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Last night a fascinating exchange occurred on, of all places, Twitter.  I believe it exemplified the kind of frank and humble dialogue that needs to take place between those Baptists who might identify more with either the Reformed or the Anabaptist traditions.  Both Dr. Haykin and Dr. Yarnell demonstrated the ability to recognize the flaws and strengths of the historical groups with whom they may identify more or less strongly.  Take note at the end of the dialogue for a special announcement.

Dr. Haykin:

@myarnell: last few days have been thinking much about Calvin’s legacy: so much theol brilliance…but:

@myarnell: those who embrace his soteriological legacy must ask forgiveness from Anabaptist brothers. And why?

@myarnell. Because of his advocacy of the sword as a curb on heresy, esp Anabaptism in both its heretical and orthodox forms.

@myarnell: reading Eamon Duffy’s recent revisionist history of Bloody Mary’s reign has convinced me that some Protestant forebears erred.

@myarnell: they erred by being willing to use the sword to repress error. Like our 18th c forbears who were slave owners, they are flawed.

@myarnell: flawed models. But in so far as they followed Christ soteriologically they are safe guides. But their views of church & state:

@myarnell: the bottom line is still this: I am sorry that some of my Calv. forbears ever used the sword against Anab. brothers.

Dr. Yarnell:

@MAGHaykin Some brilliant thoughts here. Thank you for sharing them.

@MAGHaykin Shall we conclude that some of our Calvinist brothers have acceptable (though not necessarily always correct) soteriology?

@MAGHaykin And that our Anabaptist brothers perceived the doctrines of the church & the ordinances more clearly than our Calvinist brothers?

@MAGHaykin And, finally, that Calvin and the Calvinists were absolutely wrong when it came to the doctrine of religious persecution/liberty?

Dr. Haykin:

@myarnell: I think so: I am a Calvinist soteriologically but the ortho. Anab. saw more accurately NT church life.

@myarnell: And they were spot on re persecution. Calvin failed to reform the horrific legacy of relig persec from the Middle Ages.

Dr. Yarnell:

@MAGHaykin Don’t tell anybody but I actually find much in Calvin that is brilliant too!

Steve Weaver:

Wow, great dialogue between @myarnell and @MAGHaykin! May I suggest an open late night discussion re these matters at the AFCBS conference?

Dr. Yarnell:

@steveweaver Some of the best theology is formed in dialogue, as 1 Cor 14 implies: Anabaptists called it Sittzenrecht or Lex Sedentium.

Dr. Haykin:

If Malcolm is up for it during the Fuller conference in August it would be great to do something re Calvin and the Anabaptists on state-ch.

Problem: is when to do it, we have full schedule. Maybe Wed morning if Malcolm can stay over.

@myarnell and @steveweaver: let me see if we can arrange a mid-morn event. Give me early next week. It would focus on Calvin & the Anabap.

Dr. Yarnell:

@MAGHaykin I have not made my flight plans yet so let me know if you want me through Wed morning.

Since this dialogue ended last night, both Dr. Haykin and Dr. Yarnell have agreed to a late night dialogue along these lines after Dr. Yarnell’s presentation on Tuesday night at this year’s AFCBS conference on Baptist Spirituality.  This dialogue will be open to the Southern Seminary community and the general public and will hopefully model the way two people with differing perspectives on some matters can yet recognize the strengths and weaknesses of one another’s positions.

When: Tuesday, August 25th at 9:00 pm

Where: TBD on the campus of Southern Seminary (probably Heritage Hall or the Legacy Center)

What: An open dialogue with Drs. Yarnell and Haykin on the relative strengths and weaknesses of the Reformed and Anabaptist traditions.

This event will be open and free of charge, but you can register for the conference on which this dialogue will piggy-back here.  There is a great line-up of speakers, a Monday evening banquet meat and there will be several free books given away to those who register for the conference.

Posted by Steve Weaver, Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin.

“Michael Haykin puts today’s financial uncertainties in perspective with a helpful blend of historical and biblical  insight.  This is a tremendous word of encouragement for anyone seeking a sure anchor in these tumultuous times.” John MacArthur

“Difficult financial times remind us that we need to seek the true, eternal wealth that can’t be corrupted by moth or rust - and doesn’t evaporate when Wall Street has a setback. Michael Haykin points the way in this wonderfully encouraging, informative, and easy-to-read booklet.” Phil Johnson

In God We Trust? is available from Audubon Press for $2.79 (30% off retail).  You can order online or call toll-free 800-405-3788 (M-F 9:00-5:00).

Posted by Steve Weaver, Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin.

