To kick us off I thought I would list my five books that I think are essential reading for Christians. This list is somewhat evolutionary in nature but hopefully you’ll find it useful all the same.
The Top Five
1. Mere Christianity - C. S. Lewis
To say that this is a beginners guide to Christianity would be be doing it a massive injustice. However, in Lewis’ Mere Christianity we have the clearest, yet most profound, explanation of the fundamentals of our faith that I have come across. Whether you are a new Christian or have been journeying for many years this book will challenge the way you look at your faith. It also contains the best “explanation” of the trinity that I have heard. [find it here]
2. The Divine Conspiracy - Dallas Willard
Dallas Willard has become possibly the most influential theologian on my life to date. The Divine Conspiracy is dense, it’s hard work in places, but it’s meaty stuff you can chew on. I challenge anybody to read this and not have their world turned upside down (or, as Willard puts it, right-side-up). Focusing on the sermon on the mount he expounds it in a way that was certainly news to me. And it radically transformed my thinking. [find it here]
3. The Spirit of the Disciplines - Dallas Willard
Willard gets two on my list. Told you I liked him *smile*. This is all about some of the Christian disciplines which are sadly neglected in our Christianity today. It’s aim to help us understand how to achieve the life; that is, life in all it’s fullness, that Jesus promised by looking at how He lived and giving really practical advice as to how we can claim this promise. This is a challenge, but as your read, you know it’s right. [find it here]
4. Once Saved, Always Saved? - David Pawson
David Pawson is a somewhat controversial figure in some circles. He tends to speak his mind and doesn’t pull any punches. You almost certainly wont agree with everything he says but the reason I love reading his material is because I think his approach is brilliant. He is a Bible teacher, but rather than give you his opinion, or own brand of theology, he simply tells you what’s in the scripture, offers some help as to when and why it was written, and leaves it up to you and the Holy Spirit to work out the rest. I think it’s great.
But to this book itself. It looks at the fundamental theology of Once Saved, Always Saved. What does it mean? Where does it come from? Is it true? How does it affect us either way? We might not think that this is an issue for us, but Pawson helps us to realise that our stance on this, even if it’s a sub conscience one, massively affects our faith. [find it here]
5. The Bible - errr God I guess
Yeah, ok, a somewhat cheesy way to finish but it is, after all, the whole point of this site; that is, to point people to God’s Word. We ignore it at our peril and while it is great that we read other things that build us up, teach us, and inspire us. Ultimately they all should point us at the Bible. We must be very careful that other material doesn’t become a Bible replacement.
Over To You
So, in no particular order, that’s my current five. What do you think? Have you read these? What five books do you think we all need to read?
