, Calvinism
Paige Patterson on Calvinism
Roy Fish on Calvinism; part 1 of 2
10 Commandments for Christmas
More articles in lower right margin. 

10 Reasons To Be Thankful

1. The American Pilgrims in AD 1621 had a grateful heart and little else. We seem to have all else, except a grateful heart. Think of all the conveniences you have that the Pilgrims didn’t. Have you thanked God lately?

2. The Pilgrims, while not perfect, came to America seeking God and found Him. We can find Him too, when we seek Him (Isaiah 55:6; Jeremiah 29:13).

3. Just as the Pilgrims had in their day, we have the Bible, God’s inspired, inerrant Word, to show us the way. The Bible is as true and relevant today as it was in 1621.

4. We live in a country where our Presidents have issued Thanksgiving Proclamations through the years. It began with President George Washington, continued with Abraham Lincoln, and continues today.

5. We should be thankful that we live in a country where everyone is free to worship according to the dictates of their conscience. America is a beacon to the world for religious liberty.

6. America is the breadbasket to the world. Not only do we provide enough food for our own people, but also send it throughout the world. No one reading this should go hungry tonight. If you are hungry, there are government and church groups that would be happy to help.

7. America, though not perfect, is the most giving and generous nation in the world.

8. We serve a merciful God who knows all about us yet still loves us and offers us forgiveness. While we were still sinners, Jesus Christ died for us. For that we should be eternally grateful.

9. We should be thankful, because gratitude makes us better people. It is an antidote to selfishness. Adults should practice thanksgiving, and teach it to their children.

10. The Bible tells us to be thankful.

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” -Psalm 107:1

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, November 20, AD 2014. 

Other Articles (Labels) in lower right margin. 

A Brief Word On Atheism And Unbelief

From time to time I receive comments in favor of atheism. Sometimes a long involved argument in favor of atheism. There are some very evangelistic, militant atheists out there. 

On this site I do not intend to go into great detail and debate the intricate arguments for atheism. Some will believe in Christ and the Bible, and some will not. But for the honest doubter with sincere questions about the evidence for Christianity, the Bible, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, I have good news. The evidence is great. I challenge you to consider this evidence.

I would refer anyone with such questions to the books:
 
“I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist” by Norman Geisler & Frank Turek
“Evidence that Demands a Verdict” by Josh McDowell.
“The Case for Christ” by Lee Strobel.
An interesting children’s book is “Yellow and Pink” by William Steig.

As one atheist admitted, “What concerns me is that so many intellectual, brilliant people do believe in God, Christianity, and the truthfulness of the Bible.”

It has been said if you believe the first four words of the Bible (“In the beginning God”), then everything falls into place and makes sense. Reject the first four words of the Bible, and life is meaningless and nothing really makes sense.

While concrete evidence for the literal, bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ abounds (as well as much evidence for the trustworthy nature of the Bible), it is also true that salvation comes down to faith, trust, in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Jesus died for all, and I wish and pray that all may know Him and the power of His Resurrection.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, November 11, AD 2014.   

Lester Roloff Letter to Joe Brumbelow / Separation

Christ is the Answer Roloff Evangelistic Enterprises
Evangelist Lester Roloff
Box 1177
Corpus Christi, Texas 78403
Telephone 882-4211, Area Code 512

September 8, 1982

Brother Joe E. Brumbelow, Pastor
West Heights Baptist Church
633 Scott
Corpus Christi, Texas 78408

My dear Brother,

I appreciate you so much. You’ve been a faithful friend through many years and I’m glad that denominational lines do not stop us from fellowshipping one with another. Thank your people also for the privilege of being there.

May the Lord richly bless you and your family.

Lovingly, In Jesus’ Name,

[Signed] Brother Roloff

LR:ic

P.S. Enclosed is a love gift for you and your family.

***
My dad, Joe Brumbelow, had previously pastored First Baptist Church, Dawson, TX in the area Lester Roloff had grown up. Early in his ministry, Roloff pastored Shiloh Baptist Church in the country outside Dawson. In later years Shiloh disbanded and most joined FBC, Dawson. Brother Roloff preached for Brother Joe at his church in Dawson. Of course, Joe was later pastor at West Heights Baptist Church. Both FBC, Dawson and West Heights were Southern Baptist churches. 

I grew up Southern Baptist, but often heard independent Baptists preach. I remember them regularly sharing pulpits and preaching at the same meetings on the same platforms. The Sword of the Lord under John R. Rice and R. L. Sumner printed sermons of Southern Baptists (both living and past) like R. G. Lee, W. A. Criswell, Vance Havner, Hyman Appelman, L. R. Scarborough, B. H. Carroll and a number of others. Yet some independent Baptists today believe they should separate from and not fellowship with Southern Baptists.

Joe Brumbelow was openly a Southern Baptist. In 1982 he was active in the SBC Conservative Resurgence that made sure Southern Baptists would stand for the inerrancy of the Word of God. Lester Roloff was independent Baptist and obviously knew that Joe Brumbelow had been a Southern Baptist during all of his ministry. Yet Brother Roloff had no trouble preaching at a Southern Baptist church and fellowshipping with Southern Baptists. The above letter plainly demonstrates that fact.

It is also of interest that less than two months after this letter was written Brother Roloff died in a plane crash. Joe Brumbelow, and my brother Mark Brumbelow attended the funeral, or as they called it, “Graduation Service,” at the Convention Center in Corpus Christi. Mark was living in Dawson at the time and also took Aldon Nesmith to the funeral. Aldon Nesmith was a deacon at First Baptist Church, Dawson and was Lester Roloff’s first convert.

