Interview #57 – Tom Chantry & David Dysktra – Holding Communion Together [Audio Podcast]

Summary: In May of 2014 Solid Ground Christian Books published Tom Chantry & David Dykstra’s “Holding Communion Together - The Reformed Baptists: The First Fifty Years, Divided & United”. Last week we interviewed them about their book. Here is the podcast when we first met with David Dykstra. Today’s podcast: - From the Editor, “For nearly half a century the growth of the Reformed Baptist movement has been quite remarkable, but it has not been without controversy. Chantry and Dykstra draw from an incredible amount of documentation as they seek to explain for the first time how we have gotten where we are today. This is a history that must be told, and these men do so for the good of all who love the doctrines of grace. In addition to the 20 chapters that will make up this book, there will be several appendices containing important documents and papers written over the past 50 years.” From Pastor Fred Malone of Clinton, Louisiana, “Sometimes, when I read the New Testament, I grieve over the problems reported about maintaining doctrinal truth and spiritual unity both in individual churches and in the Apostolic church at large. Frankly, it sounds like the church of today. Somehow, that honest history of the NT comforts me. For Christ has always used earthen vessels to build His church and He will continue to do so until He returns.” From Pastor Doug VanderMeulen of North Dakota, “Anyone who is seriously interested in understanding the modern Reformed Baptist history in America ought to carefully read Tom Chantry and Dave Dykstra’s ‘Holding Communion Together.’ Coming to the Reformed faith after much of what is discussed in this book occurred, I found it immensely helpful in understanding my experiences as I moved into Reformed Baptist circles. It provided answers to many questions about people, events, and attitudes I encountered but for which I had no context to understand. Additionally, we live at a time when Reformed Baptist distinctives are being eroded. Churches which have doctrine, worship, polity, and piety that is foreign to the 1689 London Baptist Confession are laying claim to the moniker, ‘Reformed Baptist’. Holding Communion Together goes a long way in setting the record straight on what it means to be a Reformed Baptist. A must read, especially for elders, deacons and those wanting to understand our history.” From Pastor Earl Blackburn’s Forward, “”First, remember, as the old saying goes, that “the best of men are men at best. Second, not all conflict is bad. Third, the Christian must be vigilant against two cunning enemies who relentlessly opposed the gospel and the progress of Christ’s Kingdom: Satan and the flesh. Fourth, Christ can use weak and flawed men, even men who have great strengths coupled with glaring imperfections, to build and establish His kingdom in a raging and fallen world. Fifth. too easily, saints on earth allow ministers to come between them and eclipse the Sun of Righteousness in heaven, who is the head of the church. Sixth, and perhaps the most important lesson to be learned, is the great value and unity in confessional Christianity.” From Pastors Chantry & Dkystra’s Introduction, “The determination to keep these controversies quiet has led to a culture of silence among Reformed Baptists, and evil thrives in such silence. Our motto throughout the writing of this history has been, “not neutral, but always objective.” We believe that what we have written is verified in the record. Where it is not, we are certain we will be criticized. A number of large themes are addressed throughout this book. The importance of missions and the best approach to their support is one. The right approach to ministerial training is another. One of the greatest and most divisive issues among us as been authority and authoritarianism––the proper scope and exercise of chur[...]