Calvinist Flyswatter

Thursday, July 09, 2009

ROSS-JACKSON DEBATE ONLINE

VIDEOS OF MY DEBATE WITH
BILL JACKSON ON INTERNET

Here is an email I received from Larry Wessels, informing me that he has put the Bob L. Ross-Bill Jackson Debate on the Internet:

Bob,

It took me forever to get this page done but praise God it's done now. I'll be sending this e-mail to my whole e-mail list. Feel free to forward it to your list as well (that should give us some good advertising for your debate videos here).

Blessings,

Larry
1 Peter 3:15--- On Thu, 7/9/09, lawessels@sbcglobal.net

Hello Everyone,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. As you know our ministry, Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater (www.BibleQuery.org, www.HistoryCart.com, & www.MuslimHope.com) is an evangelism & apologetics outreach. Over the years we have done theological battle with about every religious view that opposes the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as found in the Bible. Unfortunately, virtually every cult and false religion uses the Bible in one way or another to support their own erroneous ideas about what the way of salvation is.

Besides battling Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormonism, Atheism, etc. we have done major battle with the current day followers of the "Restoration Movement" founded by Thomas & Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone & Walter Scott back in the early 1800s. Familiar are the names "Church of Christ," "Disciples of Christ," and "Christian Church" which have their origins in the "Restoration Movement." The rise of the cults such as Mormonism come out of this movement as well (download the above attachment for more information on that).

We have done numerous televised debates with "Church of Christ" representatives over the course of the years and I am pleased to announce that we have successfully uploaded some of that material to the internet. Perhaps we will eventually be able to upload all our available material in the future on this subject for those who need this information for evangelism and/or apologetic purposes.

The following is our postings on Yahoo Video & Youtube (you need high speed computer capacity to view these). The Yahoo Video presentations are the complete 1 hour broadcasts while the Youtube presentations are quick 10 minute shows highlighting the big 22 hour debate series on Yahoo Video.

This week long "Church of Christ" debate took place between Bob L. Ross, author of "Campbellism, Its History & Heresies," "The Restoration Movement," & "Acts 2:38 and Baptism Remission" and nationally known speaker & writer Bill Jackson of the Southwest Church of Christ of Austin, Texas.

The following are the url links for the "Church of Christ" Week Long Debate:

#1: Television "Memory Lane" Review
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5409277/14249518

#2: Introduction to Debate
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5410091/14251435

#3: Are Baptists Bad Guys?
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5415196/14264164

#4: Campbellites, Baptists & Birdseed
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5415661/14265309

#5: Alex's "Restoration Pattern"
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5418219/14271540

#6: Plan of Salvation - Synecdoche?
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5420946/14278327

#7: "Ancient Gospel" is Baptism?
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5424029/14286436

#8: Baptism is the Plan of Salvation?
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5426146/14291425

#9: "In Order To Obtain" Remission
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5426959/14293174

#10: Acts 2:38 & How Many Baptisms Needed?
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5427215/14293762

#11: "Church" that Campbell Built
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5431910/14304811

#12: Tombstones & Campbellite History
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5432559/14306320

#13: Early Campbellites Had Beards
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5433998/14309768

#14: Millennial Harbinger & Calvinism
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5439134/14320915

#15: Obey "In Order To Obtain"
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5439457/14321390

#16: Jackson's "Church" Has President
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5439923/14322481

#17: Road Markers and Apostate Baptists
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5440241/14323199

#18: Point of Faith - Dead Before Baptism?
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5440423/14323592

#19: Mechanical Instruments & Obedience
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5443690/14330865

#20: "Greek" Texts & Past & Alien Sins
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5444083/14331979

#21: Ross & Wessels Review Major Points
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5444390/14332403

#22: Ross & Wessels Review Major Points
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5445584/14335094

Here are the urls for the 8 Youtube shorts concerning this same debate:

#1: Is the "Church of Christ" the Real Church? #1 (Introduction)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USLaAdzNWh4

#2: Is the "Church of Christ" the Real Church? #2 (Debate Highlights)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJZjXj7f08U

