Product Description

The 2,000 year history of those Christians - and churches - that have stood outside the Protestant-Catholic tradition. This book was originally published in India in 1964 and is little known in the western world. Beginning in the first century John Kennedy traces the history of Christian groups who remained outside formalized religion down through the ages. A stirring, passionate and sometimes heart-rending story of suffering to the centrality of Christ within the Body of Christ.

John W. Kennedy is from Great Britain, but has lived in India since 1952 ministering among indigenous and apostolic Christian groups.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #239993 in Books
• Published on: 1983-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 245 pages

Customer Reviews

There are few books on church history that are so profound.
Kennedy's succinct overview of the sweep of church history is enlightening to anyone, be they ignorant or knowledgeable of this subject. It is one of the best books I've read on this subject, and really stands out on it's own since the author comments profoundly at every stage of the developing events.

His comments make each page exciting, full of great meaning, and applicable to the present, rather than some books on history which are merely recitations of a boring string of facts. Kennedy brings out the fact of a repeating pattern of resistance against spiritual life, the fresh moves of God's Spirit throughout time----showing how man's attempts to corral this unstoppable force has caused misery, error, and great sin. The illustration of this reality is a great encouragement and source of strength to those persons at present who are being touched by the Living God with a new and vibrant experience---yet are being persecuted, ostracized and mocked by the established order wherever they may be.

Anyone who wants to have a knowledgeable overview of mankind's tendency to be spiritually arrogant or lazy at the expense of continuing maturity/Truth, needs to read this book. None other I have found approaches this topic with the same eloquence and deep insight.

The Struggle for the Centrality of Christ
John W. Kennedy has given us a great gift that has gone largely unnoticed in the western world. "The Torch of the Testimony" uncovers the 2,000-year history of those believing Christians and churches that stood outside the Protestant and Catholic traditions.

Kennedy writes:
"The history of the working of the Spirit of God is not the history of any organization, and what usually goes by the name 'Church History' is only too often a sorry tale of bigoted quarrels and selfish intrigue. Yet the history of the two, the spiritual movement, and the earthly institution, are sometimes so closely intermingled that it is impossible to give an account of one without referring to the other." p. 56

Kennedy gives us a concise narrative of church history while distinguishing between the "spiritual church" and the organized church of man. He is gracious and honest to point out the good that was achieved within the organized church, but is consistent in his critique of both movements of the church.

He very powerfully exposes the shortcomings of the institutional church and how past saints concluded that it can never be reformed. What is needed is a return to New Testament church practice.

"The life of Christ and the Lordship of Christ through His Word are, therefore, two things which mark out the church of the New Testament. When these are supplanted by anything else, the result is a departure from the principle of Scripture and ultimate confusion." p. 177

He wonderfully weaves together the disjointed stories of the church to paint a clear picture of the challenges that still face us today. The reader can't help but be awakened to the reality that we are a part of the unfolding story of Christ's church.

In this book, you will learn about how the the church began to drift from apostolic teachings through Greco-Roman influence and opened the door for the Constantinian State in the fourth century.

You will discover the enduring testimony of the remnant that existed apart from the organized church up to the Protestant Reformation and onward. You will learn how a break from the State Church into independent movements produced denominations built upon doctrines instead of the rock of Christ.

How did we get to where we are today? Where are we in the story of God's people? Will we learn from the mistakes of the past? What will be written about us?

Will our relationship to Christ be the unifying bond that births our church practice or will we be distracted by power and cling to weapons of the world in an attempt to advance the Gospel?

I can't stress enough how important this book is to the study of the development of Christianity. This book is a "must read" for every serious student of church history.

If you are involved in organic church life and gatherings outside of the institutional church, this book should be required reading before you can say, "I am part of a house church."

If this account of church history doesn't move you... I would recommend you check your spiritual pulse.

Suggested Reading:
The Untold Story of the New Testament Church: An Extraordinary Guide to Understanding the New Testament
Paul's Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in Their Cultural Setting, Revised Edition
Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices
The Reformers and Their Stepchildren (Dissent and Nonconformity)

Good insights
This book gives a god review, not of organizational Christian history so much, but rather moves of the spirit centering on the word of God. One of the best truths that this book presents is the fact that Christians today (often referred to as evangelicals) are not a new breed. Bible centered, outreach oriented, non-ecclesiastical fellowships have existed since the beginning.
The book seeks not just to convey knowledge, but to help us learn lessons from past successes and failures of the church in a way which we can apply to our lives today. In this, the book has some deep insights. He describes the processes by which moves of the spirit are institutionalized; the pit falls to look out for while combating heresy, an interesting comparison on the life of Peter Waldo with St. Francis and the proper place of creeds and doctrine within the church.
Kennedy takes us all the way up to but not into the 20th century and, as it is only 250 pages, it obviously cannot cover everything. However, I felt it left some significant 17th-19th century things out. Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, Charles Finney and late 19th century Holiness movements (to say nothing of the rise of Pentecostalism) gets no mention. The author seems especially to focus in on "brethren" type groups which had no ecclesiastical structure and hierarchy. In interpreting some events he gives away his opinions on some doctrinal issues such as the cessation of apostles and prophets, the need for a prolonged period before baptism and he seems to think there is no longer any special role for Israel in God's purposes, though I may be just be making assumptions on that point.
All in all, it's a good book. It gives good insights into our spiritual heritage which often are neglected.