The Rebirth of Latin American Christianity by Todd Hartch
Christianity is on the rise in Latin America, Africa and Asia, and in decline in Europe and North America (pp. XIII-XIV, 1). But what form of Christianity has emerged in Latin America and what has shaped it during the past 60 years? Answering these questions is the mission of Todd Hartch’s book. Hartch believes that […]
Fire on the Altar, A History and Evaluation of the 1904-1905 Welsh Revival by Noel Gibbard (Wales, UK: Bryntirion Press, 2005) pp. 244, paper $7.99
Fire on the Altar is a account of the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905. Gibbard recognizes a number of influences upon the revival including the Keswick Movement in England (pp. 24, 168-169, 190), Holiness theology (p. 108), and the writings of Henry Drummond (pp. 168-169) and Andrew Murray (pp. 26, 34, 168, 172). The precedent set […]
Church History: An Essential Guide, by Justo L. Gonzalez (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996); 95 pp., paper $12.00
Church History is a short overview of the history of the church designed to give believers a glimpse of the essential events related to the church since its beginning. The author begins with an eleven page introduction that maps out the highlights of various stages of church history, then uses individual chapters to fill in […]
The Old Evangelicalism, Old Truth for a New Awakening, by Iain H. Murray (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust), 2005, 226 pp., $19.50
Iain Murray is one of the finest conservative church historians and theologians writing today. He warns early of the danger of romanticizing some period in church history (p. 3). But without question he sees a time, from the Puritans to Spurgeon, in which truth and holiness play a far more dominate role in the church. […]
The Book of Books, The Radical Impact of the King James Bible 1611-2011 by Melvyn Bragg (Great Britain: Hodder & Stoughton 2011), 347 pp., hardback 18.99
Bragg has written a fascinating book describing the development, importance and influence of the King James Bible. The first several chapters deal with the translation of the KJV, especially detailing the debt owed to William Tyndale. A very nice overview of Tyndale’s life is given (pp. 12ff) and reference is made to approximately 80% of […]
Learning Theology with the Church Fathers by Christopher A. Hall
This volume is the second in a three book series dealing directly with the writings of the church fathers. The first in the set is Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers and the final is Praying with the Church Fathers. For an individual to be considered a father of the church he had to meet […]
Without Sin, the Life and Death of the Oneida Community by Spencer Klaw
Klaw has written a very informational book describing one of the most intriguing religious experiments in history. In the wake of the revivalism of the so-called Second Great Awakening in America some 40 utopian societies were founded. Almost all of these (Brook Farm being a notable exception) were spiritual communities, many looking for, or attempting […]
Who are the Puritans? by Erroll Hulse
This is a wonderful primer on the life and beliefs of the early English Puritans. The book is broken into thee parts. Part 1 gives a brief history of the Puritan movement. Part 2 contains a great number of short biographies of the prominent Puritans. This is an invaluable resource. The final part deals with […]
When the Fire Fell by R. Maurice Smith
The last great revival in the Western world recognized by non-charismatics was the Welsh Revival of 1904. Many longingly look back to that “outpouring of the Spirit of God” and cry out to God for something similar today. With this in mind I have recently begun a study of the Welsh Revival, this being one […]
Understanding Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism by George M. Marsden
Marsden lays out the thesis of his book in its opening sentence: “This book provides an overview of the history of American fundamentalism and evangelicalism plus interpretations of some important themes.” As promised, much of the book (part one) is an excellent historical account of the origins and development of both the fundamental and evangelical […]