The Courage to be Protestant is a dynamic argument for the courage to be faithful to what biblical Christianity has always stood for, thereby securing hope for the church's future.
Wells argues that the historic, classical evangelicalism is one marked by doctrinal seriousness, as opposed to the new movements of the marketing church and the emergent church. He confronts the marketing communities and what he terms their "sermons-from-a-barstool and parking lots and apres-worship Starbucks stands." He also takes issue with the most popular evangelical movement in recent years - the emergent church. Emergents are postmodern and postconservative and postfoundational, embracing a less absolute, understanding of the authroity of Scripture than Wells maintains is required.
David F. Wells is the Andrew Mutch Distinguished Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. An ordained Congregationalist minister, he is also the author of more than a dozen previous books, including: No Place for Truth, Above All Earthly Pow'rs, God in the Wasteland, and Losting Our Virtue.
Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars(4.5 out of 5 stars)
4 of 4 Reviews Showing:
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Andrew (Ontario), January 29, 2010
Excellent! One of the most important books I have ever read. I was curious why Wells placed the chapter on truth before the chapter on God, but this order hardly matters because God is the main subject throughout this work. I believe he arranged the material this way for the sake of his argument. Nevertheless, this arrangement may give some readers the wrong impression. Along with heartily recommending this book I recommend the following reading strategy: read it one chapter at a time, taking breaks in between, and give yourself at least an hour to read each chapter. I found this way - rather than reading a few pages or a few minutes at a time - was best for helping me follow Wells' argument. Enjoy the book apply its message!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Richard Lewelling (Whitwell, TN. 37397), December 08, 2008
Very good book. I have read a portion of the book and look forward to completing the book. It is well done and researched!
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Helen Zimmerman (Wibaux, MT), November 12, 2008
Such helpful information on the current church situation. Thank you for helping us understand what is happening to the church today. Every pastor should read this book!
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Rev. Doyle Peyton (Bellville, Ohio), July 08, 2008
Wells is always insightful. This work is a helpful analysis of how the church got to where it is today. It is a very quotable book. I feel all his books could use some boiling down. I wish it had more bite in a way that I suppose only Tozer could do it. Even he admits in the book it is not high on giving answers to the problems presented.
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