Michael Yount: A. B. Simpson
Yount provides his readers an understanding of the historical and theological context of A. B. Simpson.
In spite of this book’s valuable, and perhaps even invaluable, contributions to an understanding of the contributions of A. B. Simpson to the shape of turn-of-the-century Evangelicalism, I would have liked to have seen Yount spend more time establishing the argument for the existence of an entity known as the “Third Great Awakening.” I am not convinced that it as readily recognized as a definable movement as this text assumes. While the various events that Yount identifies (e. g. the Laymen’s Revival, the Holiness Movement, and the missions movement) were highly significant, and while they certainly relate in some way to one another, it is less clear that they coalesce into a single movement. In addition, while each chapter clearly shows both that Simpson was a participant in each of these various movements and that he so ably stirred his followers to engage in them, not all chapters show equally or as ably Simpson’s actual contribution to each particular movement. For example, while no one would argue that Simpson was a dedicated evangelist, the chapter dedicated to that topic gives barely two pages to his efforts in this area. Furthermore, his “impact” on this particular movement is wholly absent. Finally, this book is in need of a good editing to address numerous typographical errors which, at times, lead to misinformation. These include the inaccurate dating of Simpson’s death, twice, with a different incorrect date given each time (p. xvii & 40.)
In spite of these relatively minor difficulties, there remains much to commend about this work. Those who read it carefully will come away both with a better understanding of the theology and practice of Albert Benjamin Simpson and, more important, with the possibility of a renewed vision for life and ministry.
Reviewed by Bernie Van De Walle
Publisher’s page: http://wipfandstock.com/a-b-simpson.html
Preview: https://books.google.com/books?id=xwJoDQAAQBAJ
Category: Church History, Spring 2017