The Kindnesses of My Lord Jesus

Twenty-five years ago, I walked into an examination room at the Theology Faculty of University of Oxford to defend my dissertation. I shook, fearing Oxford’s Professor of Reformation History and the Archbishop of Wales would return this boy from the swamps of Louisiana to his home without honor.

They stood in their full regalia. As I visibly trembled, Rowan Williams nodded to Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch and broke the news to me: “Please sit, and do not be anxious. If this viva goes as we expect, we will propose this be one of the few dissertations published by Oxford University Press.”

That was one of the kindest things that had ever been done to me in an academic setting, exceeded only by the call I received earlier from Bill Tolar of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, announcing that my beloved alma mater elected me to return and teach theology with my own mentor, James Leo Garrett Jr.

On that day in 2000, I learned how to pastor younger theologians in an academic context from the future Archbishop of Canterbury. Yes, he helped ensure my work was of the highest academic quality, but he also helped ensure I was treated with dignity as one made in God’s image.

Yesterday, it was a joy to reunite with Rowan Williams for a moment as we stood on the stage by the pulpit of B. H. Carroll at the First Baptist Church of Waco, Texas. I presented him a copy of my latest book, God, the first volume of “Theology for Every Person”.

I also presented Todd Still, the Dean of George W. Truett Theological Seminary, with a copy of Special Revelation and Scripture. Dr. Still and Baylor University kindly granted me the use of their rooms at Regent’s Park College in 2022 so I could write my portion of that book co-authored with David Dockery.

I was also delighted to renew friendships with Steve Bezner and Preben Vang, professors at the university which spawned my Seminary 120 years ago. Dr. Vang once prompted Baylor to award Garrett a rare third doctorate before he passed. Dr. Bezner and I have often encouraged each other.

While I missed the celebration of David Dockery’s birthday, I was elated to renew some important relationships in my own life. It was also good to hear the first two of Rowan’s three Parchman lectures on the Trinity. The second lecture in particular will help orthodox Christians.

I also want to thank Matt Snowden, the Pastor of First Waco, for his kindnesses to my Teaching Assistant and me. Finally, Derrick Bledsoe, who plans to write on the Trinity, traveled with me to hear these lectures on Nicaea. Derrick was, as always, a personal blessing to me.

Our God has been so good to me. I feel as if every moment of my life has been one act of divine kindness stacked upon another. While I sometimes worried I might not make the grade or wondered how I would provide food for my children, Jesus my Lord has guided my life every moment.