Also, Mark Brumbelow tells me the “ic” on the above letter referred to Miss Ida Cavett, Brother Roloff’s secretary.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, November 8, AD 2014.

Note: On the subject of separation, see Fundamentalist Foibles! by Dr. R. L. Sumner. 

John R. Rice and the Sword of the Lord; Part 1

"A Loving God Wouldn't Send Anyone To Hell"

How to Get a Life When Ministry Drains it Out of You

Small Texas Church Takes on a God-Sized Goal

Adrian Rogers on "Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow"

More Articles in lower right margin.  

SCRIPTURE INDEX for Ancient Wine and the Bible

Scripture Index
Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence  by David R. Brumbelow, Free Church Press; 2011

　
Introductory Notes: 
Last week Pastor Steve White of Grace Baptist Church, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, encouraged me to make a Scripture Index of Ancient Wine and the Bible and post it online. It should have been done three years ago. Brother Steve, you convinced me, but you sure cost me a lot of work! Thanks for your nudge for me to do this, also for your encouraging words about the book. 
 
This Scripture Index is made available for you to look up resources on particular Bible passages more quickly and conveniently. I pray they will provide an additional resource to help in taking a Scriptural stand against beverage alcohol. If we revise Ancient Wine and the Bible, this Scripture Index will probably be included.

A handful of pages referred to, may not list the verse, but they reference the verse. So you may not see the chapter and verse on that particular page.

Some pages may just refer to the verse in passing, while others will more directly deal with the passage.

If more than one consecutive page is listed as dealing with a verse, it probably is dealing with the verse in more detail. But not always.

If you notice errors, please let me know and they will be corrected.

Please be aware that important backup and background information about Scriptures about wine may not be listed with each verse. So read and mark up the entire book and resources the book includes.

The Footnotes (p. 281-304) in the back of the book can also serve as an index of sorts.

This Index is not in as neat a format as I would prefer.  Limiting factors include my computer abilities, blogger, and internet hookup. 

A subject and name index, God willing, will be posted later.

Thanks to all who have purchased and are using Ancient Wine and the Bible as a resource. Thanks for all the encouraging comments whether by mail, internet, or in person. They have meant much.

Note:  R. L. Sumner pointed out you can copy the Scripture Index, put it in 3 columns, reduce the print size, and it will fit on one page front and back. You can then print it, fold it, and put it in the back of the book. I’ve done this; if anyone wants a free copy, send me your email or mailing address.  Or, you're welcome to do it yourself. 

 -David R. Brumbelow, P.O. Box 300, Lake Jackson, TX 77566 USA.
nsbc77562@LWOL.com
October 7, AD 2014

　

Genesis 9:20-21 p. 36, 135, 239, 246

Genesis 14:18 p. 121

Genesis 19:30-38 p. 135

Genesis 21:14 p. 34

Genesis 21:19 p. 34

Genesis 24:14-19 p. 34

Genesis 26:18 p. 34

Genesis 27:28 p. 108

Genesis 40:11 p. 18, 24,50, 88, 96, 111, 117, 175, 277, 284

Genesis 43:34 p. 116, 148, 161

Exodus 7:21-24 p. 34

Exodus 12:11 (Passover) p. 41, 59, 173

Exodus 29:40 p. 159

Leviticus 10:8-10 p. 134, 137, 154, 171, 236

Leviticus 23:13 p. 109

Numbers 6:3 p. 156

Numbers 15:10 p. 109

Numbers 18:12 p. 105, 110

Numbers 18:27 p. 108

Numbers 28:7 p. 159

Deuteronomy 2:6 p. 34

Deuteronomy 4:9 p. 241

Deuteronomy 7:13 p. 105

Deuteronomy 14:7 p. 155

Deuteronomy 14:26 p. 99, 112, 153-164, 200, 278

Deuteronomy 18:4 p. 110

Deuteronomy 29:6 p. 155, 159

Deuteronomy 32:14 p. 96, 115

Deuteronomy 32:33 p. 120

Judges 7:6 p. 34

Judges 9:13 p. 78, 105, 120, 195-198

1 Samuel 14:27 p. 198

1 Samuel 30:11 p. 34

2 Samuel 16:2 p. 117

2 Samuel 23:15 p. 34

1 Kings 17:4, 10 p. 34

2 Kings 3:17 p. 34

2 Kings 6:22 p. 34

2 Kings 18:31 p. 34

1 Chronicles 12:40 p. 108, 198

Ezra 6:9 p. 116

Nehemiah 5:18 p. 28, 111, 123

Nehemiah 8:10 p. 107, 111, 120

Nehemiah 9:25 p. 164

Nehemiah 10:36 p. 164

Nehemiah 13:12 p. 110, 111

Nehemiah 13:15 p. 104

Job 22:7 p. 34

Job 32:19 p. 177

Psalm 60:3 p. 120

Psalm 104:15 p. 120, 195-198

Psalm 110:7 p. 34

Psalm 119:83 p. 114

Proverbs 1:31 p. 214

Proverbs 3:10 p. 18, 20, 94, 97, 102, 105, 126, 184, 201, 203, 262

Proverbs 4:17 p. 120

Proverbs 5:15 p. 34

Proverbs 9:2, 5 p. 95

Proverbs 9:4-5 p. 115

Proverbs 20:1 p. 22, 28, 100. 110, 115, 120, 128, 129, 133, 137, 143, 145, 151, 156, 162, 181, 184, 197,262, 297

Proverbs 21:17 p. 115

Proverbs 22:22 p. 169

Proverbs 23:22 p. 168

Proverbs 23:29-35 p. 22, 28, 95, 103, 110, 115, 120, 127, 128, 129, 137, 143, 145, 156, 162, 181, 182, 184, 197, 258, 260, 262

Proverbs 25:16 p. 33

Proverbs 25:21 p. 34

Proverbs 25:27 p. 33

Proverbs 27:9 p. 198

Proverbs 31:4 p. 120, 152

Proverbs 31:4-5 p. 134, 143

Proverbs 31:4-6 p. 162, 241

Proverbs 31:4-7 p. 179-180

Ecclesiastes 7:17 p. 168

Ecclesiastes 9:7 p. 197

Song of Solomon 5:1 p. 48, 117, 120, 159, 161

Isaiah 1:22 p. 34

Isaiah 5:22 p. 95

Isaiah 16:10 p. 18, 20, 94, 96, 104, 126, 184, 201, 203, 262

Isaiah 24:9 p. 112, 155, 161-162

Isaiah 25:6 p. 95, 178-179

Isaiah 27:2-3 p. 112

Isaiah 28:7 p. 137, 238

Isaiah 43:20 p. 34

Isaiah 49:26 p. 107

Isaiah 51:17 p. 207

Isaiah 55:1 p. 121

Isaiah 56:12 p. 162

Isaiah 58:11 p. 148

Isaiah 65:8 p. 18, 20, 78, 112, 120, 126, 184, 203, 215, 262

Jeremiah 2:18 p. 34

Jeremiah 17:9 p. 214

Jeremiah 31:12 p. 109

Jeremiah 35 p. 135, 137

Jeremiah 40:10, 12 p. 78, 113

Jeremiah 48:33 p. 108

Lamentations 2:11-12 p. 113

Lamentations 5:4 p. 34

Ezekiel 44:21 p. 135, 171

Daniel 1:8 p. 114, 137, 241

Daniel 1:12 p. 34

Daniel 10:3 p. 114

Hosea 2:8, 9 p. 105

Hosea 4:11 p. 105

Hosea 9:2 p. 109

Joel 1:5 p. 106

Joel 1:10 p. 96

Joel 2:19 p. 109

Joel 2:24 p. 105, 109, 126, 201

Joel 3:18 p. 116

Amos 4:8 p. 34

Amos 9:13 p. 107

Jonah 3:7 p. 34

Micah 6:15 p. 96

Habakkuk 2:15 p. 137, 143

Haggai 1:6 p. 148

Zechariah 9:17 p. 118, 120

Matthew 5:21-28 p. 169

Matthew 6:6 p. 135

Matthew 9:17 p. 118, 177-178

Matthew 10:42 p. 34

Matthew 11:18-19 p. 151-153

Matthew 16:12 p. 110

Matthew 16:24 p. 15, 137

Matthew 22:37 p. 134

Matthew 26:2 (Passover) p. 41, 59, 173

Matthew 26:26-30 p. 170-175, 204-205

Matthew 26:29 p. 119, 120, 143, 153, 172-175, 174, 179

Mark 2:22 p. 118, 177-178

Mark 9:41 p. 34

Mark 14:22-26 p. 170-175, 204-205

Mark 14:25 p. 119, 143, 153, 172-175. 174, 179

Mark 15:23, 36 p. 26, 96, 119

Luke 1:15 p. 157, 161

Luke 1:47 p. 141

Luke 5:37-38 p. 118, 177-178

Luke 5:39 p. 178

Luke 7:34 p. 151-153

Luke 12:1 p. 110

Luke 22:18 p. 119, 143, 153, 172-175, 179

Luke 22:19-20 p. 170-175, 204-205

John 1:1 p. 143, 234

John 1:12 p. 275

John 2:1-11 p. 139-151, 172, 215, 224

John 3:16 p. 154

John 4:13 p. 34

John 8:32, 36 p. 214

John 8:34 p. 137

John 10:20-21 p. 151

John 15 p. 121

Acts 2:13 p. 90, 93, 98, 106, 175-177

Acts 4:30 p. 143

Romans 3:20 p. 190

Romans 3:21-28 p. 190, 275

Romans 3:23 p. 141

Romans 5:8 p. 275

Romans 6:23 p. 275

Romans 10:9-10,13 p. 275

Romans 11 p. 235

Romans 12:3 p. 131

Romans 14:19,21 p. 134, 137, 217-218

1 Corinthians 3:16 p. 134, 137, 241

1 Corinthians 5:6-8 p. 110

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 p. 134, 137, 241

1 Corinthians 8:9 p. 134, 135, 137, 241

1 Corinthians 10:33 p. 135, 241

1 Corinthians 11 p. 150, 170-175

2 Corinthians 5:13 p. 131, 241

2 Corinthians 5:20 p. 240, 241

2 Corinthians 6:17 p. 181, 241

Galatians 2:16 p. 190

Galatians 3:3 p. 190

Ephesians 4:15 p. 13

Ephesians 5:15 p. 133, 137

Ephesians 5:18 p. 22, 120, 234, 239-240

Colossians 2:16 p. 180-181

Colossians 2:16-17 p. 181

Colossians 2:20-22 p. 180-181

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 p. 130, 131, 156, 169

1 Timothy 3:2 p. 131, 169, 170

1 Timothy 3:3 p. 137, 168-170, 241

1 Timothy 3:8 p. 168-170

1 Timothy 3:11 p. 131

1 Timothy 4 p. 180-182

1 Timothy 4:5 p. 182

1 Timothy 5:23 p. 18, 164-168

2 Timothy 4:5 p. 130, 131

Titus 1:7 p. 137, 168-170

Titus 1:8 p. 131, 169

Titus 2:2-6 p. 131

Titus 2:13  p. 143

Hebrews 4:15 p. 143

Hebrews 9:15 p. 142

Hebrews 9:28 p. 143

1 Peter 1:13 p. 130, 131, 137

1 Peter 1:18-19 p. 171

1 Peter 2:5-9 p. 134, 135, 180

1 Peter 4:7 p. 131

1 Peter 5:8 p. 130, 131, 137, 143

1 John 1:7,9   p. 215

 1 John 2:1 p. 137

Revelation 1:6 p. 134, 180

Revelation 1:8 p. 143

Revelation 5:10 p. 134

Revelation 14:10 p. 119

Revelation 19:16 p. 152

　

Ancient Wine and the Bible: The Case for Abstinence can be purchased at Free Church Press, LifeWay, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, your local bookstore, and many other places on the internet.

Or a signed copy from: David R. Brumbelow, P.O. Box 300, Lake Jackson, Texas 77566 USA, postpaid for $21.

The Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow by David R. Brumbelow ($13) and

Masterpieces From Our Kitchen (Cookbook) by Mrs. Joe E. (Bonnie) Brumbelow ($12) are also available at this address.

The Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow is also available on the internet.

Scripture Index for Ancient Wine and the Bible
© David R. Brumbelow, October 7, AD 2014