My son Nigel graduated this evening from Highland High School in Dundas, Ontario. What a privilege to have such a son. What changes he has gone through in the past couple of years. I praise the Lord for giving me such a son.

Pray for him: he is a Christian and will be studying history and classics next year at McMaster University, following in the same academic pathway that his sister Victoria has trod.

Though he told me a year ago that the history of the eighteenth century was quite boring—he preferred Roman history at the time—he is currently fascinated with British imperialism, especially the American Revolution, Banastre Tarleton and James Cook.

Dr. Michael Haykin has reviewed the new book Heroes by Iain Murray.

In this new book from a veteran Reformed biographer and historian, Murray looks at the faith, lives, and thought of a number of well-known figures like Jonathan Edwards and Charles H. Spurgeon, as well as some lesser-known persons like Robert Kalley and William Hewitson (both of whom had a tremendous ministry on the island of Madeira among Portuguese Roman Catholics).

Posted by Steve Weaver, Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin.

Each year the Andrew Fuller Center sponsors a major conference devoted to some aspect of Baptist thought and life.  This year’s conference is scheduled for August 24-25 and has for its theme “Baptist Spirituality:  Historical Perspectives.”  This conference is marked by great speakers, great fellowship, and several free books provided by the graciousness of publishers who sponsor the event.

Featured plenary speakers in 2009 will include: Crawford Gribben, Robert Strivens, Greg Thornbury, Kevin Smith, Tom Nettles, Greg Wills, Gerald Priest, Jason Lee, and Malcolm Yarnell. Other established Baptist History scholars, as well as several Ph.D. students will be presenting papers on the conference theme during the parallel sessions.

Until May 31st, a special rate of $75.00 for regular attendees and $45.00 for students (use code 09303108 when registering) will be available.  You will still be able to register up until the week before the conference, but it will cost $10.00 more.  You can register now by clicking here.  For more information about the conference, including lodging information and a schedule of the plenary sessions, click here.

Posted by Steve Weaver, Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin.

Dr. Haykin was recently interviewed on Moody Radio by Paul Butler about his latest book, The Christian Lover: The Sweetness of Love and Marriage in the Letters of Believers (published by Reformation Trust).  The complete audio feature is available online here.  The interview lasts about seven and a half minutes.

Posted by Steve Weaver, Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin.

Clothing is far more important than our “casual” culture would like to admit. Clothing can never be equated with piety (1 Peter 3:3-4), but nor is it negligible, as the New Testament indicates (see 1 Timothy 2:9-10). It reflects inner attitudes.

For ministers and pastors, my dear friend Don Whitney has some excellent advice. See his article “Clothing Tips for Ministers” here.

A video of Dr. Haykin being interviewed at ETS last November about his recent work published by Broadman & Holman Academic, The Advent of Evangelicalism is now available online.

The Advent of Evangelicalism:  Exploring Historical Continuities is a thorough analysis of David Bebbington’s 1989 book, Evangelicalism in Modern Britain: A History from the 1730s to the 1980s which put forth the idea that evangelical religion is the result of transatlantic revival in the 1730s, and that it took a working together attitude toward the Enlightenment rather than a contradictory one. Today, Bebbington’s thesis has gained international acceptance, and scholars from Europe and North America present a review of its primary arguments and conclusions here in The Advent of Evangelicalism (B&H Academic, 2008).

Contributors include: David W. Bebbington, Joel R. Beeke, John Coffey,Timothy George, Crawford Gribben, Michael A. G. Haykin, Paul Helm, D. Bruce Hindmarsh, David Ceri Jones, Thomas S. Kidd, Timothy Larsen, Cameron A. MacKenzie, A. T. B. McGowan, D. Densil Morgan, Ashley Null, Ian J. Shaw, Kenneth J. Stewart, Douglas A. Sweeney, Garry J. Williams, and Brandon G. Withrow.

Posted by Steve Weaver, Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin.

Dr. Stephen Nichols recently offered a brief review of Dr. Michael Haykin’s recent book The Christian Lover on the Reformation 21 blog.

Posted by Steve Weaver, Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin.

Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual Conference of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies at Southern Seminary (August 24-25, 2009).  The theme this year is “Baptist Spirituality: Historical Perspectives”.  Featured speakers will include: Crawford Gribben, Robert Strivens, Greg Thornbury, Kevin Smith, Tom Nettles, Greg Wills, Gerald Priest, Jason Lee, and Malcolm Yarnell. Other established Baptist History scholars, as well as several Ph.D. students will be presenting papers on the conference theme during the parallel sessions.  A special early conference rate is now available through the end of May.  For more information about the conference, including schedule, registration costs, and the opportunity to register online, click here.

Posted by Steve Weaver, Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin.