An exploration into the history, theology, and heritage of (primarily white) churches of Christ from 1820 to 1990.

The author describes the history of churches of Christ through a sociologically informed theological perspective; his goal is to show the overall trajectory of churches of Christ from sect to denomination (according to sociological definitions). He seeks to compare and contrast a Baconian rationalist ecclesial system which easily moved toward accommodation with Evangelicalism and America as a Christian nation (embodied in Alexander Campbell) and a more "apocalyptic" viewpoint privileging the Kingdom of God and viewing the denominations and nations of the world with greater skepticism (embodied by Barton Stone and David Lipscomb).

The author seeks to show Alexander Campbell as having two phases, really embodying the trajectory of the Restoration Movement: his earlier Christian Baptist days as a full sectarian, and the later Millennial Harbinger period of great optimism about the American project and a stronger ecumenical, Protestant emphasis. The Disciples of Christ would follow the "later Campbell," while the Churches of Christ upheld the "earlier Campbell", at least in the 19th century.

The author then portrays the early 20th century as the period in which, on account of many factors, the "apocalyptic" stream was cut off, and Churches of Christ themselves moved toward denominational status (again, sociologically defined) while attempting to maintain the pretense of primitivism. The "mainline" churches would quarantine any and all who wished to maintain a more sectarian primitivist view and critiqued the growing institutionalization of the organization. By the 1950s, it is demonstrated that "mainline" Churches of Christ had become full participants in conservative white Southern culture.

The story of the 1960s-1980s involves the reaction to all sorts of convulsions to the standing of conservative white Southern culture and how "mainline" Churches of Christ negotiated it. It was a story, according to the author, of a "progressive" stream much critiqued but which did provide some ways forward for the future, a "conservative" stream attempting to hold down the fort without any changes, and the rest attempting to chart a middle way forward. The author spends a disproportionate amount of time highlighting the work and ideas of the "progressive" stream.

Much can be gained from the critical perspective of the author toward Churches of Christ. He does well at showing how focus on the ideal can easily blind people to the practical and real situation on the ground; claiming to not be a denomination does not mean one's group is not acting as if it is one. One learns that the ongoing arguments within Churches of Christ have gone on as long as the movement has been around.

On the other hand, the delineations and bifurcations seem a bit too clean; it's very hard to sort out such variation and diversities in thought in a group so cleanly.

No one reading this book will believe that the author has come to praise Churches of Christ; nevertheless, one might suspect he wishes to bury them. The prophets of Israel had more positive things to say about wayward Israel than will be found regarding Churches of Christ in this volume. One would be hard-pressed, from this volume, to understand why anyone would want to be part of Churches of Christ.

It's one thing to want to presume "objectivity," but it is not hard to detect the author's sympathies with those who will become the "progressives" and his affection toward a more ecumenical movement toward Evangelicalism. It would seem the author is a bit too close to the situation and to the history involved; his judgmentalism of those in the past is caustic, and one is left run aground on the shoals of skepticism and doubt regarding the whole project. Thus, to what end is this particular history of Churches of Christ written? Was there ever any merit to the "conservative" critique? Does the Restorationist impulse have any value in Christianity? You would not know it from this volume.

For those with some understanding of the history of Churches of Christ there may be some benefit from this perspective of its history. For those without any context this volume proves too jaded and cynical about the entire endeavor. ( )

This is an A+ book for persons wanting to learn of the history of the churches of Christ stream of the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement. Hughes is a good writer.

The book is enhanced by including some photos. It is well-documented. Indexed. ( )