Dr. Haykin of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Dr. Yarnell of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary recently had an online discussion through the medium of Twitter.  The topic was the strengths and weaknesses of the Reformed and Anabaptist historical traditions.  The dialogue is helpful in two ways.  First, the content of their discussion is fascinating and demonstrates how we should always be open minded to the weaknesses of whatever tradition we find ourselves supporting.  Second, Haykin and Yarnell demonstrate how to have healthy, non-confrontational discussions without things getting out of control.  Take a look:

Dr. Haykin:

@myarnell: last few days have been thinking much about Calvin’s legacy: so much theol brilliance…but:

@myarnell: those who embrace his soteriological legacy must ask forgiveness from Anabaptist brothers. And why?

@myarnell. Because of his advocacy of the sword as a curb on heresy, esp Anabaptism in both its heretical and orthodox forms.

@myarnell: reading Eamon Duffy’s recent revisionist history of Bloody Mary’s reign has convinced me that some Protestant forebears erred.

@myarnell:
they erred by being willing to use the sword to repress error. Like our
18th c forbears who were slave owners, they are flawed.

@myarnell:
flawed models. But in so far as they followed Christ soteriologically
they are safe guides. But their views of church&state:

@myarnell: the bottom line is still this: I am sorry that some of my Calv. forbears ever used the sword against Anab. brothers.

Dr. Yarnell:

@MAGHaykin Some brilliant thoughts here. Thank you for sharing them.

@MAGHaykin Shall we conclude that some of our Calvinist brothers have acceptable (though not necessarily always correct) soteriology?

@MAGHaykin
And that our Anabaptist brothers perceived the doctrines of the church
& the ordinances more clearly than our Calvinist brothers?

@MAGHaykin
And, finally, that Calvin and the Calvinists were absolutely wrong when
it came to the doctrine of religious persecution/liberty?

Dr. Haykin:

@myarnell: I think so: I am a Calvinist soteriologically but the ortho. Anab. saw more accurately NT church life.

@myarnell: And they were spot on re persecution. Calvin failed to reform the horrific legacy of relig persec from the Middle Ages.

Dr. Yarnell:

@MAGHaykin Don’t tell anybody but I actually find much in Calvin that is brilliant too!