#3: Is the "Church of Christ" the Real Church? #3 (Video Highlights)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfhuIV4o0_o

#4: Is the "Church of Christ" the Real Church? #4 (Debate Highlights)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ4CgFccylg

#5: Is the "Church of Christ" the Real Church? #5 (Debate Highlights)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJm6B_Vet9k

#6: Is the "Church of Christ" the Real Church? #6 (Debate Highlights)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyg9OqXntsw

#7: Is the "Church of Christ" the Real Church? #7 (Debate Highlights)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akaPVQR6xFY

#8: Is the "Church of Christ" the Real Church? #8 (Campbellism)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-e7QZxXNk4

Feel free to utilize these videos for whatever Christian ministry purpose you may have in mind.

May the Lord bless you,

Larry Wessels
Director, Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater
(www.BibleQuery.org, www.HistoryCart.com, & www.MuslimHope.com)

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

GARRETT DEBATE

STEPHEN GARRETT ANNOUNCES
DEBATE WITH "CHURCH OF CHRIST"

Our friend Stephen Garrett has announced a forthcoming debate with a minister of the "Church of Christ" for two nights, August 13, 14.

Stephen is an experienced debater and has had several public encounters with ministers of the "Campbellite" sect.

Here are the details of the debate:

Debate Reminder
This is a reminder announcement for my upcoming summer debate with John R. Gentry of the "Church of Christ." John is the minister of a church in Galena, Indiana.

Debate in Monroe, N.C. at the location of Emmanuel Theological Seminary and Crossroads Baptist Church at 3300 N. Rocky River Road.

Thursday Night - August 13th, 2009
The Scriptures teach that water baptism is essential for the alien sinner to obtain the forgiveness of his past sins.

Affirm: Gentry
Deny: Garrett

Friday Night - August 14th, 2009
The Scriptures teach that the alien sinner is forgiven of his past sins by faith, before and without water baptism.

Affirm: Garrett
Deny: Gentry

For further information contact Stephen at his web site:
BaptistGadfly

Comments: To have your comments posted, submit them to:
pilgrimpub@aol.com

Friday, July 03, 2009

WHAT'S UP WITH THE FLOUNDERS?

HAS THE FLOUNDERS' CHURCH
PLANTING STALLED IN THE GATE?

Last year, the Flounders [aka Founders, headed by Tom Ascol] announced that the home church, Grace Baptist in Cape Coral, was going to plant a church. Assistant Pastor Timmy Brister erected a website and gave the details of the plans.

From time-to-time, I have consulted the website to see what progress was being made. We were hopeful that the Flounders had at last developed an interest in doing something which resembled the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. But at this point in time, there has been no further report since late 2008 concerning any progress in establishing a church.

It seems that the Flounders have become diverted and are now enamored with "signing on" to Danny Akin's "Great Commission Resurgence," apparently neglecting the work which they had previously announced. As for Akin's GCR, that seems to be something which so far is still an item "on paper" rather than being an active outreach in practical evangelistic endeavor. There has even been some controversy about the GCR on the part of some in the Southern Baptist Convention, despite President Johnny Hunt's promotional efforts.

At any rate, we hope to see more practical progress in the GCR than has been evident in the efforts of the Flounders' leaders in starting a new church. If Johnny Hunt keeps up his efforts, we have reason to believe there will be some noticeable results in the GCR category. Johnny is a "go-getter" and is known for his zealous efforts in getting out the Gospel.

COMMENTS: To have your comments posted, send them to pilgrimpub@aol.com. Do not post them in the combox.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

GARRETT'S 3RD ANNIVERSARY

3rd Year Anniversary

It was in July of 2006 that I began this blog. Thus, I celebrate the completion of three years of the Baptist Gadfly.

I appreciate every reader who has visited and I covet the prayers of all as I continue with my theological writings.

Stephen Garrett
BaptistGadfly

Saturday, June 13, 2009

The Sinner's Prayer

THE SINNER'S PRAYER
By C. H. Spurgeon (1834-1892)

"And the publican, standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner."—Luke 18:13.

