Aimee Semple McPherson: Everybody's Sister

I picked this book up off the bargin table at my local bookstore and found it a good read. It made me want to read other books in the series. Blumhofer presents a balanced view of Mcpherson neither focusing on the more sensational aspects of her life story nor selectively ignoring difficulties. This is not the typical protestant hagiography, but its presentation is generally positive. Blumhofer does a good job of sketching Aimee's influences and development, her remarkable and gregarious personality and ability as a visionary and organizer of a movement. She also presents the scandals, (marriages, handling of funds, the "kidnapping," infighting at Temple Angelus, lawsuits, etc.) in a fair way. I do not think you could come away from reading this book and think Aimee Semple Mcpherson did not have her share of faults, and issues. But you couldn't demonize her either. The biggest criticism I have of this book is a certain sloppiness in the editing. Dates contradict, grammar is strained in places. It is a shame that there was no revision with the reprinting of the book.

This was a very fair biography of Aimee Semple McPherson. She told the story without being judgmental or accusatory. I liked that. It's as good as Epstein's book (which I want to read again), and is better in fact that she includes an index, where Epstein's does not, and books that don't have indexes are very difficult to reference at a later date. I liked this book very much.

Aimee Semple McPherson was a Pentecostal evangelist who achieved celebrity status in the 1920's. "Sister"(as she was affectionately called) also pastored Angelus Temple in Los Angeles and founded the Foursquare denomination. To begin to understand the complex McPherson one should read this definitive biography by Edith Blumhofer. Aimee, a Canadian farm girl was heavily influenced by her mother's Salvation Army activism, and to a lesser extent, her father's traditional Methodism. For example, McPherson's putting ministry ahead of family is parallel to her mother's doing the same and the Salvation Army marriage vow to not let marriage interfere with ministry. The Army background definitely influence her use of theatrics and pageantry in her ministry. Robert Semple, an evangelist, and her first husband, introduces Aimee to Pentecostalism. "Sister"'s Pentecostalism was not definitive enough for classical Pentecostalists(Some Assemblies of God ministers saying she did not insist on tongues always being the evidence of the "Baptism of the Spirit"; a view which seems to shift in agreement with classical Pentecostalists later in her ministry?). She referred to her message as "Bible Christianity" rather than Pentecostalism. One is struck by the acceptance of her by much of Protestantism, the transdenominational clergy cooperation, and her good sense of using much of Protestant hymnody to unify the different traditions attending her meetings. She seems more of a forerunner of the "Charismatic Movement"(pentecostal renewal within Protestant denominations) than a classical Pentecostalist. The most intriquing aspect of the book for me as an evangelical, is Aimee's methodology in presenting the gospel. Rather than "preaching the law" so as to convict of sin, Sister instead provides a potrait of the Beautiful Saviour, Jesus, "the same yesterday, today and forever". Perhaps McPherson finds that the prescence of God will so show the Saviour in his holiness and glory that the same goal is achieved more efficiently? Blumhofer shows Sister Aimee, as she was, warts and all. One flaming anti-Pentecostalist summarizes McPherson as "married three times, died of an overdose". To get the full story, read this book. Fundamentalists and Evangelicals tend to look over obvious faults of their heroes: Luther was foul-mouthed and anti-Semitic, William Carey and John Wesley were far from role-model husbands. Sister, like all of us is a mixture of mud and marble. For God has no perfect people to work with. Her willingnes to go into the dance hall, boxing ring or red-light district to love the unlovely reminds one of Wesley and Whitefield. Historians, Evangelicals and Pentecostals will enjoy this well-researched, sympathetic potrait of "Everybody's Sister."