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As the last demon left, it cried "Jesus is the victor!". This became Blumhardt's motto. His congregation, supportive through the ordeal, responded by seeking Christ's victory over their own sins and ailments. Soon Blumhardt was inundated with visitors wishing to confess to him, and as the penitents seemed so tormented by their guilt, the pastor began to grant absolution. This got him in trouble with the state church, which found his practices dangerously Catholic. Unlike Hoover, Blumhardt accepted the church's censure, first ceasing to host out-of-town guests, then ceasing to see anyone in his office; his only ministry was from the pulpit and in prayer. Eventually, though, these limitations chafed, and Blumhardt left his parish to start a community (the Bruderhof) at a spa called Bad Boll.

Though their names are largely forgotten, the theology of Blumhardt and his son, Christoph Friedrich, became immensely influential in Germany. Emil Brunner cited Christoph Blumhardt and Soren Kierkegaard as the best predecessors of Neo-Orthodoxy. Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Jacques Ellul, Jurgen Moltmann, and other powerful figures also felt the Blumhardts' influence.

Whether evidenced by spiritual ecstasy and tongues or by confession and healing, the Holy Spirit's presence was profound in these two pastor's churches. These books remind us that the excitement of the early church is not lost—but it may crop up in ways no one can expect.

Elesha Coffman is Assistant Editor of Christian History

The Awakening can be purchased at the Christianity Online bookstore. For History of the Pentecostal Revival in Chile you'll have to go to Amazon.com or another book retailer. for more on the Blumhardts' theology, see Thy Kingdom Come: A Blumhardt Reader. More Christian History, including a listing of events that occurred this week in the church's past, is available at ChristianHistory.net. We also strongly encourage you to subscribe to the quarterly print magazine. Christian History Corner appears every Friday at ChristianityToday.com. Previous Christian History Corners include:Asking the Wrong Questions | The Christian History staff's field trip to see the Dead Sea Scrolls (May 19, 2000) Glorified Gore | The early church wouldn't have been pleased with Gladiator. (May 12, 2000) Maniac or Martyr? | Two centuries after his birth, John Brown remains a divisive figure (May 5, 2000)Dietrich's Friend Eberhard | A fellow resister of the Nazis, editor, and biographer dies half a century after his subject and companion (April 28, 2000)When Is Easter This Year? | It may be hard to tell when Easter will fall, but it was even harder for the church to create its calculations. (April 20, 2000)Coming Soon to a Bookshelf Near You | Christianity Today's annual book awards contain some choice history selections (April 14, 2000)The Original ‘Charitable Choice' Program | Transferring authority over Native Americans from the military to the church was a nice idea, but it failed. (Apr. 7, 2000)Donne on Death | Poet John Donne's "morbid tendencies" were neither unfounded nor without an attendant hope. (Mar. 31, 2000)Heaven Can't Wait | Mass suicides, like last week's in Uganda, may be a newer tactic, but the temptation to predict, even force, the coming of kingdom bliss is not. (Mar. 24, 2000)

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May (Web-only) 2000, Vol. 44