Come just as thou art, with nothing of thine own, except thy sinfulness, and plead that before the throne—"God be merciful to me a sinner." This is what this man confessed, that he was a sinner, and he pleaded it, making the burden of his confession to be the matter of his plea before God. . . .

"But," says one, " do you think he knew for certain that all his sins were forgiven? Can a man know that?"

Certainly he can. And there be some here that can bear witness that this is true. They have known it themselves. The pardon which is sealed in heaven is re-sealed in our own conscience. The mercy which is recorded above is made to shed its light into the darkness of our hearts. Yes, a man may know on earth that his sins are forgiven, and may be as sure that he is a pardoned man as he is of his own existence.

And now I hear a cry from some one saying, "And may I be pardoned this morning? and may I know that I am pardoned? May I be so pardoned that all shall be forgotten—I who have been a drunkard, a swearer, or what not? May I have all my transgressions washed away? May I be made sure of heaven, and all that in a moment?"

Yes, my friend, If thou believest in the Lord Jesus Christ, if thou wilt stand where thou art, and just breathe this prayer out, "Lord, have mercy! God be merciful to me a sinner, through the blood of Christ."

I tell thee man, God never did deny that prayer yet; if it came out of honest lips he never shut the gates of mercy on it. It is a solemn litany that shall be used as long as time shall last, and it shall pierce the ears of God as long as there is a sinner to use it. Come, be not afraid, I beseech you, use the prayer before you leave this Hall.

Stand where you are; endeavor to realize that you are an alone, and if you feel that you are guilty. now let the prayer ascend. Oh, what a marvellous thing, it from the thousands of hearts here present, so many thousand prayers might go up to God! Surely the angels themselves never had such a day in Paradise, as they would have to-day, if every one of us could unfeignedly make that confession. Some are doing it; I know they are; God is helping them. And sinner, do you stay away? You, who have most need to come, do you refuse to join with us.

Come, brother, come. You say you are too vile. No, brother, you cannot be too vile to say, "God be merciful to me." Perhaps you are no viler than we are; at any rate, this we can say—we feel ourselves to be viler than you, and we want you to pray the same prayer that we have prayed. "Ah," says one, "I cannot; my heart won't yield to that; I cannot."

But friend, if God is ready to have mercy upon thee, thine must be a hard heart, if it is not ready to receive his mercy. Spirit of God, breathe on the hard heart, and melt it now! . . .

Let us use this prayer as our own now. Oh that it might come up before the Lord at this time as the earnest supplication of every heart in this assembly! I will repeat it,—not as a text, but as a prayer,—as my own prayer, as your prayer. Will each one of you take it personally for himself? Let everyone, I entreat you, who desires to offer the prayer, and can join in it, utter at its close an audible "Amen."

Let us pray,

"GOD-BE-MERCIFUL-TO-ME-A-SINNER."

[And the people did with deep solemnity say] "AMEN."

P.S.—The preacher hopes that he who reads will feel constrained most solemnly to do likewise.
***************
Excepts from C. H. Spurgeon's sermon, Confession and Absolution, New Park Street Pulpit, Volume 4, Year 1858, Sermon # 216, pages 409-416. On the Internet at Spurgeon Archive and Spurgeon's Gems.

Also see, Volume 33, sermon #1949 on Luke 18:13.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Marketing "Church Planting"

THE MERCHANDIZING
OF "CHURCH PLANTING"?

Over the years, I have noticed how some ministers (and even others) seem to have the "know-how" to make merchandise out of various themes by means of conferences, seminars, etc. Themes such as marriage, prophecy, reformed theology, youth issues, finances, etc. etc. have been used so as to attract registration fees from people who have the time and are willing to pay to attend such affairs for whatever they get from them.

Timmy Brister, the sidekick of Pastor Tom Ascol, head of the Flounders (aka Founders Ministries), is an enthusiast for such conferences, and he is now promoting another "church planting" conference.

