A Hill on Which to Die: One Southern Baptist's Journey [Hardcover]

Paul Pressler (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: B&H Publishing Group (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805416773
• ISBN-13: 978-0805416770
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,061,465 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Baptist Conservative Resurgence in historical context, July 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Hill on Which to Die: One Southern Baptist's Journey (Hardcover)

This book is relevant to a wide variety of readers, from conservative Baptists who want an historical account to pass on to their children, to conservative Christians confronted by liberalism in the pulpit and seminaries and wondering, "what can I do?" This book is an autobiographical account of one man's courage to resist complacency, to build a network of friends, and work to restore an existing denomination with a tendency toward theological liberalism. It records the history of a man who was born into the highest ranks of privilege in Texas, who chose not to enjoy the full benefits of that privilege, who confronted theological liberalism at Princeton, who won and discipled Christians at an early age, and who never waivered in his faith. This book demonstrates how people, both young and old, inside or outside the establishment, may be strong and courageous Christians and faithfully transmit the gospel, against strong opposition, to this and future generations.

21 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read for all Baptists: liberals and conservatives alike, July 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Hill on Which to Die: One Southern Baptist's Journey (Hardcover)

After years of seeing liberals spin the conservative takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention to their liking, Paul Pressler's book is refreshing.

Pressler is to conservative Southern Baptists what Ronald Reagan is to Republicans. In "A Hill on Which to Die," Pressler gives documentation of rampant liberalism throughout the convention. Pressler did not, as some liberals would have us believe, "Burn down the barn to get rid of a few rats." Liberalism was prevalent, and a conservative takeover was the only way to reclaim the seminaries and colleges.

The book offers countless surprises: how Adrian Rogers did not want the nomination the night before the 1979 convention opened; how and why Pressler watched the 1979 convention from a skybox; how the "Donahue" show helped the conservative movement; how former president W.A. Criswell, himself a conservative, had failed to make changes when he was president; how Pressler tried to make changes before 1979, only to get the cold-shoulder.

Throughout the book, Pressler tells how the conservative movement was misunderstood and misrepresented. The battle was not over the interpretation of Scripture, but rather its integrity and inerrancy. And, surprisingly, it was not very organized. Conservatives did not use countless vans and buses to get messengers to conventions, as liberals charge. Rather, it was mostly a grass-roots effort which began with conservative churches wanting to change the liberal establishment. The conservatives were in the majority throughout the churches, but were not being represented in the presidency and on the committees.

And, as some may claim, it was not a hate-filled movement. The book is filled with examples of Pressler's Christian love for all believers - liberals, moderates and conservatives. However, throughout the battle, Pressler's beliefs and motives were mischaracterized and spun by the opposition, leading to the negative opinions about him that abound today. Occasionally, there were even flat-out lies. Finally, he gets to respond.

Liberals will not want to read this book, but they should.

This should be required reading for all Southern Baptists.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A thorough look at a historical religious turning point, August 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Hill on Which to Die: One Southern Baptist's Journey (Hardcover)

Upon receiving my copy of this book I first turned to the portions where I had personal knowledge of the events. I found those sections to be succinct, accurate portrayals of complex circumstances -- a readable, journalistic summary that caught the flavor as well as the facts. The author has apparently been thorough.

I believe this book will be of greatest interest to (1) those thousands who were personally involved in the situations being discussed, (2) the 16 million Southern Baptists whose denominational apparatus has been reformed by these events, and (3) students of crucial turning points in America's religious history. Finally, though few readers will wade through this book because of this, the book is also an excellent case study on denominational politics and on successful strategies for changing large bureaucracies from within.

Of least interest to the casual reader will be the personal kudos that the author lavishes on those who played key parts in the battles discussed -- if the reader was not directly involved, these sections will probably be of little interest other than to suggest what virtues (e.g., loyalty under persecution) are held in highest esteem by the author.