PENTECOSTAL OUTPOURINGS
Revival and the Reformed Tradition
Editors: Robert Davis Smart,
Michael A.G. Haykin, Ian Hugh Clary
Reformation Heritage Books. 260 pages. $20.
Also a Kindle Book
ISBN 978 1 601 784 339
In this book eight separate authors each describe a different revival, four in Great Britain and four in North America.
The writers have been drawn from a variety of church backgrounds, but all are passionate about the need for revival. Some are academics, but this is not a detached study. In a conclusion Robert Smart writes: ‘In addition to pursuing God’s work of reformation, we have also together sought God for genuine revival.’
Proactive measure
They are conscious of recent prejudice against their theme and write, ‘many Reformed believers’ excessive reaction to Pentecostalism and revivalism has resulted in almost entirely abandoning the use of these terms once so commonly spoken and written by Reformed church leaders. The title of this volume, Pentecostal Outpourings, is a proactive measure to sweeten scriptural and theological language that has become quite distasteful to modern Reformed appetites, and a study of revivals helps to see that’ (p. 255).
The writers have done their job well. They write with thorough knowledge of their subjects and in a popular but careful style. Each is an expert in his field. Readers who are familiar with 18th- and 19th-century church history will be introduced to new areas of study. The result is a book that is inspiring and can only be a stimulus to earnest prayer that God will favour his people with fresh visitations of his grace in the Western world. It is warmly recommended.
