Did you know that almost 4 million books were published last year alone? You may think, “How is that even possible?” With the advent of e-books and self-publishing, an avalanche of fictional and non-fictional options are dumped upon us year in and year out. Many of these books are in the self-help category and promise results that they cannot possibly deliver. Lose 20 pounds by the end of the week without dieting or exercising. Become a multimillionaire in a few short months. And on and on and the false promises go. Millions and millions of these types of books are unwise, unhealthy, and unhelpful.
Sadly, a lot of books written by and marketed to Christians fall into the destructive column as well. Solomon speaks to this in Ecclesiastes 12:11-12, “The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” Solomon isn’t saying that reading other books besides the Bible is wrong. He’s saying that many books are not worth reading and trying to keep up with the latest trends and philosophies is an exhausting waste of time. We should always be people of “The Book” but it’s a good thing to study other books that help you to better understand and apply God’s Word. Being a Christian reader will develop your discernment, sharpen your mind, and enrich your soul. But be very careful of what you choose to spend your time reading. Quick tip: if a “Christian” book has the author’s picture on the front cover, it’s probably not worth reading. I can think of very few exceptions to this rule. This picture on the front cover trend shows a desire to glorify the writer instead of the Lord. Don’t eat spiritual junk food that will hollow out your insides but instead, only consume the very best material. Don’t waste your time on authors that stray away from the wisdom of Scripture in order to make a quick buck or advance their own agenda. This word of advice also includes online articles and blog posts.
Maybe you’re newer to the faith or to reading Christian books and you don’t know where to start. Feel free to reach out to Pastor Jeff and me for recommendations. Below are a few of my personal favorites (in no particular order) that I think will benefit any brother or sister in Christ:
The Holiness of God by R.C. Sproul
Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney
Jesus on Every Page by David Murray
Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Heaven by Randy Alcorn
Everyone’s a Theologian by R.C. Sproul
The Prodigal God by Tim Keller
The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung