Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Kevin Bauder

Bauder to FBF Leaders: “If you wish to model the kind of fundamentalism that really is worth saving, then the time has come”

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“Time to Speak Up” is a bold, timely, provocative, sane word from Kevin Bauder that accomplishes at least three goals:

  1. refutes Danny Sweatt’s recent diatribe (cf. “An Example of a Fundamentalism Not Worth Saving“)
  2. assures young fundamentalists that “Sweatt does not represent historic, mainstream fundamentalism”
  3. challenges fundamentalist leaders (esp. in the FBF) to face this Calvinism-phobia (of which Sweatt’s diatribe is symptomatic) directly and promptly

Update:

  1. John Piper comments on Bauder’s article: “Good Breeze from a Fundamentalist Neighbor“
  2. Justin Taylor in “Fundamentalism 101“: “Slandering fundamentalists is something of an acceptable pastime for evangelicals (not to mention the wider Christian commnunity and culture). But since slander is sin, we’re better off showing respect (even when we critique) and seeking to learn what we can.”

Training Pastors to Think

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Kevin Bauder argues in “Liberal Education” that colleges and seminaries should train pastors to think precisely, namely, to deploy “the skills of grammar, logic, and rhetoric.” Why?

A pastor’s main task is to do the work of the mind. His calling requires him to interpret texts and bring them to bear upon the issues of life. In other words, a pastor is constantly confronting ideas. He stands as a bridge between the ideas in the world of the Bible and the ideas with which his congregation is, or ought to be, wrestling. In short, a pastor’s main work is to think.

Note: Central Seminary emails these essays every Friday afternoon. You can join the mailing list (as well as access the archives) here.

Kevin Bauder on the Dissolution of Pillsbury

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Earlier this week Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, a fundamentalist college in Owatonna, Minnesota, published this announcement:

The Pillsbury Baptist Bible College Board of Trustees has announced that the college will cease academic activities on December 31, 2008. National economic conditions combined with deficits caused by declining enrollment have exhausted Pillsbury’s financial reserves, leaving the college without funds to complete the school year.

[Read more…] about Kevin Bauder on the Dissolution of Pillsbury

Kevin Bauder on Biblical Separation

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Kevin Bauder recently presented a ten-part seminar on “Biblical Separation” at International Bible College in Tempe, Arizona.

    1. Images of Christian Unity: The Flock and the New Humanity (9.16.2008)
    2. Images of Christian Unity: Body (9.16.2008)
    3. The Basis of Christian Unity and Jesus’ High-Priestly Prayer — Part 1 (9.16.2008)
    4. The Basis of Christian Unity and Jesus’ High-Priestly Prayer — Part 2 (9.16.2008)
    5. The Nature of the Gospel (9.17.2008)
    6. The Notion of Fundamentals and Levels of Doctrine (9.17.2008)
    7. Departures from the Gospel and Basic Separation (9.17.2008)
    8. The Whole Counsel and Levels of Christian Fellowship (9.18.2008)
    9. Discipline Offenses in the Church and Beyond (9.18.2008)
    10. The Problem of Indifferentism (9.18.2008)

      I have not listened to the MP3s yet (they are downloading as I type), but I would be surprised if this seminar is not a thoughtful, reasonable, respectful, logical argument for separation as held by historic fundamentalists. Kevin Bauder is a sharp thinker and gifted theologian. If you don’t have much exposure to fundamentalism or if the exposure you’ve had to it has been disappointing, you may be pleasantly surprised with Bauder. (Some of his writings are available here.)

      Kevin Bauder: “Baptist Church Cooperation”

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      Kevin Bauder just finished another thoughtful series of short essays: “Baptist Church Cooperation.”

      1. Introduction
      2. The Associational Principle
      3. The Service Organization
      4. The Approval System
      5. The Preachers’ Fellowship
      6. The Ecclesiastical Conglomerate
      7. The Ad Hoc Model
      8. The End of the Matter

      Note: Central Seminary emails these essays every Friday afternoon. You can join the mailing list (as well as access the archives) here.

      Kevin Bauder: “Fundamentalism and Scholarship”

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      Kevin BauderBauder has finished another thoughtful series of short essays: “Fundamentalism and Scholarship.”

      I’ve combined all 12 short essays into one PDF.

      1. Not Me (January 4, 2008)
      2. What Is a Scholar? (January 11, 2008)
      3. Hazards of Scholarship (January 18, 2008)
      4. Does Fundamentalism Need Scholars? (January 25, 2008)
      5. Does Fundamentalism Have Scholars? (February 1, 2008)
      6. How Do We Get Scholars? (February 8, 2008)
      7. To Make a Scholar (February 15, 2008)
      8. The Scholarly Life (February 22, 2008)
      9. Models of Scholarship (February 29, 2008)
      10. Scholarship and Separatism (March 14, 2008)
      11. The Dual Responsibility of a Christian Scholar (March 21, 2008)
      12. The Christian Scholar’s Christian Responsibility (March 28, 2008)

      Note: Central Seminary emails these essays every Friday afternoon. You can access the archives here.

      Kevin Bauder MP3s on the Gospel

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      Kevin Bauder recently preached a five-part series on the gospel at Bible Baptist Church (apparently downloadable in IE but not Firefox):

      1. What Is the Gospel? (1 Cor 15:1-8)
      2. The Gospel as the Believer’s Motivation (Phil 1:12-26)
      3. The Gospel and God’s Justice (Col 2:13-15)
      4. The Gospel and God’s Love (Rom 5:8)
      5. The Gospel as Liberation (Heb 2:14-15)

      HT: Chuck Bumgardner

      Kevin Bauder: Theology is practical for pastoring!

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      Kevin Bauder persuasively testifies in today’s In the Nick of Time that theology is practical for pastoring. He concludes,

      The best preparation for ministry is rigorously theological. Greek, Hebrew, hermeneutics, and theology are right at the heart of how a Christian leader does his work. I say this, not as an ivory-tower intellectual, but as somebody who’s got his nose bloody in the real world of pastoring and church-planting. There is no substitute for the training that you get in a good theological seminary.

      Note: Central Seminary emails these essays every Friday afternoon. You can join the mailing list (as well as access the archives) here.