Flounders plant a blog
FLOUNDERS ANNOUNCE PLANTINGOF ANOTHER BLOG
I received an email from a reader who called my attention to the fact that Flounders' assistant, Timmy Brister, and Flounders' head, Tom Ascol, have launched what they call a "church planting" blog, http://sowinggrace.com/
It is said:
"In order to facilitate discussion, provide resources, and encourage those involved in church planting, a new blog was created called Sowing Grace. Tom Ascol and I will be addressing issues related to church planting directly related to our church planting center but also indirectly to anyone who finds the information profitable."
The gentleman who wrote to me asked if either Ascol or Brister had ever planted a church, and I replied as follows:
The only "planting" that Ascol and Brister have done -- at least, to my knowledge -- is the planting of blogs and twitters. If either one has planted a church, I am not aware of it. They recently have talked a lot, read a lot, and conferred a lot about church planting (according to their writings), but if anything like a church has been planted they have not mentioned it.
The "purpose" of the Flounders has always been to allegedly "recover the Gospel" and "reform" churches, and if they are now going to try to "plant" churches, we hope they can do a better job at this than they have done in their orginal purpose.
posted by Bob L. Ross @ 9:37 PM
5 Comments:
FLOUNDERS VISIT
SOUTHEASTERN
My attention has been called to the fact that Tom Ascol of the Flounders will speak at the Chapel of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
We wonder what Ascol can contribute to the student body at SEBTS?
"Church planting" talk seems to be the current "talking point" of the Flounders' blogs and twitters, but neither Ascol nor his sidekick, Timmy Brister, ever planted any churches -- so far as we know. However, they do believe and advocate Hybrid Calvinism on "regeneration precedes faith" and they do not believe in "public invitations" ("altar calls").
I suppose the churches which they allege they are interested in planting would likewise stand for the Hybrid Calvinist "Reformed" theory on the new birth, and would not practice the use of invitations. Would this be the kind of "church planting" Ascol would desire for SEBTS students?
Bob said:
I suppose the churches which they allege they are interested in planting would likewise stand for the Hybrid Calvinist "Reformed" theory on the new birth, and would not practice the use of invitations. Would this be the kind of "church planting" Ascol would desire for SEBTS students?
Bob:
I think your assessment is correct. Concerning this visit to SEBTS, Mr. Brister said:
"On Thursday after lunch, I will be hanging out in the rotunda of the Jacumin-Simpson building talking with students about church planting with the convictions of being distinctively Baptist, confessionally Reformed, and missionally driven and are looking to invest their lives in planting and multiplying churches North America."
One must read "confessionally Reformed" in light of what the Founders have advocated over the years which has included the teaching of regeneration before faith and the repudiation of public invitation systems.
Brother Bob, Hello!
So SEBTS will host the head of the SBC's leading church splitting "ministry." This is truly amazing and a "downgrade" for SEBTS.
SEBTS should not in any way associate with a man whose "disciples" have split more Baptist churches than anyone since Alexander Campbell!
Charles
SEBTS DOWNGRADE?
Charles said...
So SEBTS will host the head of the SBC's leading church splitting
"ministry." This is truly amazing and a "downgrade" for SEBTS.
HELLO, Charles!
Glad to know you are still alive and well! Your comments have been missed.
Yes, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has shown itself "Flounders Friendly" again. Remember, they participated in a "Bridge to Nowhere" conference awhile back, and now Broadman/Holman has published the book containing the speeches. This has given the Flounders more favorable publicity than they have merited.
President Akin and some Faculty members with whom I am acquainted by correspondence do not share the complete Hybrid Calvinist package with Tom Nettles and some others at Southern Seminary, but their "playing footsies" with the Flounders is rather disturbing.
A few months ago, I replied to one of the SEBTS Faculty and said:
"You fellows over there at SEBTS gave the Flounders a lot of credibility and a lot of free publicity by the 'Bridge to Nowhere' Conference.See HERE
The Broadman salesman was in the store today and he showed me the Catalog where they are now publishing and promoting the book, which gives even more embellishment to the Flounders. Until you fellows at SE take a stand against the hybrids, I will wonder what's going on there.
"I understand why you would defend your seminary, but I'm still waiting to see in what direction it eventually will go. I don't think SE can play 'footsies' with the promoters of Reformed hybrid Calvinism and expect to gain the confidence of Baptists who hold to confessional Baptist views on doctrine."
Bob said:
"The "purpose" of the Flounders has always been to allegedly "recover the Gospel" and "reform" churches, and if they are now going to try to "plant" churches, we hope they can do a better job at this than they have done in their orginal purpose."
Bob:
I hope they remember that they are novices and exhibit some humility in this whole area rather than acting as though they are leaders and teachers. Normally those who write books, give seminars, and promote church planting in writing are those who have experience in the area, having been involved in the planting of a church or churches.
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