Book Review of “To All Peoples: Missions World Book of the Christian and Missionary Alliance” by Robert Niklaus

Originally posted to Amazon.com on October 30, 2005

Beautifully Rendered History of C&MA Missions

Niklaus has with this work provided a sequel to his history of the C&MA, “All for Jesus.” While the former work gave a good explanation for the history of the movement and why foreign missions were emphasized, this book gives the details overseas and chronicles the growth of the mission fields themselves.

Despite the C&MA being a North American based denomination, the vast majority of growth has taken place overseas, Several of these planted national Churches have exceeded the size of the US Church and are functioning as their own Church and missions sending organizations. This is an amazing legacy and a clear model upon which to base missions efforts.

A great deal of this occurred because since before WWII the C&MA took the strategy of rejecting colonial evangelism and sought instead for the missionary to plant the church and then rather than directing it indefinitely to raise up indigent leadership and then step aside and allow the Church to form.

The fruits of this approach has been many countries closed to other missions movements, open to the Alliance because they do not threaten their culture or sense of independence. When war, famine or political upheaval have thrown missionaries out of countries, where other Churches have foundered without missionary presence and leadership, Alliance works have thrived because the missionary was just an outside consultant, not the key to the movement.

This book is rife with wonderful stories of faith and martyrdom. It presents a legacy that is amazing.

This work, more than any other, makes me proud to have been a part of the C&MA. Whatever other flaws there are, and they are there, the bottom line is that God has used the C&MA to reach many areas of the world and ours is a model that many other look to in hopes for the same success. That is a legacy and hope for the future. Whatever issues remain to work out, this type of impact is worth working to continue!

An important book for the C&MA but also one for evangelical Christendom to look to, to rejoice in and to emulate in outreach.

5 Stars

bart breen

Book Review of All For Jesus: God at Work in the Christian and Missionary Alliance Over One Hundred Years by Robert L. Niklaus

(Originally posted on Amazon October 30, 2005)

History of an Important Foreign Missions Movement and a Confused Denomination

All for Jesus, is an important defining piece for a movement that stretches back to the late 19th century.

The Christian and Missionary Alliance was never intended to be a denomination. A.B. Simpson made it very clear that he believed that the Kingdom did not need another denomination, what was needed was a cross-denominational movement that focused on Foreign Missions cooperatively. Around this movement grew many independent Churches who wanted some form of central organization.

The Missions Movement was the Missionary Alliance. The organization of Independent Churches was the Christian Alliance. They were intended to be separate and maintain the cross-denominational, almost inter-denominational flavor of the foreign missions movement.

Over time the C&MA did indeed become more and more of a denomination tied to an emphasis on foreign missions. Despite the fact that it began more and more to walk like a duck, quack like a duck and go remarkably well with orange sauce, the views of the founder remained woven in the hierarchy and so the duck was kept in the closet …. but newspapers were spread and corn meal slipped under the door regularly to keep the duck healthy.

The duck came out of its closet in the 1970′s. The C&MA was ready to admit what it was functioning as for years; namely a denomination. Any good denomination ought to have a history, and this book, All for Jesus was the result.

It is a good work with a very good narrative through the years of the wonderful accomplishments through the C&MA. Good pictures and illustrations will be found.

The C&MA often struggles compared to other denominations for a sense of identity. Typically that identity includes unique doctrinal emphasis or a specific focus or purpose organizationally.

Doctrinally, the distinctive of the C&MA is the four-fold Gospel or Christ as Savior, Sanctifier, Healer and Coming King. Unfortunately the emphasis of Christ as Healer and Sanctifier has diminished greatly over the years and the 4-Legged table upon which the C&MA once rested has 2 short legs and wobbles quite a bit. This has been true since the 1930′s when a large exodus of C&MA people and Churches went over to the Assemblies of God. In recoil against that movement, the C&MA now claims to be neutral to that which smacks of the Charismatic. In practice, those elements of healing and sanctification that were part of the C&MA heritage are not really highly present anymore and to the extent that they are, they are a shadow of what they once were.

The C&MA has thrown in it’s lot to a great extent with the Church Growth movement out of Fuller Seminary and sought for growth without always clearly defining what their distinctives are.

All For Jesus helps to fill this vacuum with a very well laid out history of Missionary work and the spread of the denomination oversees which has all but eclipsed the growth of the mother church back in North America.

If the C&MA has any one predominant identifying factor, it is the emphasis on Foreign Missions.

This is an excellent work and worth reading for anyone associated with the C&MA or indeed just in the general evangelical community who wants to see and understand the roots of foreign missions.

The C&MA still remains at a crossroads as it continues to figure out who they are and where they are going. Knowing where they’ve been is essential to this process. I wish them well and I recommend this book as an excellent resource for many.

4 stars

bart breen

Book Review of A.W. Tozer: In Pursuit of God by James L. Snyder

A.W. Tozer is routinely described as a 20th century prophet. Tozer served as a pastor in The Christian & Missionary Alliance for 44 years, most of which was spent in South Chicago. During that time his Church grew from about 80 to 800 members. In addition, he served as the Editor of the Alliance Life Magazine from 1950 during which time circulation exploded, primarily because of the demand for his insightful editorials.

Tozer wrote several classic books of Christian Literature in his life-time. Denominational publishing house Christian Publications has compiled many additional books from his recorded sermons and other writings since that time.

Tozer remains a remarkably contemporary voice of prophetic clarity, even today despite the fact that he passed away in 1963 (the same year CS Lewis died.) This is because he had a unique talent for plain and forthright speaking that cut through the typical speaking of religion which tries to be “relevant” to the current day and age. He spoke to matters of the heart that are timeless and as applicable now as they were then.

Snyder’s biography of Tozer benefits from access to a great deal of source material present at Christian Publications and also relies on interviews with Tozer’s children to give a very good insight into Tozer the man and the context from which he wrote.

Voted one of the most popular books of 1991 by readers of Christianity Today, “In Pursuit of God” is a well written and valuable biography that lays Tozer’s life out before his millions of readers who cut across the entire scope of Christendom.

‘In Pursuit of God,’is a necessary resource for any true student of Tozer. It is an enjoyable read for those who simply want to know more about the man whose writings have brought them closer to God.

Book Review of Wingspread: Albert B. Simpson-A Study in Spiritual Altitude by A.W. Tozer

A.B. Simpson was the founder of The Christian & Missionary Alliance. Simpson was among the better known religious leaders of his era. That in itself makes this book an enlightening and educational read. However, it is at least as interesting for what it reveals about the author A.W. Tozer who is perhaps the best known figure to emerge from the C&MA.

Simpson’s influence represents something of a convergence in the late 19th century of Calvinistic doctrine with the holiness movements of that time, particularly the Keswick movement.

The C&MA and Simpson subsequently went on to have a tremendous influence upon the evangelical foreign missions movement of the 20th century. Influence was also exerted upon the holiness movements of Azuza Street and the formation of the Assemblies of God.

Simpson is an interesting and vital figure to understand from several perspectives, particularly as his teachings on the Four-Fold Gospel and healing represented major influences upon 20th century evangelical thinking and practice.

What makes this book a special treat however, is to see the treatment of Simpson by Tozer who is widely regarded by many as one of the most influential prophetic (in the sense of forth-telling, not future predicting) voices of our time. His sympathetic presentation of Simpson and integration of the man with his teaching and influence reveals a great deal about the author as well as the subject.

This is a classic biography worthy of reading and study regardless of why you come to it. A great many crossroad’s branch out from here. You’ll be glad you invested the time to read this biography.