It seems that Timmy has become more or less an aficionado on "church planting" affairs/studies while very little seems to have been done to plant churches. For the past several months, Tom and Tim have been talking and twittering a lot about church planting, but if they have much to show for all their chatter, we are not aware of it. They know how to plant blogs, twitters, and conferences, but so far have not become known for planting churches.

The conference Timmy is now promoting costs from $365 to $500 for a first-time attendee. Price categories may be consulted at http://www.gca.cc/Seminar_Pricing.htm

It seems that some alleged "experts" -- such as Ed Stetzer -- are making a good living off "church planting" conferences, or at least supplementing their income to a great degree. Such conferences seem to be on the rise, and evidently "thar's gold in them thar hills."

Don't misunderstand -- we are not opposed to planting churches. We would just like to see some results of all the alleged training that fellows like Brister say they are getting. We have seen a few churches planted over the years, and I don't recall that they were planted as a result of "church planting" conferences where fees are paid to listen to the alleged "experts" on the matter.

COMMENTS: Send your comments to pilgrimpub@aol.com

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Further Comment to Challies

REPLY TO TIM CHALLIES:

In a message dated 5/26/2009 4:15:21 P.M. Central Daylight Time, tim@challies.com writes:

Bob, I don't think that's accurate. I believe the majority of my readers would be baptistic (albeit Reformed and baptistic). Tim

Dear Tim:

I took time this morning to do something I have never done before -- that is, I read the Comments on your blog about Lovett's book. I was impressed by several comments which seem to have a rather good perspective on witnessing, particularly those comments by "Victoria."

If truth were known, I think we might realize that a very great number of those who are critical of evangelistic methodology at certain points owe their own awakening or conversion to the efforts of witnesses who may not have used methods which pass muster with the current "Reformed" camp of thinking.

It is rather paradoxical that the man who first proposed establishing the Banner of Truth Trust, and whose wealth made the Banner of Truth Trust a publishing establishment, Mr. D. J. W. CULLUM, was himself converted in what would be viewed as an "altar" type circumstance. The Banner of Truth of July 1971, has a short bio of Mr. Cullum, a multi-millionaire, and it says that "it was while kneeling at a morning service in St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem on Christmas Day, that he received assurance of his salvation in Jesus Christ" (page 2, issue #93).

Ernest Reisinger, a disciple of anti-invitationist Iain Murray and the man who founded the "Reformed" Founders Ministries, even "prayed the prayer of the publican" on the occasion of his conversion (Ernest Reisinger, A Biography, page 20).

Sometime ago, I made a study of sorts of those who are authors of articles which critique "public invitations," the "sinner's prayer," etc., and to the extent that I could discover, the majority of them attribute their own conversion to methods which they now denounce. Some of those article are at this link -- http://writingsofbobross.tripod.com/1toc1.html

Again, Lovett's methodology is far less significant than those of the Reformed camp which practices infant baptism as its "evangelistic" method and alleges that infants born to Christians receive "regeneration" either before birth (per John Frame) or very soon after birth, per Shedd, Berkhof, Sproul, etc.

On the whole, I find the advocates of the Pedobaptist Reformed theology to be foremost in criticizing evangelistic methods of others while they make little to no effort at reaching the lost with any method whatsoever.

Bob L. Ross

COMMENTS: Send your comments to:

pilgrimpub@aol.com

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Comment to Challies

HERE'S A COMMENT I SENT
TO BLOGGER TIM CHALLIES

Tim Challies is highly esteemed as a blogger by the Pedobaptist Hybrid Reformed Calvinist camp (though Tim says he is "not a pedobaptist"). I seldom ever read Tim, so I don't know if he is as good as some seem to think. When I read a few things in the past, it was rather boring than interesting. But then, most stuff by Hybrid Calivinists is boring, isn't it? And Tim seems to be top-heavy on the so-called "Reformed" Hybrid Calvinist views which are about as boring as boring can get.

At any rate, I was referred to Tim's recent post in which he holds up C. S. Lovett's approach to Soul Winning for the amusement of the deadhead Hybrids who, for the most part, don't even make any soul winning efforts and manage to find fault with those who do. After all, when your babies get "born again" either before birth or very soon thereafter, as taught by the Hybrid Reformed Pedobaptists, who needs soul winning?

While Tim has inspired "hoots" from his audience in regard to C. S. Lovett, Tim and his cohorts in Hybrid Reformed thinking stand for many more ridiculous ideas than Lovett ever dreamed of.

Here's a comment I sent to Tim via email:

Dear Tim:

What evils you and others perceive in C. S. Lovett's Soul Winning book are miniscule in comparison to the evils perpetrated by the Pedobaptists in regard to the infant regeneration idea which has filled Pedobaptist churches and pulpits with unregenerates. Get the sawlog out of your own eye before you try to clean out Lovett's.

Bob L. Ross

COMMENTS: Send your comments to:
pilgrimpub@aol.com

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Rapture in May?

DID YOU MISS THE RAPTURE ON APRIL 15, 2009?
THEN LOOSEN YOUR SEATBELT FOR MAY 29, 2009

Some of you will probably remember our female acquaintance, Marilyn Agee, who predicted the Rapture in 1998. [see "Are You Ready for the Rapture '98" ]

Marilyn has evidently been making similar predictions ever since, although I must admit that my interest in keeping tabs on her calculations slumped considerably after she had several misses in 1998. I thought about her a few weeks ago, and checked on her website to see what she was currently predicting, and I discovered that we could expect the Rapture possibly on April 15.

I thought about that and was tempted not to file my Income Tax Return since it would be superfluous should I make the Rapture. But . . . on second thought . . . I cogitated that if Marilyn missed so many times in 1998, she might miss again . . . so I went ahead and filed the tax return. I did not think the IRS would accept the excuse that I was expecting the Rapture!

Now, today, I noticed that Marilyn seems to have deciphered that May 29 of 2009 could be the date for the snatching away of the saints. She says:

"If the 2300-day shortened Tribulation of Dan. 8:13,14 starts on Pentecost, May 29, 2009, the Rapture should take place before or on that day." http://prophecycorner.theforeverfamily.com/

Just thought you might like to be prepared . . . just in case Marilyn finally has figured out what Jesus and the Apostles did not know. Mark 13:32, Acts 1:7.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Garrett on the "Ordo Salutis"

STEPHEN GARRETT PLANS BOOK
ON THE "ORDO SALUTIS"

Stephen Garrett at the BaptistGadfly writes from a creedal Calvinist perspective, which is a contrast to what passes in our time as "Reformed Calvinism" which is generally characterized by the post-Reformation "born again before faith" notion developed by Pedobaptists who contended that their "covenant children" get "regenerated" either before or soon after their physical birth.

Stephen says:

The Ordo Salutis Debate

This is the title of a book I am desirous of completing. I already have lots of research materials collected for such a work and plan to work on it in the months ahead. I desire that the book cover the debate from both an historical and biblical perspective.

I also contemplate having a large section that deals with whether regeneration precedes justification or vice versa. I believe one of the consequences of the "born again before faith" error is that it puts regeneration before justification, which has been the historical position of the Roman Catholic Church. Those "Reformed" and "Hyper Calvinists" who put regeneration before justification have taken, ironically, the position of Rome.

I continue to work, as time permits, on my second volume of "The Hardshell Baptist Cult." I am also preparing for an upcoming debate this summer. So, my "plate is full."

I appreciate all the readers here and their comments. I am nearing my three year anniversary here for the Gadfly (July) and am thankful for the opportunity of having this format to write on Christian doctrine. Your prayers are coveted.

See more of Stephen's materials at the BaptistGadfly.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

BAPTISTS

C. H. SPURGEON
ON THE BAPTISTS

I will now address myself specially to those who are known as Baptists. As for us, the baptized followers of Christ, our ancestry as a body of Christian men is not to be despised. Albeit that the name of Anabaptist has been made the football of reproach because it was wrongfully associated with fanatical opinions, we may rest assured that the more history is understood, the more apparent will it be that those who were the most humiliated were thus treated because they were before their times. They bore the brunt of battle because they led the way!

