Randall Balmer's widely recognized (in its fourth printing) "Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory" lives up to its well-earned reputation. In this excellent book, Balmer takes the reader on a tour of US Evangelism with visits to or with:
* The Calvary Chapel (Santa Ana, CA.), the home of Chuck Smith who revolutionized evangelism by reaching out to the "disillusioned of the 1960s
* The Dallas Theological Seminary, a fortress of evangelical and fundamentalist orthodoxy, and Darby's rapture
* Filmmaker Donald Thompson, maker of Christian Films
* The Capstone Cathedral (Phoenix, AZ.), the home of evangelist and healer Neal Frisby
* The Word of Life Fellowship youth camp, home of Adirondack Fundamentalism
* The Church of the King (North Valdosta, GA), a charismatic church that merged with the Episcopal Church, starting a charismatic renewal
* The Multnomah School of the Bible (Oregon) and its doctrine of the end times
* The Right to Life movement in Iowa
* John Perkins, founder of Mendenhall Ministries, who returned to his native Mississippi to break the cycle of poverty, despair, and oppression of blacks
* The Christian Booksellers Association's annual convention (Bibles are a big business)
* Father Innocent Good House, a Sioux Indian, and pastor of St. Luke's Episcopal Church (Fort Yates, ND) on the resistance of evangelicals to the integration of Christianity with the Indian's native religions
* Camp Freedom, an adult faith camp (St. Petersburg, FL.) and the holiness tradition.
* The Billy Graham Crusade in New York City
* The Oregon Extension of Trinity College (Klamath Falls, OR) and the misuse of the Bible by evangelicals
* Jimmy Swaggart, since his fall, at his Family Life Center (Baton Rouge, LA)
* Thomas Kinkade and his world vision
* The purpose driven megachurches - Willow Creek (Chicago) and Saddleback (Lake Forest, CA)
In "My Eyes Have Seen," Balmer conveys the multiplicity, diversity, and complexity of Evangelicalism in the US today highlighting its folk appeal and grass roots character. Evangelicalism is quintessentially American - a free market religion which has churches competing with one another for popular followings, providing a unmistakable populist cast to religion. "Evangelicals generally galvanize around a personality who articulates - and even defines - the faith of his followers according to his own idiosyncratic reading of the Bible.
Balmer feels that Evangelicalism will persist because of its timeless appeal, promising intimacy with God, a support community, an unambiguous morality, and answers to the riddles of eternity.
"My Eyes Have Seen the Glory" is the perfect reference book for those interested in in the history and many faces of American Evangelicalism. It is a not only a "must" for anyone involved in religious ministry, but also for most Americans as Evangelicalism is major force in our society society. It cannot be easily dismissed.
