Justin Taylor on Steve Lemke's scholarship

Dr. Steve Lemke, Provost at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and featured speaker at this week's "John 3:16 Conference," recently published an article in The Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry (vol. 5, no. 2, Fall 2008), entitled, "What Is a Baptist? Nine Marks that Separate Baptists from Presbyterians." I read the article shortly after it came out and was greatly disappointed. Much of what he included in the article has appeared before and I have already interacted with it here, here, here and here. I resisted dealing with the new article for many reasons. Tim Brister has interacted extensively with the article.

Instead of writing about it, I emailed Dr. Lemke and asked if we could talk about what he has written. I am confident that Dr. Lemke has no desire to misrepresent anyone's theological position nor any historical record. But he has. Due to his busy schedule we have not been able to talk, yet, but I genuinely look forward to the opportunity--not to try to "win" an argument. I quit caring about that long ago. My desire is to understand how he and I can read the same sources and come to such radically different understandings of what they actually say.

Justin Taylor has offered a critique of Lemke's article that is both even-handed and cool-headed. He writes as an "outsider" to the particular SBC angst that exists in some sectors over the rise of reformed theology. He also writes as an accomplished and recognized scholar, whose recent editorial work on the ESV Study Bible will serve evangelicals for generations. Beyond that, Justin is a very well-informed, gracious Christian brother. He has no axe to grind.

His critique of Dr. Lemke's article, though far from exhaustive, is revealing. Upon reading it I was reminded of J.I. Packer's commendation of John Woodbridge's book, Biblical Authority, which is a critique of the popular "Rogers/McKim proposal" on biblical inerrancy. Packer wrote that "exposing shoddy scholarship" is an "unpleasant task" but that Woodbridge's book was "a nasty job nicely done." Justin's critique of Dr. Lemke's article was no doubt an unpleasant task, but it has been carried out in an exemplary manner.

Read it. First read Dr. Lemke's article. Then read Justin Taylor's critique.

Brister cools off Global Warming Debate

Finally, someone has brought much-needed sanity to the recent Global Warming flap in the SBC. Through extensive research and interviews, Timmy Brister has brought together information that cannot be found in any other single source. The combination of cool heads and hot air make for the kind of moderate climate that breeds the kind of seriousness that much of this denominational debate deserves.

I think his post deserves some kind of environmental award.

Brister accepts call to Grace in Cape Coral

Tonight Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, where I serve as Senior Pastor, called Tim Brister to become our Associate Pastor. He has accepted that call and hopes to be on the field the last week of May.

The process has been very deliberate and marked by clear indications of the Lord's guidance throughout. Tim has recently compared it to giving birth.

This picture was taken last week when the Bristers visited Cape Coral and Tim was recommended to the church as a candidate for the office. The response from the church has been enthusiastic. Tonight at the close of our worship service we were able to have a live video chat with him and witness him accept the call in front of the church.

I figured out tonight that Tim is 3 months younger than I was when I was called to come serve Grace as pastor in 1986. We like to pick 'em young and keep long around here! I look forward to the privilege of working along side him for many years, if the Lord wills.

Pray for Timmy and Dusti (and Nolan) as he finishes up his last few weeks at Southern Seminary and prepares to transition to life in the subtropics.

Doing the work of an evangelist at UPS

You must read Timmy Brister's post about an encounter he had this week during his graveyard shift at UPS in Louisville. Determining how to honor one's employer by giving a full day's work for a full day's pay while not overlooking opportunities to speak of and for Christ can be tricky business. Sometimes we don't speak because we are intimidated or fearful. Sometimes we do speak when we should remain silent and our job.

Tim's story points the way forward through his own example of faithful, evangelistic zeal that is wedded to a humble, genuine desire to honor his employer.

Read it and be encouraged and challenged.