When the Church Was Alive (Newly Written Book)
It is with great joy and a deep sense of responsibility that I recommend this timely book, When the Church Was Alive: What the First Christians Knew That We Forgot, written by Pastor Duodu Henry Appiah-Korang.
The strength of the Church has never been found in buildings, numbers, wealth, popularity, or human systems. The true life of the Church has always flowed from obedience to the Word of God and submission to the Holy Spirit. Whenever God’s people have returned to the Scriptures, revival has followed. Whenever the Scriptures have been neglected, spiritual decline has inevitably set in.
One of my deepest convictions is that the believer’s walk with God must be directed by Scripture. Human opinions change. Cultural trends come and go. Personal experiences may inspire us, but they cannot become our final authority. The Holy Bible remains God’s infallible revelation and the standard by which every doctrine, prophecy, vision, practice, and spiritual experience must be tested. The Psalmist declared, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). The Church will never lose its way when it follows the light of God’s Word.
The author passionately challenges the modern Church to examine itself in the mirror of Scripture. He addresses issues such as the loss of spiritual fervency, the rise of false doctrines, weak leadership, the pursuit of miracles without genuine repentance, declining evangelism, and the growing influence of worldly systems within the Church. Whether one agrees with every observation or not, the questions raised in these pages deserve serious and prayerful consideration.
Particularly commendable is the author’s consistent appeal to the Scriptures as the basis for reform. Throughout church history, every genuine awakening has been preceded by a return to God’s Word. The Church does not need a new gospel, a new revelation, or a new foundation. What we need is a renewed commitment to the timeless truths already delivered to the saints.
As you read this book, I encourage you not merely to evaluate the condition of others but also to examine your own walk with God. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak through the Scriptures. Let this book inspire a deeper love for Christ, a greater devotion to His Word, and a stronger commitment to His Church.
My prayer is that this work will provoke thoughtful reflection, sincere repentance where necessary, renewed passion for holiness, and a fresh hunger for biblical Christianity. May it remind us that the Church is most alive when Christ remains its center, the Holy Spirit its power, and the Scriptures its supreme guide.
May the Lord use this book to strengthen His people and call many back to the ancient paths where true life is found.
