Here is Anthony Carter’s foreword to Thabiti Anyabwile’s newest book just released bye us at RHB “May We Meet in the Heavenly World”: The Piety of Lemuel Haynes.
Years ago I found a friend and hero in Lemuel Haynes. Being Reformed has at times been lonely. When I first began to embrace the biblical and historical theology of the Reformation, I looked and listened around and found no one who looked and sounded like me. Admittedly, this was before the internet boom and the on-demand access to information both contemporary and historical. Nevertheless, the heroes of the Reformation always came up as white European and American. While this is no reason to accept or reject truth, it does cause one to pause and contemplate the conspicuous absence of non-white voices.
Not seeing or hearing overtly Reformed voices within African-American history did cause me to wonder why. If these truths are so rich, biblical, and historical, why did not Christianity within the African-American tradition express them? The absence of voices and faces recognizably like mine made me wonder if God had skipped previous generations and decided to make the glories of the Reformation known to African-Americans only in the latter half of the twentieth century. While this would be unlike God, it was not beyond the realm of possibility. However, I’m thankful that God is wiser and more merciful than I can comprehend.
Unknown to my finite mind and existence, not only had God revealed the truths of the Reformation to past generations of African-Americans, but there had in fact been a long line of learned, passionate, and articulate African-Americans within the Reformed tradition. Once I learned this, I rejoiced in the wisdom and judgments of God to reveal to me that my lonely days were over. Among my long-lost friends and heroes was one of particular encouragement—namely, Lemuel Haynes. In these pages you will learn of him.
I am excited that my dear friend and brother, Thabiti Anyabwile, would take up the subject of our friend Lemuel Haynes. In many ways, Thabiti and Lemuel are a perfect match. As you will find in the following pages, Lemuel Haynes was a thoughtful preacher—so is Thabiti. Haynes was a pastor and a scholar—so is Thabiti. Haynes was passionate for the gospel and its defense—so is Thabiti. Haynes loved the church and sought the comfort of the saints and the conversion of the lost—so does Thabiti.
I rejoice to know that God has given me friends and heroes like Lemuel Haynes and Thabiti Anyabwile. I love them both. I have learned much from them. In reading this volume, I am sure you will too. Enjoy.
Anthony J. Carter
Atlanta, Georgia
