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Aggressive Christianity
A Modern Rendition of a Revolutionary Document
A reproduction of Catherine Booth's powerful preaching series "Aggressive Christianity" first published in 1880.
Cory Harrison has updated the languag, illustrations and Bible quotations to present The Salvation Army's manual of evangelism to millennium three warriors.
"Cory Harrison has taken off the gloves and put before us a challenging profile of knock 'em, sock 'em confrontational evangelism. Whereas some see the gospel as an influence to be insinuated into people's lives, Cory sees it as an revolutionary movement, confronting every person with the choice of whether or not to become Christian revolutionaries.
The strategy calls for Christian warriors who are willing to assault the world with gospel claims, confront the seeker with reality, and proclaim the message to any who will listen. It is the spirit that once dominated The Salvation Army. With Cory and others like him, it still lives. May this book rekindle the passion in many others!"
-Phil Needham, Commissioner, author of COMMUNITY IN MISSION; leader of The Salvation Army in the
southern United States.
"Catherine Booth's writings are as up to date as ever they were. Read Aggressive Christianity and be challenged and blessed. But be aware-it could change your life!" -Shaw Clifton, Commissioner, author of A NEW LOVE; leader of The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom.
"The words of Catherine Booth, the Co-Founder of The Salvation Army, deserve to be brought into our time and place, and that is what Cory Harrison has done. The service he has provided in this book remind us yet again that the writings of Catherine Booth are biblically rooted, spiritually challenging, and relevant to all who are engaged in the warfare of this Army of God. Catherine Booth's words well illuminate her life and witness, and call the reader to a radical and steady obedience to the Lord." -Roger J. Green, Ph.D., author of CATHERINE BOOTH: A Biography of the Co-Founder of The Salvation Army; Professor, Gordon College.
A reproduction of Catherine Booth's powerful preaching series "Aggressive Christianity" first published in 1880.
Cory Harrison has updated the languag, illustrations and Bible quotations to present The Salvation Army's manual of evangelism to millennium three warriors.
"Cory Harrison has taken off the gloves and put before us a challenging profile of knock 'em, sock 'em confrontational evangelism. Whereas some see the gospel as an influence to be insinuated into people's lives, Cory sees it as an revolutionary movement, confronting every person with the choice of whether or not to become Christian revolutionaries.
The strategy calls for Christian warriors who are willing to assault the world with gospel claims, confront the seeker with reality, and proclaim the message to any who will listen. It is the spirit that once dominated The Salvation Army. With Cory and others like him, it still lives. May this book rekindle the passion in many others!"
-Phil Needham, Commissioner, author of COMMUNITY IN MISSION; leader of The Salvation Army in the
southern United States.
"Catherine Booth's writings are as up to date as ever they were. Read Aggressive Christianity and be challenged and blessed. But be aware-it could change your life!" -Shaw Clifton, Commissioner, author of A NEW LOVE; leader of The Salvation Army in the United Kingdom.
"The words of Catherine Booth, the Co-Founder of The Salvation Army, deserve to be brought into our time and place, and that is what Cory Harrison has done. The service he has provided in this book remind us yet again that the writings of Catherine Booth are biblically rooted, spiritually challenging, and relevant to all who are engaged in the warfare of this Army of God. Catherine Booth's words well illuminate her life and witness, and call the reader to a radical and steady obedience to the Lord." -Roger J. Green, Ph.D., author of CATHERINE BOOTH: A Biography of the Co-Founder of The Salvation Army; Professor, Gordon College.
138 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1880
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About the author
Catherine Mumford Booth
86 books7 followersCatherine Mumford Booth married as wife of William Booth.
Catherine Booth (nee Mumford) is best known as the co-founder alongside her husband of the Salvation Army. She was eloquent and compelling in her speech, as well as articulate and devastatingly logical in her writing.
At first, Catherine and her husband had shared a ministry as traveling evangelists, but then she came into great demand as a preacher in her own right, especially among the affluent. A woman preacher was a rare phenomenon in a world where women had few civil rights, and no place in the professions. For over twenty years she defended the right of women to preach the gospel on the same terms as men. Many agree that no man of her era, including her husband, exceeded her in popularity or spiritual results.
The Booths had eight children. Two of their offspring later became Generals of the Salvation Army.
Catherine Booth (nee Mumford) is best known as the co-founder alongside her husband of the Salvation Army. She was eloquent and compelling in her speech, as well as articulate and devastatingly logical in her writing.
At first, Catherine and her husband had shared a ministry as traveling evangelists, but then she came into great demand as a preacher in her own right, especially among the affluent. A woman preacher was a rare phenomenon in a world where women had few civil rights, and no place in the professions. For over twenty years she defended the right of women to preach the gospel on the same terms as men. Many agree that no man of her era, including her husband, exceeded her in popularity or spiritual results.
The Booths had eight children. Two of their offspring later became Generals of the Salvation Army.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 29, 2024
This book is actually a collection of lectures by Catherine Booth (Co-founder of the Salvation Army) delivered during a series of services in London in 1880.
Catherine Booth was a powerhouse. She never failed to speak to crowded rooms of salvation seekers and is credited with scores of salvations and hearts re-dedicated to Christ, in addition to extreme social reforms through her work at the Salvation Army. Formerly a very timid and shy woman, only the baptism of the Holy Spirit could move her to speak to these crowds, and obey she did.
Catherine Booth believed there was an "aggressive spirit" in the primitive Christians of the New Testament. They believed the call to "Go ye into all the world" rather than build ye large chapels and churches and invite them to come to you. This vein of truth would permeate her soul and drive her husband and her to go into the highways and byways and compel the sinners to come to salvation.
On speaking of worldly opposition against Christianity she stated, "Opposition! It is a bad sign for the Christianity of this day that it provides so little opposition. If there were no other evidence of it being wrong, I should know it from that. When the church and the world can jog along comfortably together, you may be sure there is something wrong."
She debunks in chapter 2, the concept that all you have to do is "believe" and you will be saved, a common modern day mantra also. Regarding this false theology, she states "that blessed and glorious truth, when rightly applied to the right characters; but dangerous error, in my opinion, when applied indiscriminately to unawakened unrelenting rebellious sinners."
In chapter 3, she explores the principle of adaptation. How we must adapt ourselves as Peter did to those around us to effectively minister. She expounds on the dead form of church without the living breathing power of the Holy Spirit and how sadly frequent this is in professing christians. She reminds the reader how Paul claimed, "I become all things to all men" and she further expresses to the reader the importance of 'adapting your measures to your circumstances into the necessities of the times in which you live." Creativity is needed often times to reach our modern crowds.
Another chapter focuses on "Blessed Assurance." She states, "God's gospel is beautifully adjusted to the laws of our mental constitution. He who wrote, framed, and conceived it, created us, and he has made it like a key to fit the lock, and knows just the conditions that are necessary, and he has conformed his gospel to these conditions." I found this quote quite profound and true. The gospel is so easy to grasp, yet so hard for many to grasp.
Catherine covers in great detail the antinomian spirit of error which does away with the law under the "Law of Grace" so prevalent in pulpits today. She believed there is a crucial distinction between the great moral and the great ceremonial law. She explains, "What the law tried to do by a restraining power from without, the gospel does by an inspiring power from within."
She ends the book with firey words about the necessity of being filled with the spirit and endued with POWER from on high in order to accomplish anything of real heavenly value. Sadly so many churches are filled with unbelievers unbeknownst to the congregation and even ministers. If there was real POWER operating, everything would be different and scores of souls would be saved every week. Yet we see this juxtaposed with money and programs and conferences...and they quickly take the place of the spirit. This should not be!!!!
I found my own personal questions and views very aligned with Catherine Booth. It's no wonder she and William Booth had to leave the corporate church in order to accomplish real powerful soul winning aggressive christianity.
Catherine Booth was a powerhouse. She never failed to speak to crowded rooms of salvation seekers and is credited with scores of salvations and hearts re-dedicated to Christ, in addition to extreme social reforms through her work at the Salvation Army. Formerly a very timid and shy woman, only the baptism of the Holy Spirit could move her to speak to these crowds, and obey she did.
Catherine Booth believed there was an "aggressive spirit" in the primitive Christians of the New Testament. They believed the call to "Go ye into all the world" rather than build ye large chapels and churches and invite them to come to you. This vein of truth would permeate her soul and drive her husband and her to go into the highways and byways and compel the sinners to come to salvation.
On speaking of worldly opposition against Christianity she stated, "Opposition! It is a bad sign for the Christianity of this day that it provides so little opposition. If there were no other evidence of it being wrong, I should know it from that. When the church and the world can jog along comfortably together, you may be sure there is something wrong."
She debunks in chapter 2, the concept that all you have to do is "believe" and you will be saved, a common modern day mantra also. Regarding this false theology, she states "that blessed and glorious truth, when rightly applied to the right characters; but dangerous error, in my opinion, when applied indiscriminately to unawakened unrelenting rebellious sinners."
In chapter 3, she explores the principle of adaptation. How we must adapt ourselves as Peter did to those around us to effectively minister. She expounds on the dead form of church without the living breathing power of the Holy Spirit and how sadly frequent this is in professing christians. She reminds the reader how Paul claimed, "I become all things to all men" and she further expresses to the reader the importance of 'adapting your measures to your circumstances into the necessities of the times in which you live." Creativity is needed often times to reach our modern crowds.
Another chapter focuses on "Blessed Assurance." She states, "God's gospel is beautifully adjusted to the laws of our mental constitution. He who wrote, framed, and conceived it, created us, and he has made it like a key to fit the lock, and knows just the conditions that are necessary, and he has conformed his gospel to these conditions." I found this quote quite profound and true. The gospel is so easy to grasp, yet so hard for many to grasp.
Catherine covers in great detail the antinomian spirit of error which does away with the law under the "Law of Grace" so prevalent in pulpits today. She believed there is a crucial distinction between the great moral and the great ceremonial law. She explains, "What the law tried to do by a restraining power from without, the gospel does by an inspiring power from within."
She ends the book with firey words about the necessity of being filled with the spirit and endued with POWER from on high in order to accomplish anything of real heavenly value. Sadly so many churches are filled with unbelievers unbeknownst to the congregation and even ministers. If there was real POWER operating, everything would be different and scores of souls would be saved every week. Yet we see this juxtaposed with money and programs and conferences...and they quickly take the place of the spirit. This should not be!!!!
I found my own personal questions and views very aligned with Catherine Booth. It's no wonder she and William Booth had to leave the corporate church in order to accomplish real powerful soul winning aggressive christianity.
July 7, 2021
Wonderful, powerful sermons.
December 18, 2021
I am only one Sermon through the text.
"Aggressive Christianity":
Catherine Mumford Booth writes in this Sermon of her belief in what is fittingly termed: "Aggressive Christianity". According to her, the world has fallen from the original New Testament understanding of Christianity, and that this is primarily the result of Satan's influence. To her, this comes out in two ways: 1) in how we view ourselves; 2) in how we view our mission on Earth. The first is simply this: humans, contrary to modern preaching, are not lowly beings; they have higher being, a greater worth, than that which is attributed thereto. The second is basically that Christians should be militant in their attempt at saving souls. She uses Biblical scripture from the Acts of the Apostles (among others) to prove this*, and she believes this militancy to be an active duty of men; thus, you ought preach and cajole and persuade anyone, even the worst of the worst, to fall to their knees in favor of Christ Jesus, at penalty of being a bad Christian. Obviously, she doesn't mean that you need to be loud about it, or that you must renounce existence elsewise to do it (someone still needs to make the food, you know), but that one must do as best they can. She likens this duty to the duty of a Board of Health attempting to ameliorate the effects of a plague. If the people do not want to take the treatment that will save them, then this Board must use authoritarian measures to save them, or otherwise the world will be depopulated. It seems reasonable in this latter case, but for saving the soul, she seems to argues, it only seems unreasonable due to the influence of Satan on Christianity throughout the ages. This is one of those essays that is both extremely refreshing and extremely unfortunate. In my mind, the conversion to Christianity is not the most important thing, thus accounting for the 'unfortunate' side of things; but, on the other side, I also hold values which I deem important in the same manner she does. For example, I believe that the necessaries of life should be provided for every human being on Earth, and, because this is a moral ought that our society must deal with, anyone who does not attempt to ameliorate the lack of these important necessaries is by definition acting immorally. Thus, I think I can incorporate the refreshing understanding that we can get to higher things, by replacing Christian soul-saving with that of life-saving action (or, in my case, policies; private charity is very much not trustworthy).
*Sometimes, the vagaries of language as such that little comic thoughts appear to the most benign of phrases. Here, we see Booth exclaim that any living Creature must be preached to, and, because of the use of Creature, all I could imagine was deep council with the frogs in the garden, or chasing after a rabbit in order to gift it a Bible. This comic idea is a strawman, of course: Booth clarifies that the Creature must have a soul, and I reckon that she thinks only humans have one. But, perchance, my little idea here was in her mind.
"A Pure Gospel":
This Sermon attempts to identify what the Gospel is. This, however, is not about parsing what is and isn't real in the Bible, how to interpret most laws, or any of that; rather, it is about arguing that God requires one thing from a person before He saves them. (And, He does save them; it is through the power of God working within a person, in a sense controlling that person, that this change occurs. It is curious to note the use of control again, for the first Sermon also has themes of control and force.) This thing that God requires is to renounce your sin (or Idol, as it happens) and be willing to be Obedient to God. If you turn from Satan to Christ, then God will do the rest, basically; you have to make the first step. Thus, the more Russian Orthodox opinion of salvation based upon belief is repudiated by our authoress, and she is obviously against Antinomianism within Christianity. I don't have much to say about this Sermon, but I liked how Booth used Biblical stories to craft the arguments she makes.
"Aggressive Christianity":
Catherine Mumford Booth writes in this Sermon of her belief in what is fittingly termed: "Aggressive Christianity". According to her, the world has fallen from the original New Testament understanding of Christianity, and that this is primarily the result of Satan's influence. To her, this comes out in two ways: 1) in how we view ourselves; 2) in how we view our mission on Earth. The first is simply this: humans, contrary to modern preaching, are not lowly beings; they have higher being, a greater worth, than that which is attributed thereto. The second is basically that Christians should be militant in their attempt at saving souls. She uses Biblical scripture from the Acts of the Apostles (among others) to prove this*, and she believes this militancy to be an active duty of men; thus, you ought preach and cajole and persuade anyone, even the worst of the worst, to fall to their knees in favor of Christ Jesus, at penalty of being a bad Christian. Obviously, she doesn't mean that you need to be loud about it, or that you must renounce existence elsewise to do it (someone still needs to make the food, you know), but that one must do as best they can. She likens this duty to the duty of a Board of Health attempting to ameliorate the effects of a plague. If the people do not want to take the treatment that will save them, then this Board must use authoritarian measures to save them, or otherwise the world will be depopulated. It seems reasonable in this latter case, but for saving the soul, she seems to argues, it only seems unreasonable due to the influence of Satan on Christianity throughout the ages. This is one of those essays that is both extremely refreshing and extremely unfortunate. In my mind, the conversion to Christianity is not the most important thing, thus accounting for the 'unfortunate' side of things; but, on the other side, I also hold values which I deem important in the same manner she does. For example, I believe that the necessaries of life should be provided for every human being on Earth, and, because this is a moral ought that our society must deal with, anyone who does not attempt to ameliorate the lack of these important necessaries is by definition acting immorally. Thus, I think I can incorporate the refreshing understanding that we can get to higher things, by replacing Christian soul-saving with that of life-saving action (or, in my case, policies; private charity is very much not trustworthy).
*Sometimes, the vagaries of language as such that little comic thoughts appear to the most benign of phrases. Here, we see Booth exclaim that any living Creature must be preached to, and, because of the use of Creature, all I could imagine was deep council with the frogs in the garden, or chasing after a rabbit in order to gift it a Bible. This comic idea is a strawman, of course: Booth clarifies that the Creature must have a soul, and I reckon that she thinks only humans have one. But, perchance, my little idea here was in her mind.
