Book Reviews

Posted: 1/06/06

Book Reviews

Evaluating the Church Growth Movement: Five Views by Gary L. McIntosh, general editor (Zondervan)

Evaluating the Church Growth Movement provides an opportunity to understand a variety of North American church-growth views. Five scholars express their perspectives as well as critique each other's writings. They delve into church growth, sharing their own historical understandings and interpretations.

Gary McIntosh, the general editor writes:

“When you hear the term 'church growth,' what words or phrases come to mind? You may think of megachurches, small groups, numbers, contemporary worship, marketing or a host of other concepts that have occasionally been promoted as popular church-growth theory.

“In contrast, you may identify the term 'church growth' with effective evangelism, church planting, church extension, making disciples, church multiplication or other aspects of outreach that seek to win people to Christ and enlist them as responsible members of his church.

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“These differing perceptions of the term 'church growth,' and the emotions that arise from them, clearly point to misunderstanding and disagreement regarding the term, as well as the movement. Church growth is one of those ideas that cause us to draw lines in the sand. We are either for an emphasis on church growth or against it. There seems to be little neutral ground.

Donald McGavran, the father of the modern church-growth movement, recognized early on the divisive nature of church growth thought in a letter to his wife, written from Costa Rica on Sept. 8, 1961: 'It is clear that emphasizing the growth of the churches divides the camp. It is really a divisive topic. How strange when all are presumably disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.' Dr. McGavran's words still ring true today. Church growth continues to divide the camp … as discovered in this work.”

Evaluating the Church Growth Movement brings together church growth voices from diverse North American perspectives.

Elmer Towns of Liberty University writes from the effective evangelism view that church growth effectively confronts and penetrates the culture. Craig Van Gelder of Luther Theological Seminary shares from the gospel and our cultural view that church growth lacks a sufficient view of the church, which hinders it from effectively engaging the culture. Charles Van Engen of Fuller Theological Seminary gives the centrist view, holding that church growth is based on an evangelistically focused and a missiologically applied theology. Gailyn Van Rheenen of Abilene Christian University puts forth the reformist view that church growth assumes theology but ineffectively employs it to analyze culture, determine strategy and perceive history.

Howard Snyder of Asbury Theological Seminary represents the renewal view that church growth must be based on a biblical vision of the church as the vital community of the kingdom of God. In addition, three pastors, David Fisher, Douglas Webster and Roberta Hestenes reflect on the five scholars' writings and critiques.

The reader will find the ideas presented and the arguments raised a quick and in-depth appraisal of the North American church growth movement.

Evaluating the Church Growth Movement is a good example of Christian discussion in action.

Fred Ater, strategist

BGCT Missional Church Center

Dallas

The Bible–You Can Believe It: Biblical Authority in the Twenty-First Century by Jim Denison (BaptistWay Press)

This recent offering by Jim Denison combines scholarly excellence with practical presentation in defending the authority of the Bible. Denison, pastor of Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, provides teachings that are easily applied to help believers understand and share their faith. He tackles such issues as inerrancy, “contradictions” in Scripture, the miraculous, and the creation of the Canon, a question recently raised in The Da Vinci Code.

Denison combines his academic proficiency with his pastor's heart as he continually encourages readers to move beyond an apologetic handling of the Bible to its daily, personal study.

He provides guidelines for such study, challenging believers to decide before opening the Bible that they will obey what is found there.

He reminds readers that nonbelievers don't come to church buildings to hear appeals on the basis of scriptural authority. “But when we show them the pragmatic value of biblical truth in our lives, ministries and community, we will gain a hearing,” he explains.

This book serves not only as a defense for biblical authority, but an encouragement for spending time daily with the living God in his word. As Denison states: “The Bible–you truly can believe it. Let it change your life.”

Jane Wilson, youth specialist

BGCT Bible Study/Discipleship Team

Dallas