Tackling the Christian Classics

"A classic is a book that has never finished saying what it has to say." - Italo Calvino

Self-isolation has sparked an unexpected wave of people dusting off classic reads that have sat neglected on their “I’ve been meaning to read this” pile. The old books. The big books. The complex books.

If you are feeling similarly inspired to tackle a few Christian classics, here’s our pick of the essential Christian books for devoting time to.

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

You’d be hard-pressed to find a Christian who read Lewis’ classic and hasn’t encouraged everyone and their mums to read it. Adapted from a series of radio talks Lewis gave in the 1940s, Mere Christianity in a way sets the common ground of what Christianity is. The fundamentals, eloquently explained.

The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan

When someone mentions Christian fiction, chances are this is the first book that comes to mind (well, this or the Chronicles of Narnia, but we’ve already given C.S. Lewis the top spot). A story of morals and courage, John Bunyan’s allegorical fable tells of a man called Christian and his journey towards paradise. Either as an example of the classic quest narrative or an imaginative journey through the temptations of the world, The Pilgrim’s Progress has spanked the imaginations of readers for centuries.

Augustine’s Confessions

A work of autobiography, Confessions is the story of Saint Augustine as he grows from sinful youth to hallowed saint. Considered the first autobiographical work ever written, Confessions is an examination of sin as well as a model for conversion. Hailed as a great work of Western Literature, the book offers more than written excellence. It is a frank, honest and engaging study of good and evil, and of the ways we grow into adulthood. It shows how a confession of sin can still bring glory to God.

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis

Devotional books are a huge part of Christian publishing right now, but Thomas a Kempis’ was one of the very first. Written in the 15th Century, The Imitation of Christ is a guide to spiritual life that consists of four books of instruction. The title describes what Thomas a Kempis sees as the fundamental task of Christianity - to imitate Jesus’ example. Challenging ways we live our external and internal lives, the book is a fundamental part of Christian writing and is one of the most-read works in Christianity to this day.

Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton

I think I’ll leave this classic of apologetics to its author for description. As Chesterton writes in the introduction, Orthodoxy was written to "attempt an explanation, not of whether the Christian faith can be believed, but of how he personally has come to believe it." Engaging enough to read in a single sitting, Orthodoxy argues that belief is the most natural position we can come by.

The King James Bible

Whether for the sublime writing, the power of the text or the fact that it is the book that changed the world, now is as good a time to any to read the King James Bible. Not necessarily all of it, but some. And out loud. The King James Bible excels when its read aloud.

Fear and Trembling by Soren Kierkegaard

Branching into philosophy now, Soren Kierkegaard explores the story of Abraham and Isaac in a way that is genuinely revelatory. Its title taken from Philippians 2:12, Fear and Trembling is not a long book but it packs a punch. Tacking ethics, the cost of following God, and the need to live in hope, it is not one for speed reading. But no one is going anywhere right now anyway.

The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The theologian who stood up to the Nazi regime, Deitrich Bonhoeffer is somewhat of a hero amongst Christian writers. The Cost of Discipleship (originally called ‘Following’), lays out what following Christ entails. Centred on the sermon of the mount, the book is known for not mincing its words (“cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance” being one of the most popular quotes from the book). Bonhoeffer argued that forgiveness should be followed by discipleship, and in doing so he created one of the most demanding and rewarding books of the 20th century.

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

No one tackles hefty themes in fiction quite like the Russians. The final book by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, the novel tells of three brothers and the relationship with their famously imperfect father (I’ll say no more to avoid spoiling the story). Exploring ethics, sin, free will and the changing landscape of a modernising Russia, The Brothers Karamazov is a mountain of a book, but the view from the top is breathtaking.

The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

What does it mean to live a life for God? That is the question that A.W. Tozer explores in his classic book of embracing worship and devotion as a Christian. It has helped Christians for decades in understanding how to live out the Christian faith, as well as a way to lift your thoughts from the preoccupations of day-to-day life.

Return to the list of practices for Christians during Coronavirus: https://www.eden.co.uk/blog/7-practices-for-christians-during-coronavirus-p1784105