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A Concise History of English Christianity
192 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 1998
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April 26, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I think it was a very clear telling of nearly two thousand years of history. With such a large amount of time in a small number of pages, I think he picked the right emphases. I would recommend it for anyone wanting a perspective of Christianity throughout time from a perspective focusing on England.
The first half of the book was fascinating because I did not know much of the Christian history from Roman age, Middle Ages, reformation, or industrial revolution.
Sadly, the story of the second half of the book focused on Christianity's decline in 20th century England. I was aware of this but seeing it in the context of history greatly helped my understanding. For hundreds of years prior to this, the church was flipping between Catholic and Protestant, killing dissenters with each flip, taking advantage of the people, and providing wealth and power to a select few. Furthermore, the purpose of the church seemed to be perceived in providing services to the people rather than an expression of worship to an infinitely holy and sovereign God. It is not surprising then as modern society provided secular alternatives for ethics, knowledge, communities, volunteer organizations, and entertainment that the church could not compete.
The author seems to place his hope for the future in a more unified church that is able to combine with Roman Catholicism and rejoin with the English State. My prayer for the church in England and quite frankly in America would be to recover an awe for God and develop a reverence for Him that draws the people back into church to experience freedom in Christ and praise Him for it rather than meet their own physical needs.
The first half of the book was fascinating because I did not know much of the Christian history from Roman age, Middle Ages, reformation, or industrial revolution.
Sadly, the story of the second half of the book focused on Christianity's decline in 20th century England. I was aware of this but seeing it in the context of history greatly helped my understanding. For hundreds of years prior to this, the church was flipping between Catholic and Protestant, killing dissenters with each flip, taking advantage of the people, and providing wealth and power to a select few. Furthermore, the purpose of the church seemed to be perceived in providing services to the people rather than an expression of worship to an infinitely holy and sovereign God. It is not surprising then as modern society provided secular alternatives for ethics, knowledge, communities, volunteer organizations, and entertainment that the church could not compete.
The author seems to place his hope for the future in a more unified church that is able to combine with Roman Catholicism and rejoin with the English State. My prayer for the church in England and quite frankly in America would be to recover an awe for God and develop a reverence for Him that draws the people back into church to experience freedom in Christ and praise Him for it rather than meet their own physical needs.
Displaying 1 of 1 review