Therfield, Near Royston, Herts, United Kingdom

TC Book Reviews - November 2009

THE LOST HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY - The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia - and how it Died.
By Philip Jenkins

This book tells a surprising story. Many think of Christianity as a Western faith, which grew out of its origins in the Middle East towards Rome and into Europe, paving the way for the Enlightenment, science and modernity.
However, Philip Jenkins reveals, the largest and most influential churches of Christianity’s youth:
- lay to the east of Rome
- covered the world from China to North Africa
- ruled the Middle East for centuries
- became the chief administrators and academics in the Muslim empire
- encountered the full spectrum from acceptance to persecution under Islamic rule
- and only expired after a thousand-year reign after Constantine.

This is the story of these churches of the East and how they became extinct - but not before becoming the dominant expression of Christianity for its first 1,000 years and helping to shape both the Asia and the Christianity we know today.

I ONCE WAS A BUDDHIST NUN by Esther Baker

Esther Baker was a Buddhist for over 13 years, and has been a Christian for over 17.
Her search for truth drove her up through the ranks of a Buddhist nun and deeper into a life of meditation and detachment from the world. But then, one day, alone in her room, the perfect shadow of a cross fell on her wall, and, unbidden, Christ began to enter her life.
A fascinating account. Partly written as an evangelistic tool.
[recommended by Jackie Pullinger, whose books and video had been a great help towards Esther’s conversion]

CLOSING THE BACK DOOR OF THE CHURCH By Ron Kallmier & Andy Peck. (CWR’s popular seminar in book form.)

“This book will give you new insights into why large numbers of believers have left their church and are not returning.” It also looks at various ways your fellowship might explore, if we are to “buck this trend and become a place that attracts, integrates and retains believers while effectively reaching those not yet in the kingdom.”

Somehow this book leaves me cold. I had expected a book that would give me answers and stimulate my thinking, but it had the reverse effect. Maybe because I don’t like change. Or maybe because it reminds me of the kind of seminars I used to go to in the commercial world, where everything was modernistic, materialistic and pragmatic. To find out you’ll have to read it for yourself.

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