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, October 7, AD 2014. 

For more information:
Ancient Wine and the Bible - the book
Wit and Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow, and Cookbook
Dr. R. L. Sumner on "Ancient Wine and the Bible"
Alabama Baptist Review of "Ancient Wine and the Bible"
Dr. Brad Reynolds' Book Recommendations on Alcohol
 

Thou Shalt Not Kill

Thou shalt not kill. -Exodus 20:13; KJV

Many have mistaken this to mean:
1. You cannot kill animals.

In Scripture, however, it is normal to hunt, fish, and raise livestock for food. You should not torture or mistreat animals, but they are provided for food and other resources.

2. You cannot take another human life under any circumstances.

There is, however, justifiable homicide, the justified taking of another human life. Examples: self defense; a just war; a capital offense and a legitimate trial and execution.

Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man. -Genesis 9:6

He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. -Exodus 21:12

If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. -Exodus 22:2

Actually, the above commandment is more accurately translated (from Hebrew) as, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13, NKJV), and most modern English Bible translations do such.

But all human life is sacred. All are made in God’s image.

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. -Genesis 1:27

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. -Romans 12:18

And remember Jesus Christ died for all and rose again, loves all, and desires all to trust in Him as Lord and Savior (John 3:16-18; 1 John 2:1-2; Romans 5:8; 10:9-10; 1 Timothy 2:4,6).

*******

One reason for the above study.

I recently heard a police officer speak of how he had to take a life in the line of duty. While he said it was ruled a justified shooting, he said he would still have to face God, who said without qualification, “Thou salt not kill.” Since it was in a large group setting, I did not get the chance to speak with him about this issue. He obviously had a misunderstanding of Exodus 20:13. Had I or my brother Mark, also present, the opportunity to speak with the police officer, I think we could have put his mind more at ease.

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, October 1, AD 2014. 

Articles:
Gun Control in Light of Connecticut School Shooting
More articles in lower right margin. 

Obituary - Evangelist Freddie Gage

Evangelist Freddie Gage

"Baptist churches had altar calls, tent revivals, all-night prayer services, testimonial meetings and open-air crusades. … We were taught that real discipleship was teaching and training new converts to go reach another lost soul. ... Back then if you were not a soul-winner, you were out of place. Today, if you are a soul-winner, you are out of place. Souls being saved was not only on the agenda, it was the agenda." -Evangelist Freddie Gage, speaking of the glory days of evangelism; BP.


Freddie Gage, longtime Southern Baptist evangelist, died September 12, 2014 in a Houston hospital following an extended illness. He was 81.

Funeral services will be held on September 26, 2014 at 1:00pm at Sagemont Church in Houston, Texas. Gage’s longtime friends and fellow ministers John Morgan, Jimmy Draper, John Bisagno, James Merritt, Johnny Hunt, Darrell Robinson, and Jonathan Falwell will be conducting the service.

Gage’s four sons, Daniel, Paul, Rick and Rodney, all followed their father into evangelism and ministry careers.

Besides his wife Barbara and four sons, Gage is survived by four sisters, 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

The evangelist was born in a charity ward in a Houston hospital and reared by his grandparents in one of the city’s ghettos. By the age of 16, he was a gang leader.

When challenged to attend a revival service at Melrose Baptist Church, Gage was convicted of his sin by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of Evangelist Dan Vestal, Sr. Gage then decided to give his life to his Lord Jesus Christ. Gage’s wife also received Jesus as her Savior at the same service. Not only did Gage find faith that night, he also felt called to preach the Gospel. At age 19, he committed himself to a life of evangelism.

My dad, Joe Brumbelow, knew Freddie in the early years of his ministry in the Houston area. Brother Joe was one of the first pastors to have Freddie Gage preach for him in Revival at Doverside Baptist Church in Houston, TX. While not always agreeing at all points, they were lifelong friends. Freddie Gage, Joe Brumbelow, Larry Taylor, Dan Vestal, and so many others were a part of those glory days of evangelism mentioned above.

Last April, 2014 I visited Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. I noticed a display in chapel dedicated to Evangelist Freddie Gage. Few seminaries have the commitment to revivals and evangelism as Paige Patterson and SWBTS.

You can honor Freddie Gage’s memory by having an evangelist in revival at your church, and by telling someone about Jesus.

For more information:

http://editor.des05.com/vo/?FileID=d74adefc-b1a1-44b3-b44a-ef3197a63f4f&m=f13d0884-376f-45fd-8aad-054bf98c24a5&MailID=28836353&listid=23216

gotellministries.com

http://www.bpnews.net/43362/freddie-gage-6-decades-an-evangelist-dies

Update: Barbara Gage: 

http://www.bpnews.net/50806/sbc-digest-sbc-travel-help-available-to-small-church-pastors-sebts-conf-focuses-on-diversity-in-the-church-barbara-gage-dies-at-82

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, September 16, AD 2014. 

More articles in lower right margin.

New Calvinist President At International Mission Board, SBC

The International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention has just elected a new Calvinist president, David Platt. Some may think it unusual to have a mission president who does not believe Jesus Christ died for the sins of all humanity. 

For those unaware, a 5-Point Calvinist does not believe Jesus died for the world, only for the elect. This view is often called Limited Atonement, or Particular Atonement. Therefore, if Jesus did not die for you, you have no chance to ever be saved and go to Heaven. You never had, and never will have a chance to be saved.

Southern Baptists have always had Calvinist and non-Calvinist (aka Moderate Calvinists, Traditionalists) as a part of their convention. The majority, however of Southern Baptists for over 100 years have believed Jesus died for all, and as the Holy Spirit convicts, all have the free choice of accepting or rejecting Jesus as Savior. In contrast, many Calvinists do not believe in that free choice, or free will, of man concerning salvation.

Dr. Rick Patrick, of Connect 316, has pointed out the following new SBC executive positions in the SBC all lean heavily in the Calvinist direction.

2011 - North American Mission Board - Kevin Ezell
2012 - Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary - Jason Allen
2013 - Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission - Russell Moore
2014 - International Mission Board - David Platt
And, of course, the strongest Calvinist SBC seminary is Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. 

Baptist Press has not said much about David Platt’s Calvinism. I’m awaiting a reply from questions I’ve sent directly to the IMB concerning this.

The following from the more moderate / liberal ABP has this to say about David Platt:

“He has been active in Together for the Gospel, a biennial preaching conference for followers of the so-called ‘New Calvinism’ — popularized by leaders including John Piper of Desiring God Ministries and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler — that emphasizes God’s sovereignty in deciding who is saved.”
http://abpnews.com/ministry/organizations/item/29141-david-platt-elected-imb-president

From all indications, David Platt is a very capable preacher, husband, father. He is a strong supporter of missions. He has many strengths. But some are wondering when the calvinization of the Southern Baptist Convention is going to end. Must all our agency leaders be Calvinists? Some non-Calvinists (Traditionalists, Moderate Calvinists) are feeling alienated in their convention. I’m convinced things will balance out, but I’m not sure when. Just thought you should know. 
*******

Note & Update:
I am now reading articles implying Dr. Platt does not believe in Limited Atonement.

My evidence for the above, however, includes

The ABP story referred to above.

Christianity Today has referred to him as a Reformed Baptist (aka Calvinist).

Several Calvinists themselves have said that Platt believes in Limited Atonement.

At a 2012 Together for the Gospel (a Calvinist organization) conference, Platt preached on Particular Atonement (another name for Limited Atonement). Among his points were, “The atonement of Christ is graciously, globally, and gloriously particular.” He used the same Scripture in the same way as other Calvinists who believe in Limited Atonement.

Saying I believe everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (said about Platt in one news article), does not exclude belief in Limited Atonement. Those who believe in Particular Atonement simply believe the non-elect (those for whom Christ did not die) will never call on the name of the Lord.

I have seen some, not all, Calvinists twist words, be deceptive, and say most anything, to get a job as pastor or other office. Both Paige Patterson and Al Mohler have pointed out this problem. We need to be open, clear, transparent about what we believe. If asked about Limited Atonement, I would have no problem clearly explaining what I believe. Our leaders should have no problem answering it either.

An answer like Dr. Jason Allen gave (I struggle with Limited Atonement) is not sufficient. Let’s be clear about it.

I well remember in the days of the SBC Conservative Resurgence being told by moderates that we all believe the same thing about the Bible. Well, that was obviously not true. Some today seem to want us to think we all believe the same thing concerning Calvinism. Or, that if we just ignore it, it will go away.

If Platt used to, but no longer believes in Limited Atonement, then let us know that.

I have not yet received a reply to questions related to this issue that I sent to the IMB.

As Southern Baptist Texan Editor Gary Ledbetter said, “There are some constituencies that have concerns about the comments and theological statements Dr. Platt has made as a popular speaker and writer - nothing unorthodox but pretty Calvinistic at times.”

There are 5-point Calvinists I greatly admire. But in this day when Calvinism is on the rise in the SBC, especially among our SBC agencies, we need to be open and specific about what we believe.

-DRB; 9-11-2014

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, September 3, AD 2014.


The Calvinists Are Here; Gerald Harris, Christian Index
Books on Calvinism, Predestination
Limited or Universal Atonement by Dr. David L. Allen

Connect316 - A SBC group that believes: God loves every person. Christ died for every person. God wants to save every person. 


  

W. A. Criswell on Calvinism, Predestination

Recently it has been claimed, numerous times, that W. A. Criswell was a five-point Calvinist. This is not true. 

W. A. Criswell (AD 1909-2002) was a leading preacher and pastor for many years.  He was a great preacher of the Gospel, and a conservative leader. A graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, he was influential in the Conservative Resurgence of the Southern Baptist Convention. He pastored First Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas. He was published in the Baptist Standard, Southern Baptist Texan, and the Sword of the Lord. He authored numerous books and served as president of the SBC. His many sermons can be found at wacriswell.com. 

Was W. A. Criswell a Calvinist? Yes, and no. Criswell claimed to be a Calvinist. But he was not the strict, five-point Calvinist some claim him to have been. As one who knew him well said, “He said he was a Calvinist, but he sure didn’t act like one.” Another consideration is that the term Calvinist meant something a little different back in Criswell’s day, than it means to many today. Some old time Calvinists are seeking to separate themselves from some of the New Calvinists.

Dr. Criswell proudly proclaimed himself a Calvinist. But he did not buy into Limited Atonement. He also believed in what some would consider a non-Calvinist view of Free Will. He praised Charles G. Finney, a pariah to the New Calvinists.

Note some of Criswell’s comments below.

God is Sovereign, Man is Free
“Now that, I think, is an ultimate answer for our hearts and our lives about the sovereign, foreordaining, predestinating decrees of Almighty God. He does it, and He runs it, and He chooses, and He elects, and He guides, and He says certain things, and they inevitably come to pass just like it’s written here in the Book. And yet, and yet, with us down here in this world, there's no violation of our moral integrity, or our free choice, or the sovereignty of our own lives. The two go together. The great decree of Almighty God leaves me absolutely and perfectly free. I am not bound; I am at liberty. The decree of God has in it my own free choice, and the two are not antagonistic. They go together in the will of God.”
-W. A. Criswell, Predestination, Acts 27:22-31; 5-23-1954

“God made us morally free. I can curse God to His face. Now isn't that an unusual thing? And a lot of men do it! I can rebel against every edict, every decree, every commandment, every law of God. I can do it! And a lot of men do…
When a man turns down the proper grace of Jesus, I don't understand it. I don't see it. But he has the liberty to do it, the freedom to choose…”
-W. A. Criswell, The Knowledge of the Truth, 1 Timothy 2:1-7; 6-29-1958

God’s Will is that all Come to the Knowledge of the Truth
“As Ezekiel 33:11 describes, "As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked would turn from his evil way and live: oh, turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" That is God; the longsuffering, merciful kindness of our heavenly Father, rejoicing not in condemnation and damnation and the agony of those who are lost, but praying, pleading, waiting, hoping that the lost man will turn and be saved. Oh the longsuffering of God!”
-W. A. Criswell, Lest Any Perish, 2 Peter 3:9; 7-14-1974. 

Used “Into My Heart” and Revelation 3:20 in Evangelism
“I want the Lord Jesus to come into my heart. I want to take Him as my Savior.”
-W. A. Criswell in appealing to the lost during the invitation, John 1:29-37; 4-5-1970, wacriswell.com

“And it’s for you for the having and for the taking. All God asks is that we come and receive it. He can’t give it to us with our hands closed. And He can’t come into our hearts when they’re barred against Him. All that He asks is just the invitation. ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone open the door, I will come in’ [Revelation 3:20]. And He will, and brings with Him all of the rich gifts that only heaven could afford, and they’re for you. They’re for you. They’re for you.”
-W. A. Criswell, If a Man Sin, 1 John 2; 11-13-1960. 

The Great Evangelist Charles G. Finney
“One of the tremendous affirmations of the great evangelist and preacher Charles G. Finney is this; that it is the truth of God that convicts and that saves.”
-W. A. Criswell, The Knowledge of the Truth, 1 Timothy 2:1-7; 6-29-1958

Rejected Limited Atonement
“I’ve never been able to understand how the Calvinists, some of them, believe in a "limited atonement." That is, the sacrifice of Christ applied only to those who are the elect, but there is no sacrifice of Christ for the whole world—when John expressly says He is the sacrifice, the atoning, dedicated gift of God in our lives for the whole world [1 John 2:2]. And it is just according to whether we accept it or not as to whether the life of our Lord is efficacious for us in His atoning death.”
-W. A. Criswell, If Anyone Sin, 1 John 2:1-2; 4-8-1973

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, June 20, AD 2014.

More Articles:
Brief History of SBC Conservative Resurgence
Unlimited Atonement, Jesus Died For All
Adrian Rogers on "Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow"
Adrian Rogers on Predestination, Calvinism
Paige Patterson on Calvinism
Books on Calvinism, Predestination
Judges 9:13 and Alcohol
More articles in lower right margin. 

Adrian Rogers Elected 35 Years Ago

Adrian Rogers; 1988

I was present at the 1979 Southern Baptist Convention in Houston, Texas. Adrian Rogers was elected president, beginning the Conservative Resurgence and Southern Baptists taking an uncompromising stand for the inerrancy of the Bible. I consider it one of the greatest days in the history of the SBC and one of the greatest days of my life. Thank God for Paul Pressler, Paige Patterson, Adrian Rogers, and the other leaders in the Conservative Resurgence. This is important! -DRB
Read more about it:

Adrian Rogers Elected SBC President 35 Years Ago

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Thousands of messengers had arrived in Houston to vote for Adrian Rogers in the presidential election at the 1979 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. Some with limited resources had traveled hundreds of miles and were sleeping in tents in hopes of restoring their denomination to theological orthodoxy.

