Southern Baptist Theology in the Twentieth Century: a Denomination Coming of Age

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Southern Baptist Theology in the Twentieth Century: a Denomination Coming of Age SOUTHERN BAPTI S T THEOLOGY IN THE LATE TWENTIETH CENTURY Southwestern Journal of Theology Volume 54 Spring 2012 Number 2 EDITOR -IN -CHIEF Paige Patterson, President, Professor of Theology, and L.R. Scarborough Chair of Evangelism (“Chair of Fire”) MANAGING EDITOR Malcolm B. Yarnell III, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Director of the Oxford Study Program, and Director of the Center for Theological Research Ass I S TANT EDITOR S Jason G. Duesing, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and Assistant Professor of Historical Theology Keith E. Eitel, Professor of Missions, Dean of the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions, and Director of the World Missions Center Mark A. Howell, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church Daytona Beach Evan Lenow, Assistant Professor of Ethics and Director of the Riley Center Miles S. Mullin II, Assistant Professor of Church History, J. Dalton Havard School for Theological Studies Steven W. Smith, Professor of Communication, Dean of the College at Southwestern, and James T. Draper Jr. Chair of Pastoral Ministry Jerry Vines, Jerry Vines Ministries Joshua E. Williams, Assistant Professor of Old Testament EDITORIAL Ass I S TANT W. Madison Grace II Cover photography by Matthew Garrett Yarnell Southwestern Journal of Theology invites English-language submissions of original research in biblical studies, historical theology, systematic theology, ethics, philosophy of religion, homiletics, pastoral ministry, evangelism, missiology, and related fields. Articles submitted for consideration should be neither published nor under review for publication elsewhere. The recommended length of articles is between 4000 and 8000 words. For information on editorial and stylistic requirements, please contact the journal’s Editorial Assistant at journal@ swbts.edu. Articles should be sent to the Managing Editor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 22608, Fort Worth, Texas 76122. Books and software for review may be sent to Managing Editor, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 22608, Fort Worth, Texas 76122. Please direct subscription correspondence and change of address notices to Editorial Assistant, P.O. Box 22608, Fort Worth, Texas 76122. Change of address notices must include both the old and new addresses. A one volume subscription in the United States is $27. An international subscription is $32. Southwestern Journal of Theology (ISSN 0038-4828) is published at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas 76122. Printed by Branch-Smith Printing Inc., Fort Worth, Texas 76101. For the contents of back issues and ordering information please see www.BaptistTheology.org/journal.cfm. © 2012 CONTENT S Editorial . 126 Malcolm B. Yarnell III Southern Baptist Theology in the Twentieth Century: A Denomination Coming of Age . 129 david S. Dockery Herschel Harold Hobbs: Pastoral and Denominational Expositor-Theologian . 132 James Leo Garrett Jr. From Denominational Statesman to Rejected Leader; From Neglected Author to Recovered Author? . 141 James Leo Garrett Jr. Theological Drift—World War II–1979 . 150 Paige Patterson Roping the Whirlwind—A Renaissance Plan . 165 Paige Patterson To Rejoice or Not—An Assessment . 184 Paige Patterson Book Reviews. 201 Southwestern Journal of Theology • Volume 54 • Number 2 • Spring 2012 Southern Baptist Theology And a Parting Reflection Malcolm B. Yarnell III Managing Editor [email protected] The Southern Baptist Convention at the end of the twentieth century was characterized by growth in mission and excitement over theology. The growth in mission was represented in the evangelistic aspirations expressed in the Bold Mission Thrust adopted by the convention. The excitement over theology was recapitulated in the report of the Peace Committee led by Charles G. Fuller and adopted by the convention. This issue of the South- western Journal of Theology focuses on that second aspect of Southern Baptist life in the latter half of the twentieth century, our theology. This journal is an appropriate venue for rehearsing Southern Baptist theology in the late twentieth century, because Southwestern Seminary often took center stage in that doctrinal drama. (This editorial is also an appropriate venue for some final words from this editor, of which more below.) David S. Dockery introduces the issue through outlining the histori- cal context of the Southern Baptist Convention as it entered and processed through the twentieth century. During this century of growth, the conven- tion truly had its “coming of age,” bureaucratically as well as theologically. Next, James Leo Garrett Jr. contributes two essays on Herschel Harold Hobbs, a genuine