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The Fool of God: A novel based upon the life of Alexander Campbell
The Fool of God
426 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 6, 2016
This "fictionalized biography" about one of the leaders of the American church Restoration movement in the 1800s was very interesting. I'm taking away a great deal from reading it, from the picture of Alexander Campbell himself, to thoughts on church unity, to how different times are in the 2000's than they were then. I was taken with the pace of life, the way people spent time together, and the meaningful spiritual conversations that seemed to be the norm, especially as I contrasted it with the fast-paced, busy lives and shallow relationships most people seem to live today.
So many things made me think, there is just no way to articulate them all. I borrowed the book from a friend and have 65 flags marking sections. SIXTY FIVE!
"Men were seeking the truth, whatever that might be and wherever it might lead. They were studying the Word of God fro themselves. And that was good" (41).
"Men can differ in their interpretations of the Scriptures and yet commune with one another as Christians. But that is not easy. Our tendency to confuse matters of opinion with those of faith has divided Christendom into armed camps that fight each other with more earnestness than they do the devil himself" (47).
"Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; and where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent. In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things, charity" (77).
So many things made me think, there is just no way to articulate them all. I borrowed the book from a friend and have 65 flags marking sections. SIXTY FIVE!
"Men were seeking the truth, whatever that might be and wherever it might lead. They were studying the Word of God fro themselves. And that was good" (41).
"Men can differ in their interpretations of the Scriptures and yet commune with one another as Christians. But that is not easy. Our tendency to confuse matters of opinion with those of faith has divided Christendom into armed camps that fight each other with more earnestness than they do the devil himself" (47).
"Where the Scriptures speak, we speak; and where the Scriptures are silent, we are silent. In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things, charity" (77).
September 10, 2018
I bought this book for my husband because of his heritage, three generations long, in the Christian churches established, in part, by Alexander Campbell. My husband enjoyed this novel-like biography of Alexander Campbell so much that he gave the book to his mom. I read it after both of them.
I found parts of the book to be dramatic and exciting, while other parts were dull - probably as is true in any life. Alexander Campbell directed believers to be "just" Christians, without allowing any denominational differences divide them. One of the catch phrases that he used was, "Where the Bible speaks, we speak and where the Bible is silent, we are silent."
I know that I am living in a much later era, but that just doesn't seem that profound to me. I grew up with a Presbyterian father and a Methodist mother who raised us in a Baptist home. They counted each other as Christians and had fellowship with those in other denominations, with respect for the differences. Conversations on the differences were respectful and insightful, with each side saying why they believed a certain thing to be true. They were able to respect differences without giving up their differences, distinctions, or denominations - all the while enjoying true fellowship with them. I have come to see that each denomination does a different thing well. We were raised such that when we were grown, we knew to find a Bible-believing, Bible-preaching church, regardless of what title was on the door. Admittedly, the author, Louis Cochran, stated that the lay people didn't have as much problems with this idea as the clergy.
It was that kind of thinking that led me to find a Christian church in my college years. I wasn't particularly looking for one, or for the enlightenment of treating all Christians as brothers in fellowship. I already had that without leaving my Baptist denomination. I simply couldn't find a Bible-believing church near the college campus and thought I would try this one.
I did grow to love that little congregation and met my husband there and have now been in this group for over twenty-five years. I have found that there are things that I like about that culture as opposed to the Baptist culture. I liked the belief in the "ministry of all believers," that is that all believers have a ministry or a calling rather than just the clergy (based on 1 Peter 2:9 and others.)
I also think that as our society becomes more and more anti-Christian, Christians have become more accepting of one another and their denominations, standing up for one another more. Petty divisiveness is a luxury that we can no longer afford.
One other thing that stood out to me in "The Fool of God" was how much this original group studied the Bible and taught their students to study the Bible. That contrasts with my experience in youth ministry, where so many of the kids are Biblically illiterate and I have had to alter lessons in order to just include scripture. I do know that the adult services and children's services are more Biblically based.
Having said that I appreciate this Christian group, (Campbell would be appalled if I called it a denomination, but that seemed like semantics to me), I found this narrative of Alexander Campbell as painfully arrogant and off-putting. Campbell himself knew that he was prone to pride and his wife kept him humble, kept reminding him that he did these things through Christ, not of his own strength and abilities. My husband, on the other hand, liked that Louis Cochran showed Alexander Campbell as he was, flaws and all.
There were some gems in the book. Favorite quotes:
"I'm ashamed with all this I should ever become discouraged." - Alexander Campbell
"The proofs of His existence are as numerous as the drops of dew." - Alexander Campbell
"God was a personal friend and to talk with Him was as natural to all of them as greeting a companion." - Louis Cochran
"Maybe each man was destined to use his gifts and then release the burden." - Louis Cochran
"Her placid assumption of Divine help was at times annoying." - Louis Cochran of Selina Campbell, Alexander Campbell's 2nd wife.
"... hardening himself to rebuffs, praying for wisdom, pleading for an understanding..." - Louis Cochran
"The weakness of Christianity and the ineffectiveness of the church, the strife and dissension and misunderstandings among us all are due to the fact we simply do not read the Bible as thoroughly as we should." - Alexander Campbell
"There is no occasion then for making immersion, or a profession of faith, absolutely essential to a Christian, though it may be greatly essential to his sanctification and comfort." - Alexander Campbell, although many in the Christian church would be surprised to read that.
"Good works are much more wanting than good notions." - Alexander Campbell
"I sometimes wonder if my wealth has limited my faith." - Alexander Campbell
"Wherever you are, Walter, I know you'll be doing God's will. That can't be said of many men. Personal ambition gets in the way; pride; love of power; lots of sinful traits." - Alexander Campbell to Walter Scott
"The love of God shed abroad in our hearts will more effectively unite us than all the wisdom of the world combined." - Raccoon John Smith
"Tell them to follow God's guidance, not mine." - Alexander Campbell
"The view in which I have changed the most completely is that in which I deluded myself with the fantasy that I could reform the church without reforming the individuals in it." - Alexander Campbell
"A God Who would give His Son because He loved the world would not abandon it now." - Louis Cochran
"God is a God of love. We cannot wander from His love and care. Not even in death." - Thomas Campbell, Alexander's father ”
I found parts of the book to be dramatic and exciting, while other parts were dull - probably as is true in any life. Alexander Campbell directed believers to be "just" Christians, without allowing any denominational differences divide them. One of the catch phrases that he used was, "Where the Bible speaks, we speak and where the Bible is silent, we are silent."
I know that I am living in a much later era, but that just doesn't seem that profound to me. I grew up with a Presbyterian father and a Methodist mother who raised us in a Baptist home. They counted each other as Christians and had fellowship with those in other denominations, with respect for the differences. Conversations on the differences were respectful and insightful, with each side saying why they believed a certain thing to be true. They were able to respect differences without giving up their differences, distinctions, or denominations - all the while enjoying true fellowship with them. I have come to see that each denomination does a different thing well. We were raised such that when we were grown, we knew to find a Bible-believing, Bible-preaching church, regardless of what title was on the door. Admittedly, the author, Louis Cochran, stated that the lay people didn't have as much problems with this idea as the clergy.
It was that kind of thinking that led me to find a Christian church in my college years. I wasn't particularly looking for one, or for the enlightenment of treating all Christians as brothers in fellowship. I already had that without leaving my Baptist denomination. I simply couldn't find a Bible-believing church near the college campus and thought I would try this one.
I did grow to love that little congregation and met my husband there and have now been in this group for over twenty-five years. I have found that there are things that I like about that culture as opposed to the Baptist culture. I liked the belief in the "ministry of all believers," that is that all believers have a ministry or a calling rather than just the clergy (based on 1 Peter 2:9 and others.)
I also think that as our society becomes more and more anti-Christian, Christians have become more accepting of one another and their denominations, standing up for one another more. Petty divisiveness is a luxury that we can no longer afford.
One other thing that stood out to me in "The Fool of God" was how much this original group studied the Bible and taught their students to study the Bible. That contrasts with my experience in youth ministry, where so many of the kids are Biblically illiterate and I have had to alter lessons in order to just include scripture. I do know that the adult services and children's services are more Biblically based.
Having said that I appreciate this Christian group, (Campbell would be appalled if I called it a denomination, but that seemed like semantics to me), I found this narrative of Alexander Campbell as painfully arrogant and off-putting. Campbell himself knew that he was prone to pride and his wife kept him humble, kept reminding him that he did these things through Christ, not of his own strength and abilities. My husband, on the other hand, liked that Louis Cochran showed Alexander Campbell as he was, flaws and all.
There were some gems in the book. Favorite quotes:
"I'm ashamed with all this I should ever become discouraged." - Alexander Campbell
"The proofs of His existence are as numerous as the drops of dew." - Alexander Campbell
"God was a personal friend and to talk with Him was as natural to all of them as greeting a companion." - Louis Cochran
"Maybe each man was destined to use his gifts and then release the burden." - Louis Cochran
"Her placid assumption of Divine help was at times annoying." - Louis Cochran of Selina Campbell, Alexander Campbell's 2nd wife.
"... hardening himself to rebuffs, praying for wisdom, pleading for an understanding..." - Louis Cochran
"The weakness of Christianity and the ineffectiveness of the church, the strife and dissension and misunderstandings among us all are due to the fact we simply do not read the Bible as thoroughly as we should." - Alexander Campbell
"There is no occasion then for making immersion, or a profession of faith, absolutely essential to a Christian, though it may be greatly essential to his sanctification and comfort." - Alexander Campbell, although many in the Christian church would be surprised to read that.
"Good works are much more wanting than good notions." - Alexander Campbell
"I sometimes wonder if my wealth has limited my faith." - Alexander Campbell
"Wherever you are, Walter, I know you'll be doing God's will. That can't be said of many men. Personal ambition gets in the way; pride; love of power; lots of sinful traits." - Alexander Campbell to Walter Scott
"The love of God shed abroad in our hearts will more effectively unite us than all the wisdom of the world combined." - Raccoon John Smith
"Tell them to follow God's guidance, not mine." - Alexander Campbell
"The view in which I have changed the most completely is that in which I deluded myself with the fantasy that I could reform the church without reforming the individuals in it." - Alexander Campbell
"A God Who would give His Son because He loved the world would not abandon it now." - Louis Cochran
"God is a God of love. We cannot wander from His love and care. Not even in death." - Thomas Campbell, Alexander's father ”
January 4, 2024
A great introductory to A. Campbell's life.
October 22, 2015
I have always heard about Alexander Campbell as his name was bounced around the theology courses but never knew what he was about. Reading this book has helped me understand the man on another level. Cochran has excellently reviewed his life with pertinent and interesting details that have brought out the heart of Alexander for the Restoration Movement. God had obviously placed a charge in his heart concerning the restoration of the New Testament Church and Alexander ran with it. This book is worth the read for not only is it historically relevant, but also enjoyable and engaging.
July 20, 2013
I have heard about the existence of this book for years. I found it interesting since it provided me context and historical background for my faith. I was impressed with the political activity of Alexander Campbell.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews