A selection of en writers choose their current favourite books
Rachel Jones...
Born Again This Way: Coming Out, Coming to Faith, and What Comes Next by Rachel Gilson (The Good Book Company) was published in March, just as life as we knew it was ending, so it might have passed you by. But that would be a great shame, because it really is one of the most beautifully written pieces that I’ve had the privilege of reading in the course of my job. Rachel tells her story of becoming a Christian as a lesbian at Yale, as well as her journey of discipleship after that, weaving her testimony around teaching from the Bible. Although written particularly to encourage brothers and sisters who experience same-sex attraction, this book has so many valuable things to say about marriage, singleness, friendship and church that any Christian will benefit. I sometimes think that a good book can be measured by the number of times I find myself saying in conversation with friends: ‘That reminds me of this book I’ve been working on and it says… .’ On that count, this one wins hands down.
When I started reading Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sufferers and Sinners by Dane Ortlund (Crossway) it was not at all what I was expecting. The best way I found to describe it to someone was:‘It basically just tells you how much Jesus loves you, but in a way that doesn’t feel like you’ve heard it a million times before.’ In other words, it’s a wonderfully refreshing read. Short chapters and Ortlund’s gift for illustration make this a book to savour and enjoy bit by bit. I felt like I knew Jesus better by the end of it – and there’s no higher praise than that.
Lee Gatiss...
I found myself reading the Bible more this year, which I heartily recommend. I managed to read it more than four times, in different versions (including Robert Alter’s Hebrew Bible and David Bentley Hart’s New Testament). It didn’t feel rushed. The Dwell app is also very cool.
There were some other books I enjoyed reading as well. Matthew Barrett’s paperback None Greater is an excellent look at what theologians have called ‘the attributes of God.’ He shows us how different God is to us, rather than just a bigger, better version of our idealised human – which is actually a great encouragement because it means He isn’t crippled by creaturely limitations and weaknesses. He is all-knowing, all-wise, and perfect in every way (and we, obviously, are not). His unchangeableness is the anchor guaranteeing our salvation. This book lifts your eyes away from the faulty celebrity saviours of this world, to someone who is actually worthy of our worship and trust.
With it being the 400th anniversary of the sailing of Mayflower to America, I also enjoyed reading Susan Hardman Moore’s book Pilgrims: New World Settlers and the Call of Home. She nicely unpacks the religious reasons motivating the Pilgrims’ journey. Unusually, she also looks at how many of them didn’t stick it out in the New World, but ended up returning home. A quarter of the people, a third of the ministers, and half the graduates of Harvard, ended up back in the Church of England after their adventures. There was also a good reminder that the Congregationalists on Mayflower were not the first or only colonists, although they so often receive all the plaudits and attention. There were plenty of others, including Anglicans, who also bravely planted themselves and the gospel across the Atlantic.
John Benton...
Be Filled With The Spirit by Stuart Olyott (Evangelical Press). How much we need the work of the Holy Spirit. When we are restricted by Covid regulations, praise God, the Spirit isn’t! Here is a short, straightforward exposition of the command in Ephesians 5.18, which is balanced, accessible to all, clears up controversies and directs us always to Jesus. To be filled with the Spirit is to be filled with Jesus. It contains a most heart-warming description of what a truly Spirit-filled church looks like– which is like beautiful dynamite. This is a most important book.
Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortland (Crossway). On holiday with the family in the summer I found all my children and their spouses were reading this book. So I thought I had better read it. It is like living water for thirsty souls. Based on the work of the Puritan Thomas Goodwin, it is about the overflowing love of Jesus for us. Our natural instinct is to think that Jesus is with us, on our side, present and helping when life is going well. This book explains the opposite. Christ’s gracious, tender affection is towards us when we are downcast, in a mess of either sin or misery. Hallelujah!
LEAD: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church, by Paul David Tripp (Crossway). This much-needed book subtly takes apart the ‘business’ view of leadership which has infiltrated and severely damaged many churches in recent years. It calls leaders to acknowledge their need for grace, and to look out for each other spiritually because they are just as prone to sin as anyone else. Listen to this devastating challenge to leaders: ‘Here’s the scary reality. In ministry, the way you pursue your idols is by doing ministry.’ Very humbling. Very helpful.
Duncan Forbes...
When Narcissism Comes to Church: Healing your Community from Emotional and Spiritual Abuse. Chuck DeGroat (IVP).
As Chuck points out, we’re living in a narcissistic culture that we the church are not immune from (p.4). With countless examples he describes how narcissistic leaders and churches behave: projecting a sense of strength whilst unwilling to look at issues deep within; communicating that our church is better than other churches; getting defensive with criticism; manipulating and gaslighting, and even being obsessed with church planting (you’ll have to read it!).
I realise the term ‘narcissism’ might put some British readers off, assuming this is a book driven by American pop-psychology; but Chuck draws both on the gospel and his many years of counselling pastors. He states that psychology has helped us to name ‘our heart’s deceits as pathological patterns of relating’ (p.10); whilst also arguing that a ‘narcissist’ is first and foremost an image bearer and, for believers, ‘narcissist’ is the name of the mask, a part of someone, but not their ‘core “true self” hidden with Christ in God’ (p.10–11.
Chuck also helps with how to respond to being burned by narcissists. From responses I’ve personally received in light of a video I made on narcissism last year, I know that sadly many people in UK churches have this question. And while extending grace, and hope to the narcissist, he reminds us that ‘Grace never whitewashes abuse. Grace exposes the abuser, not to shame him but for the sake of truth and healing for all’ (p.166–7).
Given the amount our culture is using the label ‘narcissist’, and how abusive leadership keeps being exposed, this is a timely book that I believe most Christians should read. But be prepared to do some soul searching: Chuck says we’re all susceptible to sins of manipulation and a lack of empathy, whether or not we score highly in a narcissism test (p.168). If we’re not willing to look at the narcissist within, he doesn’t think his book will be of use to us (p.169).
David Robertson...
I try to read one good missionary book per year – 2020’s missionary book of the year is David Ellis’s Through All the Changing Scenes: A Lifelong Experience of God’s Unfailing Care (Christian Focus Publications). This is a book full of Bible teaching, missionary work, practical experience, devotional, and much, much more. From the loss of a niece in the Dunblane shooting to the loss of his wife through dementia, David tells a painful, wonderful, beautiful story. Highly recommended for all Christians.
It seems somewhat ironic to have a book about sung praise in the church, coming out at a time when, for many of us, singing in church is banned! Rob Smith’s Come Let Us Sing: A Call to Musical Reformation (Latimer Press) is an essential book for every church leader, and a good one for every Christian too. Smith states that his intended readership is pastors and teachers, but also music directors, song leaders and church musicians of every kind; as well as Christian congregations. It supplies what is sometimes missing – the psalms, lament, cross-traditional fertilisation, and a practical theology of worship.
My final book of the year is a book which combines history, theology and contemporary society – Tom Holland’s Dominion: The Making of the Western Mind (Little, Brown). Whilst not an overtly Christian book – it is a book about Christianity by an author and historian who seems to be on a spiritual journey himself. There are aspects of Christianity that he does not get but, in many ways, he gets Christianity better than many professing Christians. I found Dominion to be thrilling, inspiring, deep, challenging, and something that can be useful in so many situations. It is what I call a ‘rainbow’ book – because I have so many highlighted passages! Not a light read – but an essential one for any Christian leader who seeks to understand today’s world.
