When The Church Was Young

by

Ernest Loosley

When The Church Was Young was written by Ernest Loosley and was originally published by George Allen and Urwin Ltd., Museum Street, London, England in 1935.  It has recently been re-published by The SeedSowers, P.O. Box 3317, Jacksonville, FL 32206.

Very little information is available about Ernest Loosley other than he is referred to as Reverend in the publishers post script in the back of the book.  One thing, however, it is certain his research had been moderated by the Holy Spirit.  The book is only 80 pages including the two page publishers post script.  It is written using words that mark it very easy to read. 

The book is divided into two parts.  Part one, titled "When the Church Was Young, It Had": No Buildings, No Denominations, No Fixed Organization, No Vocabulary of its own, No Dogmatic System, and No Sabbath Rest (in the Gentile World) .  Part two titled "But It Did Possess": An Experience,  A Store of Teaching from Christ, and A Gospel.  Each short chapter deals with just one idea, but collectively they contrast the differences between the first and nineteenth century church.

The publisher who republished the book included a note in the flyleaf stating: "It is difficult to believe that a book speaking from a viewpoint this radical appeared a generation before our time.  Even today we cannot say, 'The church is beginning to face these issues.'  She is not.  But today a few people are beginning to.  It is hoped this book will remind us that other men, in times long past, saw these foundational issues and dared to speak of them.  Such a testimony from out of the past  must embolden us today, and increase the number of visionaries for tomorrow."

I recommend this book to anyone who is concerned about whether or not the church, as it is often practiced today, is headed in the proper direction.