Book Reviews Confessing The Faith Reclaiming Historic Faith and Teaching for the 21st Century Edited by Craig M. Kibler, (Lenoir, N.C.; Reformation Press), 184 pages, $16.95 Reviewed by Craig M. Kibler April 2003

In an age awash in religious permissiveness, the Light of the World still is shining in a broad, grassroots movement that is advancing a stronger and more unified witness to orthodox Christianity within the historic mainline Protestant churches in North America. This movement is committed, as Thomas C. Oden says, to raising the standard for Biblical truth within the various denominations and, far from withdrawing from the churches, is determined to stay and encourage one another in the struggle for renewal. Already, those engaged in this movement, according to the Association for Church Renewal, joyfully see that God is at work in bringing “fresh vitality in worship, in preaching, new ventures in mission, the renewal of personal piety, an increase in enthusiastic discipleship, and a more profound embrace of God’s concern for the poor.” Comprised of addresses from the historic, first-ever gathering of confessing and renewal movements in North America, Confessing The Faith introduces the reader to the positive work of renewal taking place across the continent – in theology, in worship, in marriage, in churches, in the family. A broad-based list of contributors highlight, as Diane Knippers says, God working among us. Those contributors include: Maxie D. Dunnam, president of Asbury Theological Seminary; James V. Heidinger II, president and publisher of Good News magazine; Edith Mary Humphrey, associate professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; Dennis F. Kinlaw, founder of the Francis Asbury Society; Jerry Kirk, founder of the National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families; Knippers, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy; Oden, the Henry Anson Buttz Professor of Theology and Ethics at the Theological School of Drew University; Parker T. Williamson, chief executive officer of the Presbyterian Lay Committee and editor in chief of its publications; and Thann Young, a pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and a board member of the Alliance for Marriage. In a sometimes dark and confusing world, these essays offer traditional, orthodox Christians the positive Good News that, as Heidinger writes, “God is doing exciting things today.”

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