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Southern Baptist in NC

Keeping Christ central in the world of Southern Baptists

Jun 12

7

Dr. Jerry Vines the Jerry Rice of the SBC–By Tim Rogers

Posted by Tim Rogers on June 7, 2012
Posted in Baptist Faith and Message 2000 • Baptist Issues • Calvinism • Dr. Jerry Vines  | Tagged With: , ,

Jerry (Dr. Jerry Vines) Rice

Jerry Rice was one of the best wide receivers in the history of the NFL. When he played past the time that many men would be sidelined, Jerry Rice could still make amazing catches and take it into the end zone for a touch down. Jerry Rice was not only noted for his gentle hands in catching the ball but he was also noted for leaving the end zone dances to the younger up start receivers.

Well, we have our own Jerry Rice in the Southern Baptist Convention–Dr. Jerry Vines. Dr. Vines is no longer calling the plays, but he is still the “go to” guy when we need a statesman’s voice. Dr. Vines delivered such a statement yesterday on his Vines Lines blog.  Dr. Vines responded to Dr. Mohler and really called it what it is–an Elephant in the Room.  Dr. Vines expressed a statesmen like attitude and tone in his OP.  He never spoke down or condescending to Dr. Mohler or about Calvinists.

Dr. Vines expressed his concerns on two levels.  First, Dr. Vines senses that Dr. Mohler doesn’t believe those signing the document are astute enough to see Semi-Pelagianism when we read it.  The second concern Dr. Vines expressed is the different breed of Calvinism that is invading our ranks today.  Dr. Vines expressed that he has no desire and is hesitant to engage in a fight with friends. However, as he said, let the discussion begin.  I encourage you to read Dr. Vines words.

He is growing old and he doesn’t have three of the hairs he once had on top of his head, but the old man can still catch the pass and take it to the end zone. In his retirement years I am praying that he doesn’t accept an invitation to Dancing with the Stars.

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Mar 11

9

Is It Time? Part 2

Posted by Tim Rogers on March 9, 2011
Posted in Baptism by Immersion • Baptist State Convention of North Carolina • Campbell University • Conservative Carolina Baptist • Dr. Jerry Vines • Dr. Paige Patterson • Evangelism • Mount Vernon Baptist Church • Orthodoxy • Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary • Uncategorized  | 6 Comments

As this series continues  I want to remind our readers of the prompting that brought this about.  It is based on scripture but also a life lesson found in the song of the 1978 Country Music hit by Kenny Rogers “The Gambler”.

“You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.”

In the last post I lamented how the current leadership is not what was envisioned when I first started coming to conventions back in 1990.  Of course by 1990 the entity leaders in the convention were beginning a downhill journey as SEBTS and others were now enjoying a majority of conservative trustees.  I began at SEBTS in the fall of 1989.  We still had many of the old moderate professors teaching at the seminary and much of the administration was abandoning ship.  As a matter of fact the Admissions Director walked me personally through my interviews with the professors along with Dr. Lewis Drummond and then after telling me I was accepted into the Associate of Divinity program immediately told me he was leaving to go to Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, the moderate seminary that was just getting started.  Which brings me to my next point in this series.

Second, the standards that I was taught when I was in seminary. Read more

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Sep 10

7

Clarification to the Calvinist/Arminian Debate in the SBC

Posted by Tim Rogers on September 7, 2010
Posted in Baptist • Calvinism • Dr. Jerry Vines • Dr. Ken Keathley • Dr. Malcom Yarnell • Dr. Paige Patterson • Dr. Steve Lemke • Reformed Doctrine • SBC Issues • Southern Baptist Convention • SWBTS • Theology  | 12 Comments

Just when one believes the Calvinist-Arminian Debate is over due to nausea induced arguments, along comes a voice of reason.  In the latest White Paper signed by Dr. Paige Patterson, Dr. David Allen, Dr. Malcolm Yarnell, Dr. Ken Keathley, Dr. Jerry Vines, Dr. Richard Land, and Dr. Steve Lemke, we have a Baptist position expressed by Baptist Theologians.  The point that appeals to this writer centers around the fact of who we are.  Whenever we modify Baptist with either Calvinist or Arminian we just left the central tenant of being a  Baptist-the Bible.  The authors of the White Paper certainly express this truth when they write;

As mission-minded and evangelistic Baptists, we are uncomfortable with moving too far beyond scriptural revelation into speculative theological models.

Dr. Vines referred to “simple biblicism” as the place we should remain with the debate.  With this in mind the White Paper reminds us there is an understanding that we have Calvinist Baptists along with Arminian Baptists within the SBC.  But, as the authors expressed:

We certainly believe that Baptists can be Calvinists and they can be Arminians, but we prefer not to allow ourselves to be defined by either of those great positions, because we see something even greater, something that deserves more attention and requires a higher allegiance. Likewise, theologians open to Molinism, such as Bruce Little and Ken Keathley, do their work with a firm commitment to evangelical Baptist convictions. What we are saying is that our own passion for God’s Word, for Christ and for His Great Commission necessarily places every desire for settling the long-running and seemingly intractable Calvinist-Arminian debate to the side. We recognize this is a debate that will continue to be held and should be held in certain restricted venues. However, the debate itself is trumped by our need to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, to proclaim Scripture, and to obey His Great Commission. Moreover, we believe our position is the mainstream Southern Baptist position, as Richard Land said in his chapter, “the Separate Baptist Sandy Creek Tradition has been the melody for Southern Baptists, with Charleston and other traditions providing harmony” (50).

This article brings us back to the central tenet that is needed in this debate.

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Aug 07

18

What are you Preaching on Tomorrow?

Posted by Tim Rogers on August 18, 2007
Posted in Dr. Jerry Vines • Hebrews • Hosea • Sermons  | 22 Comments

It is Saturday morning and I am sitting here running through my blogroll. It seems we are all fried by Fries’ departure from Outpost. (Just a play on words, nothing intended.)

At any rate, I was looking over my sermon earlier as is my usual custom for my Saturday AM quiet time. Hosea is where I find myself as I am preaching through this book on Sunday mornings and Hebrews on Sunday evenings. I find what I am about to do very hard. I know there are others that will parse every word that I will place out here. :>)

I find myself at Hosea 8:1-14 and I am preaching about the rejection of those whose desires are not centered on God. The title of the message is Sowing the Wind The theological foundation is one of worship. In this text I ask the question; “What are the desires that are seen in a person’s life that reveal he or she has rejected God’s covenant?” This rejection is seen in a desire to workship, a desire to be worthy, and a desire to wander. I am looking forward to preaching this message as it is truly burning in my heart.

On Sunday evening I am preaching from Hebrews 11:8-19 on the subject Faith to Surrender. The title of the message is Promise for the Trial. I ask the question of the text; “When we speak of surrender, exactly what do we surrender to do?” The text reveals that we are surrendered to searching and to standing. We are surrendered to searching by listening to God’s promise, living by God’s promise, and looking for God’s promise. Our surrender to standing is seen in the thrill of standing, the testimony of standing, and the test of standing. Now, some of this message may look familiar if you follow Dr. Jerry Vines. Some of his bullets fit in my gun, so I am going to shoot them. It is not his gun that I am using, because I built the gun, but I certainly can use his bullets if they fit. :>)

What are you preaching tomorrow? I would like to know. It may be that I can use your bullets sometime. :>) Leave me a basic outline in the comments and let’s discuss it, or you can feel free to discuss mine.

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