What do you think?
Rate this book
Battle for the Soul of Canada
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 3, 2011
Canada is a great place to live, with peace, care for those that need it (that's all of us) and politeness. Now, Ed Hird's book structured around a commentary on 1 and 2 Timothy in the New Testament explains gently how that happened with the intervention of God and godly people in our history.
December 12, 2017
Picked this up while browsing the Master's Book Store in Haliburton, Ontario. I was amazed at this small town bookstore's selection of classics and little-known volumes. Interested as I am in understanding different streams of Christianity, I was intrigued by this book written by an evangelical Anglican in Canada with a foreword by J.I. Packer. I bought it on those merits alone.
It is a bit of a strange book to be honest. It is based on 1 and 2 Timothy but uses the text only as a launching pad for various personal, historical, or miscellaneous other stories and exhortations. In it Ed Hird tells the story of his life and of his congregation in Vancouver which went through some rather vicious battles with the Anglican leadership when it took away their building.
Hird's best qualities are his obvious warm-hearted and sincere love for the Lord and for people. This comes through over and over in the book and I have no doubt that he is a good shepherd. That being said, the writing is only of average quality, and there was just a bit too much hagiographical hearkening back to a more Christian time in Canada. His impetus for writing the book is to call the church to focus on raising up "Timothy's" - young leaders - who are going to take up the mantle of gospel-faithfulness in Canadian society for this next generation. To that I say a hearty "Amen" and hope in some small part to be such a Timothy.
As an outsider, it is interesting to see the massive theological chasm that exists within the Anglican worldwide communion, and to see Hird as well as others striving to spread gospel-rooted orthodoxy through a denomination that is in an advanced state of internal rot. To be sure, he has more in common with evangelical (if that word means anything anymore) believers in all traditions than with the apostate members of his own denomination. This is what makes groups like The Gospel Coalition interesting in this day and age, although to be sure it has its critics too.
I recommend this book is you're interesting in learning what is going on with Canadian Anglicans from a passionate born-again follower of Christ within that movement.
It is a bit of a strange book to be honest. It is based on 1 and 2 Timothy but uses the text only as a launching pad for various personal, historical, or miscellaneous other stories and exhortations. In it Ed Hird tells the story of his life and of his congregation in Vancouver which went through some rather vicious battles with the Anglican leadership when it took away their building.
Hird's best qualities are his obvious warm-hearted and sincere love for the Lord and for people. This comes through over and over in the book and I have no doubt that he is a good shepherd. That being said, the writing is only of average quality, and there was just a bit too much hagiographical hearkening back to a more Christian time in Canada. His impetus for writing the book is to call the church to focus on raising up "Timothy's" - young leaders - who are going to take up the mantle of gospel-faithfulness in Canadian society for this next generation. To that I say a hearty "Amen" and hope in some small part to be such a Timothy.
As an outsider, it is interesting to see the massive theological chasm that exists within the Anglican worldwide communion, and to see Hird as well as others striving to spread gospel-rooted orthodoxy through a denomination that is in an advanced state of internal rot. To be sure, he has more in common with evangelical (if that word means anything anymore) believers in all traditions than with the apostate members of his own denomination. This is what makes groups like The Gospel Coalition interesting in this day and age, although to be sure it has its critics too.
I recommend this book is you're interesting in learning what is going on with Canadian Anglicans from a passionate born-again follower of Christ within that movement.
May 28, 2013
Reverent Ed Hird, Rector of St. Simon’s Church in North Vancouver, British Columbia, in his devotional book, BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF CANADA—RAISING UP THE EMERGING GENERATION OF LEADERS, uses a study of 1st and 2nd Timothy as a starting point for discussing personal, spiritual, sociological, political, and historical issues confronting Canada. He does so with humor, insight, and a keen perception.
Of particular interest to me were many of the anecdotes about people significant in Canadian history such as Louis Riel, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Sir Charles Tupper, Simon Fraser, and Catharine Parr Traill. Ed Hird underlines their strengths, shortcomings and personal spiritual encounters and lets us see how the many facets of their character and experience have contributed to the making of Canada. This is a very enjoyable, inspiring and instructive book to read. With 704 end notes, this book is thoroughly researched and provides instant access to a myriad of source materials.
Of particular interest to me were many of the anecdotes about people significant in Canadian history such as Louis Riel, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Sir Charles Tupper, Simon Fraser, and Catharine Parr Traill. Ed Hird underlines their strengths, shortcomings and personal spiritual encounters and lets us see how the many facets of their character and experience have contributed to the making of Canada. This is a very enjoyable, inspiring and instructive book to read. With 704 end notes, this book is thoroughly researched and provides instant access to a myriad of source materials.
January 15, 2016
A number of years ago I read a fantastic book called Battle for the Soul of Canada by Ed Hird. I became so excited about what I learned I developed a Bible study to go with it (with Ed's permission).
Please check out the free Bible study on my website. http://www.janiscox.com/battle-for-th... as well as checking out Ed's book.
I learned fascinating facts about the men and women who made up the history of Canada and how we too can become like them in charting a trail for others to follow God and help build a godly Canada.
Please check out the free Bible study on my website. http://www.janiscox.com/battle-for-th... as well as checking out Ed's book.
I learned fascinating facts about the men and women who made up the history of Canada and how we too can become like them in charting a trail for others to follow God and help build a godly Canada.
February 19, 2011
The introduction by J.I. Packer is wonderful. I really enjoyed this examination of Timothy in light of developments within the Anglican Church of Canada.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews