Many evangelicals paint fundamentalism with the same broad, negative
brush. But we owe more to our pietist-revivalist roots than we
realize.Richard Mouw's awareness of fundamentalism's problems hasn't
robbed his appreciation for its strengths. The Smell of Sawdust sheds
thoughtful and revealing light on the colorful parentage of contemporary
evangelicalism. If you detect fondness, even a hint of nostalgia, you're
right. From its history, to its ethos, to its mores and methods, Mouw
takes you on a fascinating journey through the pros and cons of the
"sawdust trail." Whatever your outlook on the revivalist tradition,
whether favorable or not so favorable, these candid, thought-provoking
insights will inspire your respect for fundamentalism's strong points,
help you learn from its weaknesses, and above all, enrich your life as a
Christian. Like the author, you'll find yourself singing the old gospel
hymns with new understanding and depth.Filled with anecdotes from the
amusing to the poignant, this book takes you back to the sawdust-covered
earth of the early tent meetings . . . earlier, to the spiritual hunger
that sparked the pietist movement . . . and later, into today, where we
strive to effectively communicate the nonnegotiables of our faith to a
needy world.The Smell of Sawdust is gentle and deeply personal. It is
also wise--neither judgmental nor naive, but healing, furnishing
redemptive insights into the character of our fundamentalist heritage.
This book will broaden the perspective of thinking Christians who want
to engage both their hearts and their intellects to reach the soul of
our culture with the gospel.
