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30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
There are few books on church history that are so profound., November 18, 1997
By A Customer
This review is from: The Torch of the Testimony (Paperback)
Kennedy's succinct overview of the sweep of church history is enlightening to anyone, be they ignorant or knowledgeable of this subject. It is one of the best books I've read on this subject, and really stands out on it's own since the author comments profoundly at every stage of the developing events. His comments make each page exciting, full of great meaning, and applicable to the present, rather than some books on history which are merely recitations of a boring string of facts. Kennedy brings out the fact of a repeating pattern of resistance against spiritual life, the fresh moves of God's Spirit throughout time----showing how man's attempts to corral this unstoppable force has caused misery, error, and great sin. The illustration of this reality is a great encouragement and source of strength to those persons at present who are being touched by the Living God with a new and vibrant experience---yet are being persecuted, ostracized and mocked by the established order wherever they may be. Anyone who wants to have a knowledgeable overview of mankind's tendency to be spiritually arrogant or lazy at the expense of continuing maturity/Truth, needs to read this book. None other I have found approaches this topic with the same eloquence and deep insight.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good insights, May 6, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: The Torch of the Testimony (Paperback)
This book gives a god review, not of organizational Christian history so much, but rather moves of the spirit centering on the word of God. One of the best truths that this book presents is the fact that Christians today (often referred to as evangelicals) are not a new breed. Bible centered, outreach oriented, non-ecclesiastical fellowships have existed since the beginning. The book seeks not just to convey knowledge, but to help us learn lessons from past successes and failures of the church in a way which we can apply to our lives today. In this, the book has some deep insights. He describes the processes by which moves of the spirit are institutionalized; the pit falls to look out for while combating heresy, an interesting comparison on the life of Peter Waldo with St. Francis and the proper place of creeds and doctrine within the church. Kennedy takes us all the way up to but not into the 20th century and, as it is only 250 pages, it obviously cannot cover everything. However, I felt it left some significant 17th-19th century things out. Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, Charles Finney and late 19th century Holiness movements (to say nothing of the rise of Pentecostalism) gets no mention. The author seems especially to focus in on "brethren" type groups which had no ecclesiastical structure and hierarchy. In interpreting some events he gives away his opinions on some doctrinal issues such as the cessation of apostles and prophets, the need for a prolonged period before baptism and he seems to think there is no longer any special role for Israel in God's purposes, though I may be just be making assumptions on that point. All in all, it's a good book. It gives good insights into our spiritual heritage which often are neglected.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
John W. Kennedy-Church Historian/Missionry Par Excellence, March 13, 2010
This review is from: The Torch of the Testimony (Paperback)
It has been something in excess of twenty years since I read John's book,Torch of the Testimony. However, he was a guest in our house at the time my first wife became ill with ovarian cancer (1989). When I had to take her to emergency, John stepped in and and took over all household chores in our absence, which included feeding our pooch.
He was a missionary among missionaries, whose main interest in life was to exalt the Son of God and to present Him to those who either hadn't heard or who had been spoiled by "Christian Religion," i.e., legalism, and needed to hear the message again. He "itinerated" over a great part of India as he was preparing his manuscript for "Torch of the Testimony," typing it on an old Royal or other portable typewriter, having spent the previous year, as a "sabbatical, doing research at various universities in UK and Europe.
We keep copies of his book on our fellowship (Puente Valley Christian Fellowship) book table for visitors and and our own members' benefit.
I included this "personal," simply because of the "heart" that exuded from this man, in both everyday life and in his book. The original hardback copy had (1960s) a Foreword by the late Professor, F.F. Bruce, which I'm sorry did not get carried over into the present paperback edition.
As to the comment by the person who commented on Kennedy's not giving Israel enough "space" in his book, it appears that Kennedy gave about as much space as the New Testament gives to Israel.
My apologies for the sort of scatter brained presentation that I have made, but I urge anyone, especially those born again persons, to carefully examine his book for themselves. It will enrich their lives.
Paul Harlan (03/13/2010
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