Dr. Charles Swindoll is a prolific author that I have read many times through the years. (Actually, he is one of my favorite authors.) Recently I picked up his newest book, “The Church Awakening, An Urgent Call for Renewal” primarily because I was curious about what he might have to say about the current state of today’s modern church growth movement. What I found was a well reasoned and thoroughly biblical treatise of God’s plan for His church, as well as poignant treatment of where some churches have gone astray. His words are not delivered in a caustic way, but you will find them convincing and convicting...if you hold to the centrality of the scripture as the final rule of the church. I think he argues cogently that too much emphasis is placed on secular methodology rather than on the Master’s plan for building His church. In the last chapter he states, “We can prevent the slow, silent, and subtle erosion--the drift from Christ’s master plan--only by allowing clear, biblical thinking to override a secular, corporate mentality based on human opinions” (P.267). Too often what we sacrifice in the process of utilizing the "secular, corporate mentality” are the central tenets that have set the church apart for the past 2000 years and made her the light in the darkness of our society. I especially appreciated his emphasis on the need for biblical, expository preaching/teaching to return to our pulpits rather than the spiritual “junk food” diets that many church members receive weekly. Just my general observation is that too many speakers talk about/around the scriptures, but fail to accurately expound them. Clearly, as Dr. Swindoll indicates, preaching does not have to be boring, but it must be thoroughly biblical. It may be that people are clamoring for more entertaining worship that essentially relegates biblical truth to a secondary status, but we acquiesce to these demands at our own (and their) spiritual peril. I know I have said this in other book reviews, but I believe every young pastor should read this book to help maintain balance in his ministry. God didn’t call us to just build a crowd. He called us to make disciples. That’s what this book can help us accomplish.