God forbid that I should induce you to glory in them and so to wear borrowed laurels! Of all pride, I think that to be the most idle which hides its own nakedness beneath the tattered banners of ancestry. I do but dwell for a moment upon our past history to excite you to yet more earnest deeds! Prove yourselves to be these men’s sons by doing their deeds! Otherwise you are bastards and not sons.

In every effort for civil and religious liberty, our fathers were at the front! In the utterance of those Divine Truths of God which have made tyrants and priests quake for fear, they have been among the boldest! Our fathers, for holding to Baptism as the Lord ordained it, suffered at the hands of men who knew no mercy.

Read the rest of the message at www.Spurgeongems.org

Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Year 1875, Volume 21:
THE UNBROKEN LINE OF TRUE NOBLES, No. 1260.

Monday, May 04, 2009

Hypers - Antinomians

MORE FROM STEPHEN GARRETT

Brother Stephen Garrett at the BaptistGadfly has some more enlightening materials which deal with the following themes:

Antinomianism & Hyper Calvinism
New Basis Brethren

Stephen demonstrates that Hyperism and Antinominianism are in fact essentially the same, especially when it comes to the use of "means in regeneration."

COMMENTS for The Calvinist Flyswatter must be sent to:
pilgrimpub@aol.com

Saturday, April 25, 2009

A. Carson on the New Birth

ALEXANDER CARSON ON THE USE
OF THE GOSPEL IN THE NEW BIRTH

Brother Stephen Garrett at the BaptistGadfly continues to bless us with his unearthing of great men of the past who held the Baptist view that men are born again by the Spirit's blessing upon the Gospel in contrast to the Pedobaptist Reformed theory that "regeneration precedes faith."

Such a man was Alexander Carson (1776-1844), a Presbyterian minister who left the Pedobaptist camp and became a Baptist. Stephen Garrett has a couple of recent posts which demonstrate Carson's affirmation of the Gospel in the New Birth:

The great Baptist apologist, Dr. Alexander Carson, wrote the following words in his famous book - "Baptism in its Mode and Subjects." They show that he did not believe the "born again before faith" error.

Read the materials presented by Stephen on the BaptistGadlfy.

COMMENTS: Send all comments for The Calvinist Flyswatter to:
pilgrimpub@aol.com

Friday, April 17, 2009

"New Divinity" or "Hopkinsianism."

"NEW DIVINITY" EXPOSED
BY STEPHEN GARRETT

Stephen Garrett's research has unearthed more background on the "born again before faith" idea of some modern Calvinists. This is material we have not seen before, and I found it quite enlightening. Read the first paragraph, then go to the Baptist Gadfly for the rest of it. -- Bob L. Ross

NEW DIVINITY

It has been the contention of Bob Ross and myself that the idea that regeneration occurs prior to and without faith, and that conversion and regeneration are separate and distinct experiences, is not the original view of the first Calvinists and Reformers, but was a later invention by 18th and 19th century neo Calvinists. This later hybrid or novel invention is part of what historians of Calvinism properly call the "New Divinity." The following work by an able historian demonstrates that the view of the "hybrids" is a novel doctrine among Calvinists, a "New Divinity." The following citations are from "Theology in America: Christian Thought from the Age of the Puritans to the Civil War" by E. Brooks Holifield. This "New Divinity" is also sometimes called "Hopkinsianism."

Read the rest of this article at BaptistGadfly.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

What kind of "church plant"?

THE FLOUNDERS AND THEIR
"BAPBYTERIAN" CHURCH PLANT

Brother Ian Elsasser of our other blog, the Reformed Flyswatter, has been keeping tabs on the "Founders" blogs in regard to their proposed "church plant." Ian observes:

Timmy Brister [of the "Founders Ministries" headed by Tom Ascol] has recommended two Presbyterian resources over the last two days. Yesterday he recommended a podcast interview with the pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church and today he revealed that the Acts Bible Study he has been conducting with Grace Church plant core group is developed by Tim Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church. This is not unusual since he tends to recommend resources that are non-Baptistic (remember the recommended books [by Pedobaptists] on evangelism he gave?). It says much about his and Grace Baptist Church's (aka Founders) preferences. -- Ian Elsasser.

