Best Discoveries in Reading 2024: Theology and Christianity
I know some of you reading today’s post may not be interested in the topic of Christianity and Theology Books, but I hope you won’t skip it. Although I read a lot of theology, none of the following books require theological heavy lifting. Some of these works address questions I’m often asked about regarding the church in general, with topics such as authority and spiritual/pastoral abuse, “What is God all about?” and “Why is there evil in the world?” Again, I hope you’ll take a look.
The Bruised Reed (1630) Richard Sibbes
"A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.” (Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20)
Although the Puritans are often dismissed and ridiculed, their writings have not lost their potency in nearly 400 years. All Christians struggle in many ways, and one such struggle is doubting their salvation, which can make them feel like bruised reeds. This classic book has provided hope from despair and anxiety for nearly four centuries. It’s still around for a reason.
Let the Children Worship (2016) Jason Helopoulos
People leave churches for all sorts of reasons, but settling the question of when to bring young children into the worship service can be a major point of contention. This short book (under 100 pages) focuses on the various challenges and blessings of having children attend worship services and offers some good potential solutions.
Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church (2022) Michael J. Kruger
Bully Pulpit was recommended by a good friend of mine who has first-hand knowledge of a spiritually abusive pastor in her church. When I told her our church was looking for an interim and a permanent pastor, she said, “You should read this book. Your Pastoral Search Committee should read this book.” We’ve all read articles or news reports about spiritual or pastoral abuse in the church. Although I’ve never experienced it first-hand, that type of behavior is out there, and this book helps churches prevent it.
Things Unseen: A Systematic Introduction to the Christian Faith and Reformed Theology (1935-1936/2020) J. Gresham Machen
Six years before C.S. Lewis began a series of radio broadcasts that became the basis for the apologetical book Mere Christianity, theologian and Princeton Seminary professor J. Gresham Machen delivered a series of radio addresses introducing audiences to systematic theology. If the term “systematic theology” scares you, it shouldn’t. You won’t need a heavy background in either theology or the Bible to understand and gain insight into the basics of Christianity Machen explores here, so this is a good book to give to someone encountering Christianity for the first time. These talks may be even more relevant now than they were nearly 90 years ago.
Defeating Evil: How God Glorifies Himself in a Dark World (2024) Scott Christensen
Here’s a question that comes up often, especially when tragic events occur: “How can God allow such things to happen?” Christensen answers this age-old problem by closely examining Scripture. While the topic is difficult, Christensen’s writing is easy to understand, yet the answers are far from simplistic. The book is a revised, condensed version of Christensen’s earlier (larger and mostly academic) work, What About Evil? (2020).
Saving My Assassin (2016) Virginia Prodan
I normally don’t read modern Christian memoirs, often considering them too melodramatic, yet I understand that real-life stories can be a source of strength and comfort for many. Saving My Assassin begins with Virginia Prodan, an attorney working during Nicolae Ceaușescu’s communist rule of Romania. Acting on Ceaușescu’s orders, a man enters Prodan’s office, shuts the door, pulls out a gun, and announces he’s been sent to assassinate her. The story of what happened next is truly extraordinary. Saving My Assassin contains more melodrama than I would’ve liked, but the book is gripping.
Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness (1895) Andrew Murray
At only 114 pages, this book simply floored me. Whether you have humility issues or not, I’d recommend this book to anyone, Christian or not. If you only read one book on this list, I’d recommend you make it this one.
The Elder-Led Church: How an Eldership Team Shepherds a Healthy Flock (2024) Murray Capill
Last year, I started a tradition of gifting a book to the elders (of which I am one) of my church. I decided to give them a copy of The Elder-Led Church a couple of months early since our congregation was beginning to accept nominations for new elders and deacons. The Elder-Led Church covers many things our elders are already doing but also shows ways we can shepherd our congregants better.
How Does Sanctification Work? (2017) David Powlison
I’ve been a fan of David Powlison ever since I read his book of devotionals, Take Heart, last year. Although this book often seems to wander in its focus, everything is connected to the topic of sanctification in a believer’s life, filled with insights the author encountered during his own journey.
Waiting Isn’t a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life (2024) Mark Vroegop
As sometimes happens, I bought copies of this book for friends who are somewhat new to the faith, since waiting is often challenging (and not just for Christians). My purchase also gave me access to the eBook, which taught me a thing or two about waiting. Highly recommended.
Authority: How Godly Rule Protects the Vulnerable, Strengthens Communities, and Promotes Human Flourishing (2023) Jonathan Leeman (new for book talk)
Authority can be abused, neglected, or—rarely, it seems—used properly. We don’t have to look very far to see abuses or abandonment of authority, but Leeman’s book focuses on proper authority, not just in the church but also at work, home, and society. Good authority can cause people to flourish rather than feel oppressed. Everyone should read this engaging book since it affects us all: those in authority and those under authority.
That’s going to do it for my Best Discoveries in Reading in 2024. I’ll take a break for Christmas, then will be back for my thoughts on the Best Movie Discoveries and Rediscoveries of 2024.
Thanks for reading. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to you all!