New Year’s Resolution: This Year a Budding Historian!
I have entered a new phase of my life: full-time professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I am deeply humbled and in some ways terrified! But I see it also as an opportunity to be what God has called me to be: an historian.
I wrestled with that calling long and hard. By that I do not mean that I ever fled from being an historian. In some ways it fits me as naturally as my skin! But for a long time, in a church culture that sees calling as primarily meaning becoming a missionary or pastor, I could not believe that this was my calling. I suppose it was not until I was fortyish that I began to accept it as my calling.
Since then I have been learning what it is that God has called me to do—and learning what he has not called me to do. The latter has been especially very difficult, since there is this underground rivulet (or is it a stream?) in my heart that keeps hankering to be more than an historian. But that is my calling—after Christian, husband, dad, and friend.
And then I look at what it means to be an historian—and that daunts me as well! Maybe tomorrow, or the day after, I will begin to be an historian, I think. But I am nowhere near where I should be—and I am in my early fifties!
A fitting new year’s resolution: this year a budding historian!
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January 4th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
There are those of us who travel the King’s highway with you who are thankful that God calls men to this vocation.
It is because of the labors of these gifted servants that the perspective in our rear view mirror is a little clearer and, because of this, our course is charted with a measure more of wisdom and conviction than we might othewrwise possess.
I wonder if the writer of Hebrews, when he penned that 11th chapter, perceived himself as a “historian”.
What a noble task! To devote one’s life to the study of those signposts along the road by which Christ is bringing many sons to glory!!
May God prosper the work of your hands and the fruits of it be enjoyed by many!
January 4th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Thank you!
January 5th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
The field of history, and scholarship for that matter, is in need of a saint of your calibre and spirituality. Having heard you lecture, preach and having read some of your writing, I have always been encouraged by your sense of scholarly integrity, your inviting and accessible conveyance of history and your spiritual approach to historical events. Scholarship is more than “getting the facts straight”—it is thinking rightly about the facts.
As a student of literature, I have benefited immensely from the literary scholarship of C.S. Lewis. He has taught me as much about literature as he has about thinking rightly about literature and life. I can honestly say you have done the same for me and history—Church history or otherwise.
Although I lament loosing you at TBS, I am glad your gifts will be more widely shared with the people of God.
January 5th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Thanks Jeremy. Every blessing for the new term at Hillfields.
January 6th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Michael, congratulations on this change. Just so you know, until I took Church History with you, I disliked any history study with a passion, but through the fulfilling of the calling God has given you to teach history, you brought a love for and appreciation of history to me that I never would have expected. May God bless you in your new position.
January 6th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Keep up the good work! I’m sure the Lord will grant you your dream. Be faithful to the end.
January 6th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Thanks Jim and Trish.
January 7th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Congratulations on the move. May our Father bless you with ever increasing faith and perseverance. I am sure you will be missed in Toronto, but our Father has a view of the broad spectrum and is smiling on your show of faith as you follow His leading.
Blessings from our loving Father and His great Son.
January 8th, 2008 at 10:55 am
As I think about your move from Principal of the Toronto Baptist Seminary to your new role as professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, two proverbs come to mind:
The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps (Pr 16:9).
A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great (Pr 18:16).
As you have followed the passion God birthed in your heart, fulfilling your calling in the spheres where he placed you, today he has given you a privileged position in one of the great centres of learning in our day.
Your full-time presence in the Canadian Reformed Baptist context will be sorely missed, but I am confident that just as God raised you up for just the right time, he will bring others behind you to carry on the work you began.
May God richly bless your work in the coming days. I look forward to reading (and reviewing) that which, in God’s providence, you are yet to produce.
January 11th, 2008 at 2:54 am
Dear David:
Thanks for this. Your friendship has meant much to me, thanks for this encouraging word.
May the Lord bless you richly in the days ahead for his glory,
Michael.
January 11th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Dr Haykin,
Welcome to Southern Seminary! As one of the few students here who is planning on taking several electives in the field of church history/historical theology over the next few years, I look forward to taking one of your electives in the near future.
The sad fact is that many in the church today have little or no clue about the past. Many in the SBC do not know about the great Baptist forefathers such as Spurgeon, Gill, Judson, Carey, Fuller, etc. And unless you are a Landmarkist, many have no clue that the church existed before Billy Graham!
The work of the church historian is vital to the health and well-being of the church today and I am grateful for men such as yourself, Iain Murray, Tom Nettles, Greg Wills, etc. who remind of the great Christians of the past and encourage us as we move forward in our faith. Their struggles and victories show all Christians that we not alone in our struggles. To read that many men, who were far greater than us, struggled mightily with the same temptations and sins and overcame them gives me great encouragement to fight the good fight and persevere in the faith. The church historian gives us a context for how they lived and why they thought the way that they thought. That is why they are needed.
The church historian is not a glamorous position, especially in our ahistorical age, but the church would be at great loss if not for them, and I thank God for their work.
January 12th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Matthew:
As you can guess, I could not agree more. Looking forward to meeting you.
In Christ, Michael.
January 12th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
May I humbly disagree with your resolution. You are not just a “budding” historian, I believe strongly you are in “full bloom.”
May God strengthen you, keep you and use you in this new chapter of ministry.
Praying for you during this transition.
January 12th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Thank you Keith: especially for your prayers and friendship. They are deeply appreciated.
Michael.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Michael,
I am encouraged by your move to Southern. It will give you the time to teach and write more; which is something we sorely need for you. I’ll keep proofing your books if you keep writing them! Your love for the history of the church has continued to motivate and spur me on to good works!
Your friend,
Allen
January 12th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Thank you Allen. Your help has already been a great help. The Lord guide you in this year as well.
Michael.