U2's new album

A few days ago I read a fairly negative review of U2’s new album, No Line on the Horizon. Not sure why I ever heed such without first checking the item in question. My assistant, the "Invaluable Mr. Weaver," played me a couple of songs from the album on Friday last as he drove me to the Louisville airport. I was hooked. I have really liked some of U2 in the past, but this album is tremendous, with some hard-hitting, haunting tunes and memorable lyrics.

“Magnificent,” for example, is stellar and a powerful witness to the electing love of God.

To read a post by Steve Weaver about the new album click here.

Special Subscription Offer for Eusebeia

The Andrew Fuller Center publishes a semi-annual journal featuring articles and book reviews related to Baptist history and thought.  Subscriptions to the journal are available yearly for $30 ($35 international).  Payment can be made to “The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.” Please send subscription requests and payment to:

The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary 2825 Lexington Road Louisville, KY 40280

Free book offer

For a limited time, all who subscribe, following the instructions above, and mention this offer in their correspondence will receive a free copy of Dr. Haykin's A Cloud of Witnesses:  Calvinistic Baptists in the 18th Century.  This book is a collection of nine biographical sketches with a prologue by the late pastor David Fountain. It relates the story of ongoing faithfulness among eighteenth-century Christians namely Hercules Collins, William Mitchel, Anne Dutton, Abraham Booth, John Ryland Jr, John Thomas, Coxe Feary, Samuel Pearce and John Sutcliff. It also tells of the blessing that came to their communities later in that century. It is a story that will thrill, encourage and challenge the readers.

When we receive your payment and subscription information, we will send out a copy of the most recent issue of Eusebeia (volume 9 on Andrew Fuller) and your free copy of A Cloud of Witnesses.  If you are already a subscriber, or already have issue 9, you can simply indicate which issue you would like for your subscription to begin.  This way everyone can take advantage of this great offer.

Our next issue (volume 10) will feature articles on the Puritans and will be published in the near future.

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

A study guide for C.J. Mahaney's book on humility

Some friends of my wife and I have started a reading circle in which we intend to read together, over the course of four-month blocks, a book for edification and fellowship. We have begun with C.J. Mahaney’s Humility: True Greatness. I hope to put under the Books & Papers link the study guide we are creating for this book. The first set of questions will be there shortly. I do this in the hope that these questions will encourage others to study about, and long for, this vital virtue.

UPDATE:  The study guide for chapters 1-2 of Humility:  True Greatness has been posted online on the Books & Papers page, under Study Guides.  SW

Dr. Haykin Interviewed on 'Renewing Your Mind'

On today's Renewing Your Mind program, Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin was interviewed by John Duncan about his newest book, The Christian Lover, published by Reformation Trust.  Listen here (after today you may have to look in the "Audio Archives" for the February 13th program).

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

Pondering Emerson's individualism

“Insist on yourself; never imitate.” So Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) in 1841. Before now I had read only a sermon of Emerson. But today I bought Barack Obama, The Inaugural Address (Penguin, 2009), a kind of keepsake edition. And combined with it were three addresses by Abraham Lincoln—his two inaugural addresses and The Gettysburg Address—and also Emerson’s Self-Reliance, which has the above quoted statement. It is so Western, so quintessentially Enlightenment. And in one key sense, so fundamentally non-Christian. It militates against mentoring and advocates individualism to the highest degree. Yet, for me, Christianity increasingly is learning a path from others who have gone before. Hebrews 11 is so central to my vision of what it means to be a Christian. Of course, there is a place for doing what God has called you specifically to do—but Emerson’s thought is a plea for dismantling all the authorities and carving out your own philosophical vision.

To me, the whole project is horrifying and I understand why Emerson’s contemporary John Henry Newman (1801-1890) reacted so strongly against it and ended up embracing the authority of Rome. While I do not think that is the answer, his rejection of such rank exaltation of the individual is instinctually correct.

"Stupid security and dissipation"

One of my monthly delights is to receive the monthly newsletter of The John Newton Project (www.johnnewton.org) edited by Marylynn Rouse. In the latest she has this quote, it could be describing our day to a tee: John Newton in a letter to William Wilberforce on March 19, 1795 noted: “My heart is pained by the prevalence of sin and misery, and the evidences of God’s displeasure, against a nation that has long enjoyed and long abused, more light, liberty and prosperity, than was ever vouchsafed to any people upon the face of the earth. And even now that his hand is so awfully lifted up, they will not see. Stupid security, and dissipation prevail everywhere.”

120 years ago, roughly 75% of people in Ontario sat under an evangelical ministry. What is it today? 7%? Are we not in the same situation of the inhabitants of 18th century England?

"All the Vulgarity of a Methodist Teacher" or sheer brilliance?

Not everyone in Fuller’s day regarded Andrew Fuller with a favourable eye. There were, of course, theological opponents like John Martin of London. And then there were writers like David Rivers who, in his Literary Memoirs of Living Authors of Great Britain (London: R. Faulder, 1798), I, 201-202, described Fuller as “the author of several Religious Tracts written with all the Vulgarity of a Methodist Teacher. He has written a controversial pamphlet against Socinianism, which displays a very small share, if any, of education or talent.” This blogger begs to differ and sees many of Fuller’s works as sheer brilliance.

Audio Interview with Haykin and Whitney

Dr. Haykin is involved, with Dr. Don Whitney, in the development and teaching of the first Ph.D. program in spirituality in the US in a non-Catholic school, and the first D.Min. program in spirituality in an SBC seminary. If you'd like to read about these new doctoral programs in Biblical Spirituality at Southern Seminary, click here. To hear a seven-minute interview with Drs. Haykin and Whitney on the Moody Broadcasting Network's Prime Time America radio program about Southern's new doctoral programs in Biblical Spirituality, click here. Once there, go 1:20:00 into the program where the interview starts.

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

The history of nonsense is...

I was in a different Barnes and Noble today—the one on Glades Road in Boca Raton. Man, some of you will think I live in Barnes and Noble! This time I noticed another great quote but failed to take note of the book it was in.

“Nonsense is nonsense; and the history of nonsense is scholarship.”

LOL! Priceless and how true at times!

Dr. Haykin's Latest Book: The Christian Lover: The Sweetness of Love and Marriage in the Letters of Believers

Dr. Haykin's latest book, The Christian Lover: The Sweetness of Love and Marriage in the Letters of Believers, has just been released by Ligonier's Reformation Trust publishing arm.  In this volume, Dr. Michael A. G. Haykin declares that “reading expressions of love from the past can be a helpful way of responding to the frangibility of Christian marriage in our day.” To that end, he brings together letters from one or both parties in twelve significant relationships from church history. The correspondents include such notables as Martin Luther (writing to his wife Katie), and John Calvin (expressing to friends his grief over the death of his wife Idelette). Lesser-known writers include Helmuth von Moltke, who wrote to his wife as he faced execution as the hands of the Nazis in 1945. The contents range from courtship communications to proposals of marriage to final words before dying, but most have to do with the events of everyday life. Dr. Haykin provides an introduction to each set of letters and draws practical applications for today’s believers based on the expressions of love made by the correspondents. In the end, The Christian Lover is a celebration of marriage, an intimate window into the thoughts of men and women in love with both God and one another. To view the Table of Contents and read a Sample Chapter click here.

The book retails for $15.00 and is available for a 20% discount ($12.00) from the publisher.

The book is available from Amazon.com for $10.20.

Westminster Bookstore is offering the volume for $9.90 (34% off).

But the best deal is available from Reformation Heritage Books, where they are offering a 50% discount ($7.50) until tomorrow afternoon at 5:00 pm.

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

A Review of Vital Signs of a Healthy Church by Guy Chevreau

Dr. Haykin recently discovered and reviewed a book by Guy Chevreau, who had previously authored a book defending the Toronto Blessing movement, titled Vital Signs of a Healthy Church.  A Diagnostic.   To read the book review click here.  A list of other book reviews may be accessed 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.

Nakedity, corporeality and classical Christianity

One of the deepest ironies of the Ancient World is that the Judaeo-Christian tradition, which has a manifest taboo about nakedity (outside of marriage), also has a deep respect for the body (it will be resurrected, for one), while Graeco-Roman paganism, which was shameless in its display of nudity, had a very low view of the worth of the body. The popular Greek saying sōma sēma, “the body is a tomb” well sums up this low view of the human body. In this respect, Gnosticism, with its overt hatred of bodily existence, is flat-out Hellenization. While orthodox Christianity, with its championing of corporeality, is proving its resistance to cultural accommodation on this issue.

Free Thomas Chalmers Offer

Michael Ives is making a great offer on his blog:  West Port Experiment".  He is offering a chance to win a free copy of John Mackay’s Thomas Chalmers: A Short Appreciation. For more information see below:

One main purpose of this blog is to  facilitate renewed interest in Thomas Chalmers, the great 19th century Scottish preacher, churchman, and social reformer.  I am convinced that he needs to be rediscovered again, A Short Appreciationespecially in the place of his spiritual birth - the Reformed community.

As a small contribution to getting the word out, I’ve decided to make a special offer.  I am going to give away 5 copies of W.M. Mackay’s Thomas Chalmers: A Short Appreciation randomly to church leaders or those preparing for the ministry.  For the next two weeks, from today until January 21, anyone who would like to get a free copy can enter the drawing by e-mailing me (michael@reformedparish.com) with your name & e-mail address.  If you are selected, I’ll let you know on Jan. 22 and will then request your mailing address.

If you aren’t a church leader, feel free to check back in a week.  If I don’t get many responses, I’ll open it up to anyone.

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

A Great Baptist History Site and Journal

Nathan Finn has posted at Between the Times about a new issue of The Journal of Baptist Studies:

The 2008 edition of The Journal of Baptist Studies has now been published. JBS is an autonomous, peer-reviewed scholarly journal in Baptist history and historical theology that was launched in 2007. JBS is an online journal that is published once a year, normally in early December. JBS is part of a broader website titled Baptist Studies Online, which also includes Baptist primary sources, links to Baptist study centers and archival repositories, and announcements related to the field. Southeastern Seminary provides financial support for Baptist Studies Online and JBS.

The Table of Contents for the 2008 edition of JBS is listed below:

The Journal of Baptist Studies Volume 2 (2008)

Editorial

Articles

“Service is Not Slavery: A Review of Recent Literature on Women in the Southern Baptist Convention” By April Armstrong, pp. 2-15

“Southern Baptist Faith in Black and White after World War II: An Examination of Recent Monographic Literature” By Edward R. Crowther, pp. 16-26

“The 1919 Statement of Belief and the Tradition of Confessional Boundaries for Southern Baptist Missionaries” By Jeffrey R. Riddle, pp. 27-43

Book Reviews

Chute, Anthony L. A Piety Above the Common Standard: Jesse Mercer and Evangelistic Calvinism, by Steve Weaver

Flynt, Wayne. Alabama Baptists: Southern Baptists in the Heart of Dixie, by John A. Nixon

Nettles, Tom J. By His Grace and For His Glory: A Historical, Theological and Practical Study of the Doctrines of Grace in Baptist Life, by Tony Chute

Shurden, Walter B. Not An Easy Journey: Some Transitions in Baptist Life, by Nathan A. Finn

Stricklin, David. A Genealogy of Dissent: Southern Baptist Protest in the Twentieth Century, by Aaron Weaver

Thompson, James J. Jr. Tried as by Fire: Southern Baptists and the Religious Controversies of the 1920s, by Mark Rogers

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

"No sacrifice too great": Basil Manly on being a seminary professor

Exactly one hundred and fifty years ago, Basil Manly, Jr (1825-1892), one of the four founding faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, entered upon what he came to consider his life’s great work, namely his teaching and mentoring students at Southern. Manly’s commitment to theological education can be gauged by words he had written in a letter to a leading Baptist layman in South Carolina, John B. O'Neall, in which he stated that the “cause of theological education is one dearer to me than almost any other and I esteem no sacrifice too great for its promotion.” [Basil Manly, Letter to John B. O’Neall, September 13, 1856 (Manly Collection of Manuscripts, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Archives)].

“No sacrifice too great”: O that I might share this conviction—yes, with due regard to other responsibilities in my life—but for those of us whom God has called to do theology and be involved in the mentoring of aspiring pastors—O may I have a due sense of the weightiness of this calling and its joy and its cost.

I dare not say it is the calling of callings—I only know that it is the path God has laid out for me. And may I be diligent this year in the duty of my calling.

PS My thanks to Dr Greg Wills for drawing my attention to this text.

A Word from the Director: 2008 in Review and Looking Ahead to 2009

This year was an eventful one for the Andrew Fuller Center. As most of you know, this year marked the transition of the Center from Toronto to Louisville since I began serving as Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in January, 2008. I am deeply honored to be serving in this capacity and thrilled to be able to work alongside godly, scholarly colleagues and to teach students passionately committed to the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus. With this move to Louisville a change in personnel was needed to facilitate the work of the Andrew Fuller Center at the new location. Steve Weaver assumed the position of Research and Administrative Assistant to the Director for the Center, a position previously admirably filled by Mr. Allen Mickle. With Mr. Weaver's assumption of duties in July, the Center's full transition to Louisville was finally complete.

In the summer the Center published our ninth issue of Eusebeia. The theme was "Reading Andrew Fuller" and largely featured papers from the 2007 Annual Conference. At two hundred pages, this issue is the largest issue of Eusebeia published by the Center and features several excellent articles on the literary and theological influences on Andrew Fuller by leading evangelical scholars (including Tom Nettles, Carl Trueman, Jeff Jue, and Barry Howson).  If you would like to order a copy, please contact us at andrewfullercenter@sbts.edu.

At the end of August, the Center hosted its second annual conference at SBTS. The theme this year was the "17th Century British Baptists" and featured presentations by Baptist scholars from both sides of the Atlantic (including R. Albert Mohler, Tom Nettles, Malcolm Yarnell, Austin Walker, Larry Kreitzer, and James Renihan). It is hoped that these papers will be published in a forthcoming volume in Paternoster's series on Baptist History and Thought. The complete audio from this conference is available online for free MP3 download here.

In mid-November, the Center sponsored yet another event on the campus of SBTS. It was a mini-conference celebrating the life and thought of John Milton on the quatercentenary of his birth. This mini-conference featured a biographical sketch of Milton, followed by presentations on his poems by Timothy Paul Jones and James Orrick, both of whom teach at Southern. The audio for this conference is also available online for free in MP3 format here.

The coming year promises to be a full one, DV. We will have the annual conference in August with the focus this year on Baptist piety. We are looking forward to some splendid lectures at that time by such scholars as Crawford Gribben and Robert Strivens (both from the U.K.), Greg Thornbury and Greg Wills, and Jason Lee and Malcolm Yarnell (both of whom will speak on John Smyth and the General Baptists). Do plan on joining us. In April we also hope to do a mini-celebration of the life of John Calvin (it is the quincentenary of his birth this year) on the campus of Southern. We also hope to publish two issues of Eusebeia, the first of which is to focus on Puritanism.

Hopefully this year will also witness the publication of the first two volumes in the critical edition of the Works of Andrew Fuller, which is being published by Paternoster Press. The first volume should be Fuller's memoirs of his close friend Samuel Pearce, which I am editing and which will be ready by the August conference, followed in the fall by Fuller's The Gospel Worthy of All Acceptation, being edited by Robert Oliver. Other books in the works this year by the Director include a collection of love letters by Christians called The Christian Lover (Reformation Trust), a collection of essays on Abraham Booth (whom Fuller highly esteemed), a book on Calvinistic Baptist Spirituality (Paternoster Press), and hopefully a collection of papers that I have done at various times in the past on Andrew Fuller.