Influential Books In My Life (Tagged by Sets)

Tony gave me my first tag, ever. How cool!

ONE BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE

Having been on a long theological pilgrimage (hardcore fundy to confessional Presbyterian) over the past half decade, it is woefully hard to limit myself to one book in this category. The book that started to crack my much ignorant and thoroughly arrogant theological shell was 5 Views on Apologetics (along with a provocative and thoughtful course on apologetics taught by Dr. Jeff Capshaw). Believe it or not, this was the first time that I was confronted with a view of God that was so much bigger than the one I had, one that focused primarily on things such as culottes, demerits, and cultural taboo lists (i.e. teetotaling, card-playing, movie-watching, etc.).

Though I kept pretty much to myself about it, this book started what later became a major direction change in my life. I switched majors to take more Bible classes and then ended up at seminary instead of law school.

ONE BOOK THAT YOU’VE READ MORE THAN ONCE

Around my senior year in college I started reading Bridges’ The Gospel for Real Life. I used the first 5 or 6 chapters as the basis for a training program on how to share the gospel. I can’t remember whether I finished the whole book, but pouring over the basic Gospel truths presented in those early chapters and searching out the Scriptures Bridges referenced ministered deeply to me in college.

ONE BOOK YOU’D WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND

Samuel Rutherford’s Letters (read a selection of the letters for free at CCEL) are the most robust, raw, and authentic displays of a soul wholly caught up in fellowship with God through Christ by the Spirit. This man relentlessly applied the Gospel to his own life (amidst much personal and family suffering, imprisonment, etc.) and to the lives of his parishioners (who constantly asked real-life, concrete, difficult questions).

When you read Rutherford, you can’t help but think: This guy really believed and lived, “for me to live is Christ!” Furthermore, you also can’t help but notice how thoroughly Rutherford was saturated in God’s Word. His constant Scriptural allusions, especially the ones to the prophets, give his writing a powerful spiritual presence unknown in writings by men who do not have a firm grasp on the Sacred text.

TWO BOOKS THAT MADE YOU LAUGH

I read this bad boy in the “throne room.” (Emily makes fun of my sometimes, ahem, long throne seatings. What can I say? Some of the “short stories” are longer than others…) BTW: Did you know Mark Twain was a Presbyterian? Hah! Presbys can be funny too! Anyhow, Twain is earthy and doesn’t put up with religious BS. He knows how to sprinkle just enough sarcasm to keep religious professionals honest and laughing at themselves.

Hmm, I’m having a hard time thinking of a second book that makes me laugh memorably. I need to read some more classic novels, perhaps.

ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY

A Biblical Hebrew Reference Grammar; enough said.

ONE BOOK YOU WISH HAD BEEN WRITTEN

The Extraordinary Benefits of the Outward and Ordinary Means of Grace Which Flow Freely and Generously To His Precious Bride from Christ Alone, the Sole Mediator Between God and Man, or, How Even Well-Intended Spiritual Things Become Idols When They Are Used To Give What Only Christ Himself Gives His Church.

Pardon the long title, but a book such as this would have saved me from years of raging semi-Pelagianism/nomism, with all of its soul-deadening, life-quenching guilt.

ONE BOOK YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING

John Owen on the Christian Life. I’m excited that some of my family members have started to read through this book together. I hope to blog through it in January.

ONE BOOK YOU’VE BEEN MEANING TO READ

My seminary professors would probably say, “the 1,000 books I’ve assigned you to read that you haven’t yet started!” I’m a slow reader (doesn’t mix well with seminary), but I still love to read. Anyway, to feed my growing interest in Islam I have started into Mecca and Main Street, which I hope to pick back up soon. It delves into the identity crisis/transformation that second generation American Muslims are undergoing in post 9/11 America.

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