Review of Leonard Allen's book "In the Great Stream: Imagining Churches of Christ in the Christian Tradition"

Authors

James L. Gorman, Johnson UniversityFollow

Document Type

Book Review

Abstract

Leonard Allen, Dean of Lipscomb University’s College of Bible and Ministry, has been helping Churches of Christ engage their history and theology for four decades. This book constitutes Allen’s boldest attempt to reveal the pitfalls of the anti-tradition posture of many Churches of Christ and, conversely, the riches of embracing the Great Tradition as an ally in the challenging twenty-first century context. Allen urges Churches of Christ to rediscover and reclaim early Christian Tradition, following the examples of Robert Webber, J. I. Packer, D. H. Williams, and others. Allen lays out a clear proposal for communal formation that deliberately utilizes the best of Churches of Christ tradition and classical Christian orthodoxy (defined by and rooted in the rule of faith, Apostles Creed, and Nicene Creed), arguing that such rediscovery and rootedness is essential for any group who wishes to survive and thrive amid current challenges.

Recommended Citation

Gorman, James L. (2022) "Review of Leonard Allen's book "In the Great Stream: Imagining Churches of Christ in the Christian Tradition"," Journal of Discipliana: Vol. 75, Article 1.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.discipleshistory.org/journalofdiscipliana/vol75/iss1/1