Books read in April 2009 (3)

1. Banner in the West: A Spiritual History of Lewis and Harris by John Macleod

There is no place like The Long Island. There is no church history book like this one. This is no pretendedly objective academic church history. It is by a man commited to his home, its religion and culture. He writes with passion and humour. It is rare for a Christian tome to make one laught out loud as this one does, at of all things, church discipline. The Outer Hebridees are the most Christian part of the UK. Where else do people still leave houses unlocked? It helps if you have visited to know the places described here. You journey through the history of Christianity in Scotland, from its first missionaries to Reformation, the coming of evangelical Presbyterianism and its subsequent splits. The divisions are dealt with in historical detail save for the latest split in the Free Church over which the author maintains a discreet silence as his father was at its centre. Here you learn the church history of a special island but much more also about its distinctive culture. Where else has a minister refused to meet the Queen because he adjudged he a sabbath breaker? As well as laughter this book also moved me to tears over the disaster of January 1919 which was the worst British peacetime maritime loss since the Titanic. The reaction of one elder to the loss of his sons is a wonderful story of island Calvinistic piety. A special place, special people and a very special history book full of anecdotes of Christian piety and pastoral care. No hagiography. but some debinking of A W Pink and Duncan Campbell and the latter's claim to have started revival. MacLeod relates how the revival predated the arrival of Campbell. It is astonishing to read how sober Presbyterians could behave like the followers of Wimber were later to do. This is a book of surprises.

2. The Canvas Chapel by Edward Brinley Little

This is the best account of WWII army life I have ever read. It is the story of an ordinary soldier from South Wales who was a driver in N African and Italian campaigns. He was a Christian who sought to help his comrades spiritually eventually becoming a Baptist minister. One reads of the boredom, hardship and risk in being a soldier. After being dive bombed in N Africa he carried supplies to the front line at Monte Cassino. This is described as the hardest fighting of the war, the only place where the conflict resembled WWI. Front line infantry said the drivers did a more dangerous job than them. On two succsesive nights he was recommended for the Military Medal for helping the wounded under fire. As a result he was given the medal straight away in the field. A brave man indeed.

3, Make Your Church's Money Work: Achieving Financial Integrity in Your Congregation (Ministering the Master's Way) by John Temple

This is an excellent primer on church finances and good stewardship. It gives basic teaching on how churches should organise their finances according to Biblical principles. Giving is taught from grace not law. There are helpful sections on remuneration for church workers, I only have a couple of minor quibbles. I do not think that churches can direct that all giving should go through them. My experience is that church treasurers do not want the hassle of designated giving tp para-church groups. My second quibble is that the pay scale for pastors does not take account of whether the wife is earning. If she chooses to do this why should the married man be paid more than the single? It does not happen in any other work.