There was just one problem: It was the night before the election and Rogers wasn't sure that God wanted him to be nominated. When he encountered fellow conservative leaders Paige Patterson and Jerry Vines in a hotel lobby, the three of them, along with Rogers' wife Joyce, went to pray about the matter in Rogers' room.

After hours of seeking God's will, Joyce Rogers, feeling God's leading, signaled to her husband, and he said, "I will do it."

The following afternoon, Rogers, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., was elected over five other candidates on the first ballot with 51 percent of the vote. The Conservative Resurgence had begun.

Thirty-five years later, observers say Rogers, who died in 2005, was the pivotal leader in the SBC's struggle to make belief in the Bible's inerrancy a bedrock commitment of all convention entities -- a commitment that undergirds Southern Baptists' evangelistic outreach at home and abroad.

Inerrancy is the doctrine that the Bible is completely free from error regarding theology, history, science and every other matter to which it speaks. The group who advocated inerrancy and elected Rogers labeled themselves "conservatives," a reference to theology more than political ideology. Opponents of the conservatives -- many of whom held orthodox beliefs but thought theological diversity should be tolerated in the SBC -- were called "moderates."

Frank S. Page, president of the SBC Executive Committee, said he is excited to see a young generation of pastors who believe the Word of God and hold to a high degree of understanding of its authenticity. "I believe that this new reality is directly attributable to great men who stood strong for the Gospel and especially Dr. Adrian Rogers," he said. "His election 35 years ago signaled a grassroots movement that has changed our entire denominational mindset. Thank God for Dr. Adrian Rogers."

'Manning the pumps'

Despite the last-minute decision to run, Rogers was motivated to serve the convention by events stretching back to his days as a student at Stetson University in Florida when he learned that some professors funded by the Cooperative Program questioned doctrines that most Southern Baptists regarded as foundational to the Christian faith.

In one class taught by an ordained Baptist minister, Rogers "heard the great historic truths of the faith demeaned over and over," Joyce Rogers wrote in "Love Worth Finding," a biography of her husband. After class one day, Rogers gathered the courage to confront his professor and asked, "Sir, are you really saved?"

In response the professor defined salvation as "that experience when a man escapes the consequences of a maladjustment to his fellow man" and said, "I don't know if there is a heaven or hell."

Soon Rogers learned that the problem in Baptist life was not isolated to his university.

By the mid-20th century, "the view that the Bible was not the Word of God had become common among professors at Southern Baptist seminaries," Baptist historian Gregory Wills wrote in "Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1859-2009."

Wills explained that for much of the 20th century, seminary administrators tried to persuade the denomination that their professors were orthodox while at the same time trying to persuade professors to conceal their more objectionable views, revealing them only at strategic moments to sympathetic audiences. Southern Seminary professor Bill Hull, for example, was known to hide progressive views in book reviews on modern French or Belgian New Testament scholarship. "I often like to 'bury' such comments in material that will be read only by those who need to see it," Hull wrote in a 1966 letter to Southern Seminary President Duke McCall.

Occasionally, however, Southern Baptists caught a glimpse of what seminaries were teaching.

In 1961, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Ralph Elliott's "The Message of Genesis," published by the Baptist Sunday School Board, argued that some of the stories in Genesis were historically inaccurate, including the flood and the sacrifice of Isaac. Sixteen of the SBC's 28 state paper editors criticized the book, and the 1962 annual meeting in San Francisco adopted a motion expressing "abiding and unchanging objection to the dissemination of theological views in any of our seminaries which would undermine ... faith in the historical accuracy and doctrinal integrity of the Bible."

Eventually Elliott was fired. But C.R. Daley, editor of Kentucky Baptists' Western Recorder journal, said there were many other seminary professors like him.

If Elliot is "a heretic, then he is one of many," Daley said according to a 1983 Christianity Today article. "... Professors in all our seminaries know that Elliott is in the stream of thinking with most of them, and is more in the center than some."

Rogers believed that some seminary administrators were being dishonest about what faculty members believed and that some faculty held views that were unacceptable to the Southern Baptists who funded them.

The problem wasn't isolated to the seminaries. In 1969, the Sunday School Board published a commentary on Genesis by British scholar G. Henton Davies that claimed Genesis 1-11 was not historical and that Abraham was mistaken in his belief that God commanded him to sacrifice Isaac. The 1970 SBC passed a motion calling for the book to be withdrawn and rewritten.

Rogers believed that he faced a choice: leave the convention or lead a change.

"Adrian considered leaving the denomination," Joyce Rogers wrote. "This would be a major step should he do so. It would require his leading his church to come out of the denomination or else resigning. But in his heart he believed something could and should be done. He used this analogy. The Southern Baptist Convention is a good old ship that has taken on much water and is slowly sinking. The choices seemed to be to abandon the ship or to man the pumps. He chose the latter and was ultimately blessed in 'manning the pumps' along with others."

'Rising star' of Memphis

As Rogers was realizing the extent of the problem, other conservatives were realizing what to do about it.

Paul Pressler, a judge in Houston, and William Powell, editor of the Southern Baptist Journal, deduced that the key to changing the convention was winning the presidency. The president appointed the Committee on Committees, which in turn nominated the Committee on Boards (now the Committee on Nominations). The Committee on Boards then nominated trustees of the SBC entities. Conservative trustees could change the entities.

A president who appointed conservatives to the Committee on Committees would lead to conservative trustees in two years. A 10-year string of conservative presidents would lead to all the convention's trustee boards being controlled by proponents of inerrancy -- since only a percentage of trustee seats became vacant each year.

Pressler banded with Patterson and others to translate the plan into action. Traveling the nation, they organized conservatives to elect a conservative president in 1979. Rogers, who had been nominated in 1976 against his will, was an obvious candidate for the job. But part of Pressler and Patterson's strategy was to keep Rogers away from their informal organization so he wouldn't be labelled a denominational troublemaker, hurting his chances at election.

Potential presidential candidates like Rogers, Vines and Charles Stanley "were deliberately kept out of what was happening during the first five years of the controversy," Patterson said in a 1994 interview. "They were aware of it and knew of it but had nothing to do with it whatsoever. That was done on purpose because anybody who was a conceivable candidate for president we deliberately kept at arm's length."

With the 1979 convention approaching, conservatives focused on Rogers. Opponents focused on him too, knowing the coming battle in the SBC would be contentious.

Daley, a moderate, said in a lecture at Southern Seminary five years later, "Some of us saw the rising star out of Memphis named Adrian Rogers -- in my mind the most brilliant of his group, the one who poses the gravest threat to the Southern Baptist Convention. It was obvious that he was to be the king. It was obvious to some of us that he wasn't the kind of king we wanted."

The man to lead

Rogers arrived in Houston believing he shouldn't run. Before a Pastors' Conference session in which Rogers and W.A. Criswell, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, were to preach, Criswell told him, "Lad, you need to let us nominate you." Rogers replied, "Dr. Criswell, I don't believe that's what God wants me to do." Nonetheless, Criswell announced in his sermon, "We will have a great time here if for no other reason than to elect Adrian Rogers as our president" -- a remark that drew loud cheers.

Despite Rogers' reluctance, messengers were already en route to Houston, planning to vote for him, some at great personal sacrifice. Among them was Sheldon Hale, then the 32-year-old pastor of Andrew Baptist Church in Bowling Green, Ky. With a small convention budget from his church, Hale along with his wife and three young children drove cross country to Houston and slept in a tent outside the city.

Hale told Baptist Press that he knew other Southern Baptists who, like him, were concerned about the direction of the convention but didn't have money to stay in expensive hotels near the convention center. They either camped or stayed in cheap hotels far from the annual meeting so that they could cast a vote for Rogers.

"I would do it again," Hale, now pastor of First Baptist Church in Silver Grove, Ky., near Cincinnati, said in an interview. "It was hard to travel with three little ones and be camped out. But not only did we enjoy the time with them and they got to experience the time at the convention, we felt like we were part of history."

With history in the making, God began to change Rogers' mind. First, Bertha Smith, a longtime Southern Baptist missionary to China called him to say, "Brother Adrian, God wants you to do this." Then another missionary to China, Charles Culpepper, sent a message: "Tell Adrian that I have been with God, and he should allow his nomination."

Adrian and Joyce Rogers had devised a system where she would say a number between one and 10 to indicate how confident she was that Adrian's nomination was God's will. The number never rose above five. Yet as Rogers, Vines and Patterson prayed on the eve of the election, Joyce Rogers held up 10 fingers -- and Adrian agreed.

When Rogers was elected the next day, surprise was audible in the hall. Some messengers gasped. Others whooped and embraced. But Rogers, himself a bit surprised, had a sense of God's guidance and purpose.

Following Rogers, an unbroken line of conservative presidencies -- including two more terms for Rogers between 1986 and 1988 -- helped the convention return to biblical orthodoxy in its entities. All agree that the turnaround was not the work of any one man. Still, even his opponents say there was something special about Rogers' election 35 years ago.

Moderate church historian Walter Shurden, who was dean of Southern Seminary's school of theology in the early 1980s, viewed Rogers as the crucial figure in the SBC's conservative movement, which he called "fundamentalism."

"I sincerely doubt ... that fundamentalism could have known its measure of success apart from Adrian Rogers," Shurden wrote. "... No other fundamentalist could rival him as preacher, debater, or intransigent believer. When the leadership of the fundamentalists met for their strategy sessions, the press releases often read, 'Adrian Rogers presided.' He was by far fundamentalists' most capable leader and moderates' most formidable opponent."

SBC President Fred Luter called Rogers a "giant of the faith" and said he helped save the convention.

"Thirty five years ago I was a brand-new Christian sharing the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ on the street corners of New Orleans, trying to transform the neighborhood I grew up in," Luter, pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, said. "At the same time Dr. Adrian Rogers was being elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, trying to transform an entire convention back to believing in the Bible as the true Word of God.

"I shudder to think what our beloved convention would be if not for the courageous stand of Dr. Rogers, Dr. Patterson, Judge Pressler and so many others who stood up for God's Word at a very critical time. May we never forget what this giant of the faith did for the future of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Rogers was truly not only a gift to the SBC but also to the body of Christ."
-by David Roach. bpnews.net

-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor, June 6, AD 2014. 

Other Articles:
Connect 316 Breakfast at SBC, Baltimore
Brief History of SBC Conservative Resurgence
Q & A on SBC Conservative Resurgence, part 1
Differences Between the 1963 and 2000 Baptist Faith and Message
Adrian Rogers on "Wit & Wisdom of Pastor Joe Brumbelow"
Adrian Rogers on Predestination, Calvinism
Judges 9:13 and Alcohol

More articles in lower right margin.