Southern Baptist “Father” whose Biblicist production and steady leadership in the 1960s and 1970s cannot be overlooked. Next, Paige Patterson offers three essays detailing his perspective on the conservative re- naissance of the Southern Baptist Convention, a movement that dominated denominational ideas and events throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The issue ends with a collection of critical book reviews written by faculty and gradu- ate students from Southwestern Seminary and other theological institutions around the world. This issue also draws to a close my ministry as editor for this journal. When originally tasking me, President Paige Patterson required three major implementations: 1) the speedy recovery of three years of prior issues previ- ously neglected, 2) the restoration of a thematic approach to the journal is- sues, and 3) the creation of a new design that would appeal to pastors as well as scholars. Nine publications from volume 48.2 through 52.2 were dedi- cated to recovering the serial integrity of our journal with themes ranging from “British Baptists” to “The Family” and “Missiology” to “Biblical Inves- Editorial 127 tigations.” The redesigned journal issues began with 53.1 on the “Dead Sea Scrolls” and have featured, alongside the quality academic material, sermonic contributions, attractive cover art, and a monographic touch. During that time, we have seen the subscriptions of the journal recover dramatically and continue growing. Amidst this vivid recovery, we thank God for the ministry of Madison Grace, Editorial Assistant for this journal, who has also been my coworker in, inter alia, the theological studies division, the Center for Theo- logical Research, BaptistTheology.org, and the Oxford Studies Program. While each issue has been personally important to this editor, this par- ticular one prompts a flood of warm memories. First, the three contributors, as Southwesterners, have played important roles in my own theological de- velopment. James Leo Garrett Jr. is a longtime theological mentor, having guided me into a career in systematic and historical theology with his char- acteristic Southern gentleman’s demeanor. Garrett’s personal and academic gravity and grace are unrivalled by any living Southern Baptist, as so many colleagues will attest. Paige Patterson was a theological teacher and political counselor long before and after he became my seminary’s president. It has been a distinct pleasure to work close beside him these nine years in things biblical, evangelistic, Baptist, and Anabaptist. David Dockery, also a South- westerner, has been a personal and professional confidant for more than two decades. Dockery’s voluminous writings have covered the gamut of theology, culture, and education, and his burgeoning legacy as an institutional and denominational powerhouse is, Lord willing, incomplete. A second reason for warm memories concerns the subjects of this is- sue. Many of the theologians and leaders mentioned herein have provided personal inspiration over the years. The first time I heard Herschel Hobbs preach, our church saw three people converted to Christ, including a senior citizen leaning on his cane and a young man provocatively decorated with an earring. Hobbs had the ability in the same sermon to speak to the budding Christian theologian and all manner of lost human beings, for he was pas- sionate to speak God’s Word clearly. As for the convention sermons of such luminaries as W.A. Criswell and Jerry Vines, mentioned in Dr. Patterson’s conservative memoir, the written word cannot properly convey how powerful their spoken words really were in challenging one generation while forming the next. A third reason for pleasant thoughts will be found amidst the book reviews. If the late twentieth century was the coming of age of the Southern Baptist Convention, the twenty-first century will be the coming of age of her intellectuals. Read the book reviews carefully, for some are faculty members at Southwestern, and the theological and practical expertise of these gospel ministers are unsurpassed anywhere. Other reviewers are today’s doctoral students who will be tomorrow’s teachers. Their biblical worldviews suffuse their scholarly approaches to biblical studies, theology and history, philoso- phy and ethics, missions and evangelism, and preaching and pastoral studies. It is in the hands of God to choose the next generation of Southern Baptist 128 Editorial leaders, but I pray he chooses the likes of Madison Grace, Matt Ward, Ben- jamin Hawkins, Ched Spellman, and John Mann to stand beside the likes of David Allen, Jason Lee, Matt Queen, and James Wicker to further the biblical legacies of Herschel Hobbs, W.A. Criswell, James Leo Garrett Jr., and Paige Patterson. Southwestern Journal of Theology • Volume 54 • Number 2 • Spring 2012 Southern Baptist Theology in the Twentieth Century:
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