he literary contents within "The Big White Church Down the Street" is not make-believe, fictional writing, but rather, it is written from my own personal experience while attending church services of a Pentecostal denominational culture, the testimonies of bible theologians, and research and experiences of others, including those in ministries and the general population of Christians who have experienced what I call "spiritual discouragement," and "congregants neglect
Reviewed By Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite--5 stars:
I absolutely loved The Big White Church Down The Street by Calvin L Allen for so many reasons. First, the eloquence with which the minister has written is beautiful. He exudes compassion and kindness to everyone in society. He breathes fresh air into Christianity with his love and understanding of those who are downtrodden in society. I agreed wholeheartedly with every sentiment in regards to what makes a good Christian. To have faith and to help those less fortunate than ourselves is what matters; not attending a service and thinking that is all you need to do. The statistics quoted throughout are astonishing, especially the reasons people choose to attend church. The chapter on the ordination of women also made a lot of sense. I would highly recommend people who have become disillusioned with Christianity read this book because the contents will definitely reignite their faith again. It would also be useful to those who attend church regularly, so they can measure their behavior to discover if they are truly practicing the teachings of Christ.
Excerpt
The book identifies the many different ways abuse in the church happens, how to recognize it, and steps one must take to protect themselves from doctrines not supported by scriptures. The Big White Church Down the Street differ from my first book titled, "And Other Sheep I Have Which Are Not of This Fold; Them I Must Bring Also," in that, it reflects on how many are deceived by wrong bible doctrine and discloses and reveals ineffective leadership.
This book will reignite the faith of those who have been discouraged by doctrines of religion, legalistic metaphors such as rules and regulations that opposes Jesus purpose of dying for our sins, and restoring the body of Christ back to God's original intent, that we are free and made whole in Christ Jesus. It cuts through the chase with confirmable scriptures, research, and theological truth that will restore the mind that has been brain-washed by the wrong doctrine.
Professional Reviews
Readers Favorite
Reviewed By Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite-5 stars
With fewer than half of all American Christians believing that the ministry has high standards and ethics, and the congregations of churches decreasing consistently, has Christianity lost its way? Minister Calvin Allen examines the behavior and mindset of the church leaders today and compares them with the teachings of the New Testament in The Big White Church Down The Street. Didn't Jesus come to take away all our sins? Did he not come to rescue the sinners not the righteous? Has the church become a place of judgemental derision towards the needy in society? Church elders preach that to enter the Kingdom of God, we must practice good deeds, but the author believes differently; that to truly come closer to God we must have faith. Minister Allen also examines the subject of the ordination of women and if women are fully capable of executing their responsibilities according to the scriptures. To this end, he asks if the concept of the Five-Fold Ministry can be possible in modern-day ministry.
I absolutely loved The Big White Church Down The Street by Calvin L Allen for so many reasons. First, the eloquence with which the minister has written is beautiful. He exudes compassion and kindness to everyone in society. He breathes fresh air into Christianity with his love and understanding of those who are downtrodden in society. I agreed wholeheartedly with every sentiment in regards to what makes a good Christian. To have faith and to help those less fortunate than ourselves is what matters; not attending a service and thinking that is all you need to do. The statistics quoted throughout are astonishing, especially the reasons people choose to attend church. The chapter on the ordination of women also made a lot of sense. I would highly recommend people who have become disillusioned with Christianity read this book because the contents will definitely reignite their faith again. It would also be useful to those who attend church regularly, so they can measure their behavior to discover if they are truly practicing the teachings of Christ.
Reviewed By: Lisa McCombs Review Rating: 4 Stars-Readers’ Favorite
In The Big White Church Down the Street, Calvin Allen states that “the enemy wants to take believers of Christ” by planting injurious weeds within the walls of many churches that “preach guilt and condemnation, fire-and-brimstone doctrines, which is a doctrine that Jesus opposes.” The author further examines the focus of individual salvation not resting upon the physical clay and mortar structure, but a reflection of a person’s internal commitment to Christ. Calvin Allen states: “The tragedy is when we forget that Jesus came for the unrighteous. He came for the sinner, the hungry, the poor, the homeless, the drunkard, and the pimp and prostitutes--those who many so-called Christians push away from the church. Believers are to seek out sinners, encouraging them through their acts of compassion, kindness, and love. This is the ultimate catalyst of faith.”
The Big White Church Down the Street: Give Me That Old Time Religion is probably one of the most inspirational books I’ve read on the subject of salvation. Written in the conversational fashion of Max Lucado, this short book is a sincere lesson in no-nonsense spiritual instruction. This is an important book, full of sensible messages for mankind. The short length does not adequately reflect the value of the words presented. As many religious references go, this is not an intimidating read. Calvin Allen provides an easy-to-read volume for a vast population. His language is relatable and his message appropriate for scholars as well as the casual reader. I highly recommend The Big White Church Down the Street for church and public libraries.
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Reviews for "The Big White Church Down the Street"
Although short in volume, "The Big White Church" is long in reflections on the current status of the church today. The introduction section of the book alone where the church is introduced to the new pastor is an eye-opening experience, to say the least. Many churches already have their "perfect idea" of what their congregant should look like, act like, and speak like, leaving little to no room for the people that Jesus really called us to reach. The author, Rev. Calvin Allen, put it as follows: "Believers are to seek out sinners, encouraging them through their acts of compassion, kindness, and love. Sinners should never be looked down upon, nor should they ever be neglected the right to seek God to become a better person, a person of Christian morals and values. Faith is what matters to Jesus, and it has no boundaries." Unfortunately, many churches have lost sight of their real duty, calling sinners into the fold of Christianity. Many churches become so busy with their programs that they forget the people. Or, as Pastor Allen states, "The churches (some of them) seem to have become more of a 'business,' than a spiritual organization one attends for restoration of soul and spirit. When the emphasis focuses more on using one's gifts and talents to enhance the brand of a church than to bring one to the knowledge and understanding of the function of the church, leadership has taken a turn for the worst." The Pastor goes on to explain in precise detail the simple delegation of authority within the church: "Who chooses the elders? The pastor does. Who has authority over them? The pastor does. We are not talking about authority in a natural sense of understanding. We are talking about DIVINE authority, which comes from the throne of God to the people through a ministry gift chosen and equipped by the LORD Jesus Christ. Therefore, the continuing, unacceptable behavior of elders depends on what the pastor allows. Though elders will be accountable to God themselves, pastors are accountable for the allowance of such ungodly behaviors." I appreciate and can relate to Brother Allen's confusion by being ostracized suddenly by the church without explanation and thank him for his candor in sharing his story. My first couple years in the church, I was nit-picked to death over small, trivial matters to the point that I considered leaving the church altogether. I wonder how many "new" Christians experience this and simply "throw in the towel" and walk away from the church? The Bible gives the leaders/elders in the church a perfectly detailed "job description" to follow and Pastor Allen lays it out well in "The Big White Church." This book sheds light on the problems of the church, even tackling the topic of leadership among women in the church (a subject some churches shy away from) and presents scripture to support his viewpoint. Very well written. Highly recommend.
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