THE VELVET COVERED BRICK: Christian Leadership in an Age of Rebellion

Howard Butt is a white, affluent, middle-aged reactionary. You know right off that he is middle-aged, because he is able to write complete sentences that are both clear and communicative. So far as being white, affluent and reactionary, he tells us that himself, as he explains precisely why, contemporary nonsense to the contrary, a strong, vital leadership (read: authority) is necessary to the Christian Church, and describes both the philosophical and theological foundations of that concept and its practical attributes. In the latter manifestation, the book is redolent more of Dale Carnegie than of the Fathers; but it may be argued -- indeed, the author does just that -- that winning friends and influencing people is really what leadership, Christian or otherwise, is all about. If so, Mr. Butt must be the paradigmatic Christian leader, for his book charms, amuses, and delights as well as tells us where we have gone wrong.