My 12 Favorite Christian Books

This week, I've decided to take a break from deeper topics and simply share my twelve favorite Christian books:

The Case for Christ (by Lee Strobel)

Formerly an atheist, Lee Strobel set out to use his journalistic skills to prove that the events in the Gospels never happened. Rather than accomplishing his goal, he followed the evidence where it led and concluded that the historical evidence supports the accuracy of the Gospels and the truth of Christianity. This is not the strongest or most comprehensive book on this topic, but it is a great place to start. It uses an interview format that is easy to follow and quick to read. I try not to say this often, but because of its easy format and the importance of the topic, I believe this is a book every Christian should read.

Mere Christianity (by C.S. Lewis)

This is one of the classics of Christian literature. The first portion is spent defending the truth of Christianity, primarily by using the moral argument (that moral laws cannot exist without a moral law-giver), and makes the case that the universe does not make sense generally without God as an ultimate foundation of meaning. Lewis spends the remainder of the book offering his take on many of the basic Christian doctrines as well as issues pertaining to how we live as Christians. In my opinion, there is no more brilliant writer and defender of Christianity than C.S. Lewis.

The Case for Faith (by Lee Strobel)

In this sequel to The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel attempts to find answers to some of the most difficult questions regarding God and Christianity: why God allows suffering and evil, how we can know miracles are possible, whether it’s narrow-minded to say that Jesus is the only way to God, how a loving God can send people to hell, whether doubt is an obstacle to our relationship with God, and more. He uses the same interview format that made The Case for Christ easy to read and understand.

Who Moved the Stone? (by Frank Morison)

First published in 1930, this book is one of the most detailed arguments I’ve read for the resurrection of Jesus. The author began with a deep reverence for Jesus but thought that the Gospels had become overgrown with legends and embellishments, and he set out to write a book that could clear away all of the supernatural elements and reveal the great, though ordinary, man that Jesus was. In the process, however, his investigation led him to the conclusion that the Gospel accounts aren’t embellished at all, but are accurate historical accounts, and that Jesus did literally rise from the dead. This book is more advanced and detailed than The Case for Christ, but a little more tedious to read. It explores every nuance of the Gospel accounts and makes a very effective case.

Real Christianity (by William Wilberforce)

This book was written at the end of the 18th century and played a role in the abolition of slavery in England. Wilberforce covers a variety of topics, but the main focus is the contrast between what he calls “Cultural Christianity” and an authentic relationship with God. It is a practical, no-nonsense call for Christians to avoid going through the motions and to live a life fully surrendered to God. This is a refreshingly challenging book that leaves no room for excuses!

I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist (by Norman Geisler & Frank Turek)

While I wish they would have chosen a different title (one that would not be as much of a turn-off to any skeptics who may pick it up), this is the best comprehensive defense of the truth of Christianity in a single book that I’ve found. The chapters follow a logical pattern consisting of 12 premises, each chapter arguing for one of those premises and building on previous chapters. It begins with the assertion that truth exists and can be known, and proceeds to scientific arguments for the existence of God, the possibility of miracles, the historical reliability of the New Testament, and the divinity and resurrection of Jesus. By the conclusion, there is little room to doubt the truth of Christianity.    

Is God a Moral Monster? (by Paul Copan)

One of the strongest tactics used by opponents of Christianity is to condemn some of God’s actions and commands in the Old Testament as immoral. In this book, Paul Copan attempts to answer tough questions about the less easily understood portions of the Old Testament, such as the near-sacrifice of Isaac, the many seemingly arbitrary laws, the tolerance of polygamy and slavery, and the commands to conquer cities and kill the inhabitants. He includes details on historical and cultural context and analysis of the original Hebrew. This is an advanced and sometimes tedious book, but a very important answer to challenges that often go unanswered because many of us simply are afraid to attempt it.

The Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (by Norman Geisler)

This is not the kind of book you read straight through. It contains a vast number of entries on nearly every topic that has to do with Christian Apologetics, arranged in alphabetical order. It includes bios of influential apologists throughout history as well as famous atheists and opponents of Christianity; explanations of the foundational principles of philosophy, logic, and argument; arguments for God’s existence; traditional apologetics topics such as the reliability of the Bible and the resurrection of Jesus; overviews of different religions and worldviews, tough questions such as what happens to people who never hear the Gospel; difficult concepts such as how Jesus can be God and man at the same time; and much more. It is an excellent reference for personal study or to assist in engaging in productive conversation with those who are seeking answers.

Seven Days that Divide the World: The beginning according to Genesis and Science (by John Lennox)

This is a short, easy-to-read book that addresses the controversial debate between a young and old universe. It sets out to make the case that it is not necessary to interpret Genesis to mean a literal six-day creation, but does so in a way that is respectful to those who hold that view and upholds the supremacy and truth of the Bible. In addition to discussing the scientific and biblical evidence, he also argues that Christians need to be careful about placing too much importance on our particular interpretation of this puzzle in a way that may turn people away from God. I believe this is a great book for people on both sides of the issue to read.

The Practice of the Presence of God (by Brother Lawrence)

Brother Lawrence was a monk, specifically a cook, who lived in the 15th century. Being a monk, he lived a simple life, and wrote about how he learned to cultivate a constant awareness of the presence of God during his mundane, ordinary activities. His writing is simple yet profound, and shows what a natural, ongoing relationship with God looks like.

Man: The Dwelling Place of God (by A. W. Tozer)

This is one of Tozer’s best books. The chapters are short and cover a variety of topics on how to live as Christians. Tozer has a way of exploring topics that make us feel slightly uncomfortable because they directly address issues in our lives that we may be trying to avoid facing. This book is great for people who only have a few minutes at a time to read but want something that is deep and challenging.  

The Problem of Pain (by C.S. Lewis)

This is one of the top two or three books I’ve ever read. This book provides an extremely comprehensive and philosophically solid answer to the question of why God allows evil and suffering in the world. It is best read slowly, as Lewis builds his arguments very gradually and precisely. He has a way of anticipating every possible additional question the reader has and answering it so thoroughly that it seems as if he’s in your head as you read it. This book is simply a masterpiece and the highest quality argumentative writing I’ve ever seen.

Obviously there are many other good ones, but if I had to choose, these would be my favorites. If you would like, comment some of your favorite Christian books (either on the blog itself or on the Facebook page) and why you’ve chosen those. I would love to expand my reading list (and I’m sure others would as well)!