Bob's Comment:

For the past three years, this blog has noted that the consistent pattern of the "Flounders" is "Bapbyterian" in character, a persona imbibed from the founder of the Flounders, Ernest Reisinger. Reisinger combined his obsession with Presbyterianism with the Baptist view on baptism, and this has comprised the "Reformed" ecclesiology-soteriology of the Flounders' movement ever since.

Brister is helping to perpetuate this new-fangled Hybrid among those who are the successors of Reisinger, headed by Pastor Tom Ascol of Grace Baptist Church of Cape Coral, Florida and his associates in the Flounders' parasitical organization. The obvious kind of "church plant" which Brister and Ascol are attempting to develope is of the "Bapbyterian" hybrid variety which tends to put their version of "Calvinism" first and everything else -- including evangelism -- secondary.

Predictably, if and when this "church plant" comes to fruition, it will consequently be just another Hybrid Calvinist entity, dead at the root in regard to soul-winning and evangelism.

Comments: Send all comments to pilgrimpub@aol.com

Friday, April 10, 2009

6th anniversary of translating Spurgeon

SPANISH TRANSLATION OF SPURGEON'S SERMONS

The following is from Allan Roman, Spanish translator in Mexico City, via Emmett O'Donnell here in Texas, who is putting Spurgeon's sermons on the web at http://www.spurgeongems.org/

April 10, 2009

Well, Brother Emmett,

Six years ago today Brother Bob Ross announced the "birth" of your site on the world wide web.

[See the rest of the post at the Reformed Flywatter.]

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Stephen Garrett on Hyperism

HYPERISM & FALSE DICHOTOMY

By Stephen Garrett

Conversion, says the "Reformed" or "Hybrid" ("Hyper") Calvinist, is the act of the regenerated sinner, but regeneration is the act of God. He thus makes both conversion and regeneration to be either an act of God or of a sinner, regenerate or unregenerate, and excludes the idea that they can be both.

The logic of these misguided Calvinists has led them to make distinctions where they ought not, and to make a thing an "either or" case when they ought not.

[For the rest of this article and other recent posts by Stephen Garrett, go to BaptistGadfly]

Hyperism & False Dichotomy
KJV-only Claims
Profiting From Bible Reading
Defining Hyper Calvinism
Farstad on NIV
Akin on the Ordo Salutis
Norris & KJV-only Claims
Spurgeon's Conversion
Effects of Hyper Calvinism
We Can Trust God

Monday, April 06, 2009

Akin to speak for Founders

DR. DANNY AKIN TO SPEAK AT
FOUNDERS' BREAKFAST AT SBC

The annual Southern Baptist Convention is meeting in Louisville, Kentucky this June, and the "Founders Breakfast" which "piggy-backs" the SBC has invited Dr. Danny Akin of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary to be the guest speaker.

I don't know if this is a step forward for the Flounders, or a step backwards for Dr. Akin. The Flounders are committed to a different theology on regeneration than Dr. Akin has published in his book, A Theology for the Church. Also, Dr. Akin endorses the use of "public invitations" whereas Tom Ascol and his Flounders' associates follow the lead of Flounders' founder Ernest Reisinger and Flounders' godfather Iain Murray in repudiating the use of public invitations.

It is understandable that the Flounders eagerly welcome an enhancing association with Dr. Akin inasmuch as the Flounders are apparently struggling to maintain their pretentious identity as being the self-proclaimed representative of the founders of Southern Baptists. Their promotion of Pedobaptist (baby baptizer) Hybrid Calvinist theology on the New Birth and Reformed ecclesiology have not enhanced the Flounders' image with Baptists.

The Flounders have become better known as promoters of the Pedobaptist elements rather than for engaging in the Great Commission which Dr. Akin has been emphasizing of late. The Flounders have always been a non-evangelistic, non-church establishing, proselytizing entity, devoted rather to their version of "reform" and the advocacy of the "doctrines of grace" (Hybrid Calvinist Reformed version).

It is rather paradoxical that Dr. Akin is associating with the Flounders inasmuch as Dr. Akin is seeking to promote a Great Commission Resurgence whereas the Flounders have always been devoted to the peculiar mission of "reforming" churches toward a Reformed theological emphasis which has proven itself to be non-Great Commission in its "ministry" since its beginning in 1982.

Perhaps Dr. Akin presumes that he may be able to help resurrect the Flounders from their relatively dead state as to evangelism and arouse them to the purpose of the church as found in our Lord's Commission. If this is the case, then we can only wish him "Good Luck."

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Friday, April 03, 2009

No "Founders" national conference for '09

No National Founders Conference in 2009

That is the headline on Flounder-in-Chief Tom Ascol's blog for today. Tom gives some "reasons," none of which we would have suspected to be the basic reason.

When the "Founders" was hatched by Ernest Reisinger and a few of his associates in 1982, the primary feature was a "national" conference designed to popularize the "doctrines of grace" per the modern "Reformed" version. This emphasis has been so prevalent across time that it has "worn thin" as an attraction to people other than those who have recently become infatuated with the Flounders' theology.

Also, the Flounders have 28 other regional meetings and fraternals, and these meetings would most likely tend to detract some of the lustre off the national conference. The 2008 national conference was reportedly rather sparsely attended, which one attendant estimated as less than a hundred registrants.

At any rate, this could be a step "forward" for the Flounders, for the less emphasis on "conferences" the more that time and money can be devoted to the true mission of the church -- the winning of the lost and the establishment of churches. Ascol has been talking about "church planting" for a couple of years or so; perhaps it has dawned upon him that "conferences" do not win souls and establish churches.

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Thursday, April 02, 2009

Works of Stephen Garrett

THE RESEARCH WORK OF
STEPHEN GARRETT

I just can't say enough in commendation of the tremendous and valuable research work done by the former "Hardshell" minister, Stephen Garrett at the BaptistGadfly.

I measure my words when I say that no writer with whom I am acquainted has done more to plough-up the "Hardshell" heresies and erroneous scriptural interpretations.

This is especially true in regard to the fallacy of "regeneration precedes faith," or "born again before, without, and apart from faith," a favorite hobby-horse of the modern Pedobaptist Reformed camp, the falsely so-called monergists, and other Hybrid Calvinists. This includes the likes of R. C. Sproul, Iain Murray, Ernest Reisinger, James White, some teachers at Southern Seminary (Louisville), Tom and Bill Ascol, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, and many of the Internet websites which are devoted to a hybrid form of "Calvinism" in contrast to the creeds and confessions of faith.

Surely, Stephen has come to the kingdom "for such a time as this" when Hybrid, Hyper, Ultra, and Pseudo "Calvinism" is rampant on blogs and websites.

Not only so, but Stephen is also an expert on "Campbellism," and has conducted quite a number of Public Debates with some of the representatives of this "twin" of Hardshellism, both born from the same "womb" of Pedobaptist Hyper Calvinism. Though diverse, these two 19th century (1830's) movements represent two aberrant extremes in departing from the creedal view of the Gospel in relation to the New Birth -- the Hardshells teaching the "Spirit Alone" heresy and the Campbellites teaching the "Word Alone" heresy.

A few years ago, it was my privilege to appear with Stephen and Larry Wessels on Larry's "Christian Answers of Austin, Texas" to do a series of TV programs on "Hardshellism." I never fail to learn from Stephen, especially in view of his many years of affiliation with the "Primitive Baptist Church" (Hardshells).

If you are interested in either or both of these, you will find no better source for evaluating and refuting them than from the writings which Stephen Garrett has erected on the BaptistGadfly.

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