In the Great Stream: Imagining Churches of Christ in the Christian Tradition

by Leonard Allen

 Find Your Bearings and Chart a New Path All throughout the modern period, there has been a steady campaign for people to "think for themselves" without tradition's distorting restraint. As a result, many Christians now blindly sip a watered-down faith, marketed as "no creed but the Bible." But, as Leonard Allen shows, we are always traditioning―even if one doesn't believe in tradition. And in this time of theological uncertainty and confusion, that process calls for new intentionality and seriousness. In the Great Stream will show you what the Great Tradition is, and how it can be our ally providing weight, ballast, and bearings to all those who seek to live out-and to hand on-the faith. Discover the vital recoveries that we need to make that draw on classic Christian orthodoxy. These older ways are the key to renewing our hearts and our churches.

1 pages, Audio CD

Published May 9, 2023

Reviews

[Douglas Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leonard Allen writes to call the non-creedal churches to clearly and intentionally align and identify themselves with the Great Tradition - classic orthodoxy as marked out by the "rule of faith" and the universal creeds of the early church. The reason for writing this book is that Allen believes the non-creedal churches, with their traditional disregard for tradition, are ill-equipped to deal with the current post-Christian cultural climate. I wholeheartedly agree with him.

Although writing specifically for the Stone-Campbell Movement/Churches of Christ, Allen's call is crucially pertinent to all of the church movements that trace their roots back to Anabaptism in Europe and Seperatist Puritanism in England - these include the Baptists, the Assemblies of God and many other Pentecostals. All of these churches carry within their history a rejection of tradition. The irony of this is that even though these churches passionately dismiss tradition, they unavoidably pass on their own poorly examined traditions! As an Ordained Minister with the Assemblies of God movement, I found Allen's analysis immediately and directly applicable to our situation.

Leonard Allen writes in a style that is accessible and with passion and reason. For all ministers and leaders of churches that have cried "no creed but the Bible", this is a book that will inform, challenge, and inspire you. This is a book for all who care about the future, the strength and purity of the Church, I recommend this book without hesitation.

#TheCrossShapedLife #NetGalley

[Bill Hooten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most every one that has a history in the American Restoration Movement (or the Stone Campbell Movement) understands our struggle with church history and tradition. Leonard Allen makes a compelling case (in my opinion) of our need to be aware of our place in religious history, and the tradition of those that have hold to the core doctrines of Christian faith. Having had Dr. Allen as an instructor in a couple of classes in graduate school, and having Leonard and Holly attend a church where I preached; I am very appreciative of his faith and scholarship. If you are wanting to know more about "our" movement, and how we fit into the tradition of the apostolic preaching of the rule of faith -- this would be the place to start. If you are wanting to know more about that "church of Christ" on the corner (or down the street, or across town), you will find a good starting place with this little book. I would recommend this to almost everyone.

[Alan Ibbetson · Rating 3 out of 5]

He seemed to make a bold and rather extreme statement at the beginning of each chapter. Then he would spend the rest of the chapter backing off and moderating his opinion with solid evidence and reasoning. So why the first statement which was almost always wrong? It was extremely antagonizing for me to read. It was like he was purposely poking me in the eye and then was like, "woah, you totally are mistaking what my intention was. I was just trying to caress your check." No thanks!