Review:

Inside Story: the life of John Stott

Identified in 2005 alongside Barack Obama, the Dalai Lama and Oprah Winfrey by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, John Stott’s life stands retelling.

Rooted in the life of the local church at All Souls, Langham Place in London where he progressed from Curate to Rector Emeritus, his ministry has helped shape the dimensions of contemporary evangelicalism. Roger Steer’s biography provides many insights into Stott’s life: his father’s resistance to his training for ordination, his pacifism and decision not to marry, for example.

Publicly, his clash with Dr Martyn Lloyd- Jones, his pivotal role in the birth of the Lausanne Movement and his foundation of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity are illustrative of his passion and commitment for evangelical unity and an understanding of the gospel which includes both evangelism and social action.

The story is told in sequential order and mostly without comment. While this can be a little tedious at times, there are some fascinating insights into formative historic events. Alongside this, humorous anecdotes, such as when Stott wandered off and got lost in the Amazonian jungle, make for amusing asides.

HIGH: The retelling of the liberal-evangelical dialogue with insights into the annihilation controversy.

LOW: The introduction of the wider historical context is rather laboured.

Published by: IVP