New Book by Thabiti Anyabwile

Thabiti Anyabwile, who is a pastor in the Cayman Islands, has written a book called The Decline of African American Theology: From Biblical Faith to Cultural Captivity. The publisher, InterVarsity Press, has this to say:

In this book, Thabiti Anyabwile offers a challenging and provocative assessment of the history of African American Christian theology, from its earliest beginnings to the present. He argues trenchantly that the modern fruit of African American theology has fallen far from the tree of its early predecessors. In doing so, Anyabwile closely examines the theological commitments of prominent African American theologians throughout American history. Chapter by chapter, he traces what he sees as the theological decline of African American theology from one generation to the next, concluding with an unflinching examination of several contemporary figures. Replete with primary texts and illustrations, this book is a gold mine for any reader interested in the history of African American Christianity. With a foreword by Mark Noll.

I want to know more of what the Lord has done in and through African American believers in the past and would love to see that work continue today. To that end Brother Anyabwile has written his book. In his own words:

I'm thankful for the generations of African American Christians who have left some deposit for the faithful. And I'm thankful for the generations of Christians from other ethnic background with whom they have interacted and shared the faith once for all delivered to the saints. I'm thankful that the Lord has allowed us to live in this time that we might learn from the times previous. And I'm thankful for IVP for publishing this book and hopeful it contributes to the ongoing reformation of the church.

This book should fill a great need in the church, and I look forward to getting a copy.

See also his book The Faithful Preacher: Recapturing the Vision of Three Pioneering African-American Pastors.

Review of The Faithful Preacher here.

New Book by Thabiti Anyabwile

Book Review--The Faithful Preacher

Anyabwile, Thabiti M. The Faithful Preacher: Recapturing the Vision of Three Pioneering African-American Pastors. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2007. Paperback, 192 pages. $15.99

Purchase – Crossway, CBD, Amazon

Special Features: Notes, Scripture Index, General Index

ISBNs: 1581348274 / 9781581348279

LCCN: BR563.N4 A59

DCN: 277.3/08092396073

Subjects: Church History, Preaching, African Americans

Thabiti M. Anyabwile is senior pastor of First Baptist Church, Grand Cayman Islands. He formerly served as an assistant pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.

What makes for a faithful preacher? To whom do we look for examples? The preachers to whom we usually look are the likes of John Calvin, George Whitefield, Jonathan Edwards, Robert Murray M’Cheyne, and Charles Spurgeon. But, of course, there are many others to whom we can look. Thabiti Anyabwile turns our attention to three unexpected but fascinating examples of faithful preachers: Lemuel Haynes, Bishop Daniel A. Payne, and Francis J. Grimké. In this book, Anyabwile provides a brief biographical sketch of each of these men with samples of their printed sermons that have gone on in obscurity for far too long. This book is written for the church, pastors, and congregations alike. We all are responsible for the gospel ministry in one way or another. Of course, preachers will gain the most from reading this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have been dressing wounds from its sharp challenges over the past few weeks. I highly recommend this book to preachers. (Please read the rest of my review here…)

Book Review--The Faithful Preacher

Public Inter-Faith Dialogue in Dubai with Thabiti Anyabwile

Inter-Faith Dialogue, Who is Jesus in the light of the holy Bible and the holy Quran, between the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and the Christian Fellowship Club (CFC) at the University of Wollongong in Dubai.

I came across the video listed above and have now finished watching it. Thabiti Anyabwile was invited to present for the Christian side and did a fine job. From what I have read, which has been brief, Bro Anyabwile is a converted Muslim. He showed great familiarity with the Qu'ran as he presented his arguments and special care when answering questions about the Bible.

The Muslim representative, I did not get the name, did an impressive job as well. I've never had the opportunity to hear a Muslim speak about his faith, but this was amazing. I was shamed by his having memorized, not only passages from the Qu'ran and Bible in Hebrew, Arabic, Greek and English, but he also gave precise chapter and verse references. This is a young man and one who has given himself completely to his religion.

The Muslim student panel seemed to have done their homework in preparing questions, and the Christian student panel didn't seem to know what to say. This was a bit embarrassing. However, the Lord gave Bro Anyabwile numerous opportunities to give solid, clear answers to some hard questions. He also took advantage of many opportunities to share the glorious Gospel. Praise the Lord!

I hope to watch this again. It's about 2.5 hours long, but very worthwhile.

Public Inter-Faith Dialogue in Dubai with Thabiti Anyabwile