Customer Reviews

Word and Power Church, The

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4 star:		(1)
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Banister has an outstanding ability to bring reason and passion together. This is the blueprint for the church in the next century. So many of us know that we want more, but ignorantly hold to what's comfortable . . . and hauntingly dissatisfying.

The Word and Power Church will hopefully become a rallying cry for the body of Christ to embrace the Truth of God's Word and the Power of His Spirit.

This book is easy and quick-paced reading. It focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of both evangelically-based (word) and charismatically-based (power) churches. The thrust of the book is churches which are focused on the extremes of either. What I like about the book is that it does not attempt to change one's view (as flawed as it may be) on the "ideal" church and its worship services and functions, it simply, yet effectively, directs the reader to biblically-based and historically-based alternatives to understanding God and the ways that He works. Be they through verses in the Bible or a more dramatic emotional experience. I do not agree with every single thought neither am I moved by every single story and example. However, that does not make the ideas proposed any less effective. Having said that, I am going to order a dozen of these books and give them out to other open-minded Christians who are ready to be at the forefront of a changing church. God help us all.

This book shows how one church has blended the stengths of the two great movements - the charismatic and evangelical. The analogy is made that these two rivers can merge into one, and in fact it has been merged at the author's church. It is encouraging to see that the future of the church body as a whole can and should be united. A wonderful read. I enjoyed every chapter!

Banister pens an incredible work for those looking to move beyond dry orthodoxy and into passionate, spirit-driven relationship with Christ. He pushes you to take that plunge into the unknown, to that place you so much want to go, to where you feel God tugging you... that place where what's going on in your heart matches what's going on in your head... to where you not only know ABOUT God, but have an experience of Him.

I like Banister's honest approach (i.e., he speaks of his role as a pastor, and of preaching, but still feeling this tension). He doesn't back down from his own shortcomings, offers a clear perspective about his own biases, and never fails to let you know where he stands...

His goal... it seems it to bridge that gap between orthodox evangelicalism and passionate pentecostalism-- and show us that we (he writes from the side of evangelicalism) need not sacrifice thick Truth in order to worship-- and experience God passionately, as our "Charismatic" brothers and sisters do. Nor, do they have to negotiate their passions when seeking out deeper revelations of God in His word. It's not that you have to choose this OR that, Banister suggests. Rather, we are invited to experience God in Word and in Spirit-- in Word and in Power-- or, as Jesus suggests, in Spirit and in Truth.

Is an excellent book to read, as well, if you are coming from the Pentecostal side of Christianity, and are looking for solid theological footing, and wondering if you must comprimise your style of worship, your exercise of the prophetic gifts, etc., in favor of depth. This is not to suggest that you would lack depth simply because you are coming from that perspective. And, Banister conveys that well.

We can learn from each other. Indeed, we SHOULD learn from each other. For we are one in Christ.

Are you tired of church? Do you feel that there is something missing from your normal church experience? If you can answer "yes" to these questions - read the book!! Doug Banister asks some real hard questions and gives some surprisingly clear answers. You will be enlightened.

This book is a comparison of an Evangelical Pastor's journey into the world of Charismatics...and he finds out we are not so different after all. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a hunger for all God has to offer us. The research is excellent. The writing is engaging. It asks questions that will make you hunger for more. Read it!

People in the middle are often roundly criticized by those on either side of an issue, but the middle is usually where the truth is at. The author of this book seeks to enrich the Christian community by embracing both the what the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches have to offer and what the Evangelical churches have to offer. The division of these traditions into word and power churches is a little overly simplistic and may be initially offensive, but if you read the whole book you find yourself agreeing with the spirit of what the author is trying to accomplish. Why are there such differences in emphasis among Bible-believing, orthodox Christians? Although some of this diversity may be a good thing for reaching different types of people in different types of communities, we could all use a huge dose of humility to see the value in the culture and emphasis of other Christian groups. This book is a wonderful contribution in this direction. Even if the reader is uncomfortable with some of the practices and/or conclusions of the author, reading this book is a good idea for those trying to understand where others are coming from.

Several years ago I purchased this book, as something my associate pastor and I could read together. After just one or two chapters, we abandoned it and have never bothered with it again. I went on to read it for myself later.

If you are interested in the subject of Pentecostalism, or related matters, I can suggest several better books ("better" in the sense of dealing with important passages of the Bible, issues and disputes, and so on). You would be better off buying that "Four Views on Spiritual Gifts" text edited by Wayne Grudem, and Regal Press publishes some good stuff on the whole subject of the Third Wave, gifts for today, and related matters. This is another "Third Wave" book, but there have been so many of those over the past years that it doesn't really stand out.

This book, however, is a hybrid of the author's autobiography and feelings, combined with some simple material about the relationship between Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal churches, plus stories.

Bannister doesn't teach the Scriptures here; he really doesn't even really try. Almost everything in the book describes his emotions, and religious experiences. He talks about having been on the verge of a nervous breakdown, for which I feel great sympathy. But I don't think it was wise for someone on the verge of a nervous breakdown to make momentous belief-shifts, or criticize American Christianity.