"A Pure Gospel":
This Sermon attempts to identify what the Gospel is. This, however, is not about parsing what is and isn't real in the Bible, how to interpret most laws, or any of that; rather, it is about arguing that God requires one thing from a person before He saves them. (And, He does save them; it is through the power of God working within a person, in a sense controlling that person, that this change occurs. It is curious to note the use of control again, for the first Sermon also has themes of control and force.) This thing that God requires is to renounce your sin (or Idol, as it happens) and be willing to be Obedient to God. If you turn from Satan to Christ, then God will do the rest, basically; you have to make the first step. Thus, the more Russian Orthodox opinion of salvation based upon belief is repudiated by our authoress, and she is obviously against Antinomianism within Christianity. I don't have much to say about this Sermon, but I liked how Booth used Biblical stories to craft the arguments she makes.
July 8, 2018
Full of fire!
Doctrinally imperfect, yet wonderfully searching. A great challenge to fully surrender to Christ, and great gasoline for evangelistic zeal. Catherine Booth’s standard of true conversion is very high (in typical revivalist fashion). For this reason, the already serious Christian must read extra grace between the lines and let the sermons act as a call to more perfect discipleship rather than initial salvation. There is little use in asking if you are converted again and again. However, I think this may be a great wake-up book for those who claim Jesus’ name but do not truly know Him.
Catherine Booth was a fiery woman of God. We need more of her caliber. Some may criticize this book for its doctrinal extremes. I think we should rather remember how radically God used Mrs. Booth, qualify her extremes, and benefit from whatever true fire we find in her sermons. These messages are calculated to save the lost and revive saints.
Doctrinally imperfect, yet wonderfully searching. A great challenge to fully surrender to Christ, and great gasoline for evangelistic zeal. Catherine Booth’s standard of true conversion is very high (in typical revivalist fashion). For this reason, the already serious Christian must read extra grace between the lines and let the sermons act as a call to more perfect discipleship rather than initial salvation. There is little use in asking if you are converted again and again. However, I think this may be a great wake-up book for those who claim Jesus’ name but do not truly know Him.
Catherine Booth was a fiery woman of God. We need more of her caliber. Some may criticize this book for its doctrinal extremes. I think we should rather remember how radically God used Mrs. Booth, qualify her extremes, and benefit from whatever true fire we find in her sermons. These messages are calculated to save the lost and revive saints.
October 19, 2012
This book has had far-reaching consequences upon me in my life. I remember reading this book and it really pushed me to try to understand the Great Commission.
Go out, therefore, making disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Son and of the Father and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe everything that I have taught you. And lo, I am with you unto the end of the age.(Matthew 28)
Looking at Matthew 10, you see this echoed and this time with going out and following Jesus' example of healing the sick, raising the dead, etc.
These 2 passages really made me think about what it meant to talk and reach others with the message of Christ. Being in the Vineyard, these things are very vital to me. I believe that these gifts are real and for now. Looking at the early Salvation Army in this book I realized that they had a real fervor for God. They wanted to change the world and were really devoted to it.
One part was really funny and within it she stated that people should be saved out of self defence :) That really made me think about it. I have come back to this book a few times over the years.
Go out, therefore, making disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Son and of the Father and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe everything that I have taught you. And lo, I am with you unto the end of the age.(Matthew 28)
Looking at Matthew 10, you see this echoed and this time with going out and following Jesus' example of healing the sick, raising the dead, etc.
These 2 passages really made me think about what it meant to talk and reach others with the message of Christ. Being in the Vineyard, these things are very vital to me. I believe that these gifts are real and for now. Looking at the early Salvation Army in this book I realized that they had a real fervor for God. They wanted to change the world and were really devoted to it.
One part was really funny and within it she stated that people should be saved out of self defence :) That really made me think about it. I have come back to this book a few times over the years.
September 28, 2021
Very powerful words from the co-founder of The Salvation Army. I have been challenged. This updated version makes it very easy to read and understand. This is a book I will come back to and read again every so often to remind myself what it's all about.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews