Being harmless as doves

Over the years we've discovered a few books that have been extremely helpful to us as we have learned to live the Christian life. We think you will find them helpful as well.

It is always better to live the Christian life than to talk about it, and so we emphasize practical works over doctrinal ones. But because the living can be helped by knowing what you believe and why, we recommend these books for developing a deeper understanding of Christian doctrine.

• Foundations of the Christian Faith is a complete systematic theology written for the layman, straightforward and accessible. James Montgomery Boice isone of our favorite writers and preachers, and we think this is his most valuable work.
• The Bondage of the Will may be the most important book written since the canon of Scripture was closed. It changed the world, and it remains poised to change hearts today. Martin Luther’s book is one of the meatiest you’ll ever read, but his writing is simple and clear, and often delightful.
• C.S. Lewis collection. Not only evangelicalism's favorite High Anglican, Lewis is one of the few public intellectuals who championed Christianity (and his own Christian experience) at a time when it was nearly career suicide to do so. And he had an admirable ability to explain deep matters of faith in a simple, straightforward, and engaging manner.

We love the Puritans, because we think of all Christians they not only worked hardest at understanding the practical implications of godliness, they came the closest to living it out. As J.I. Packer says of them, “the typical Puritans were not wild men, fierce and freaky, religious fanatics and social extremists, but sober, conscientious, and cultured citizens, persons of principle, determined and disciplined, excelling in the domestic virtues, and with no obvious shortcomings save a tendency
to run to words when saying anything important, whether to God or to man.”

• The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment is not about simple living, but about the attitude that enables us to embrace and benefit from simple living. Jeremiah Burroughs’ exposition is always straightforward, often poetic.
• The Mystery of Providence illustrates and explains the purpose of God for his people. It should be a delight and pleasure to us to discern how God works all things in the world for His own Glory and His people’s good. But it should be an even greater pleasure to observe the particular designs of providence in our own lives.
• Worldly Saints explains 17th century English and American Puritanism by quoting the writers extensively, collecting together what they had to say about such practical matters as work, marriage and sex, money, family, preaching, church, worship, the Bible, education, and social action.

Christian living is everyday living, centering on relationships within the family, within the community, and with the world at large. These books contain much wisdom about how to develop and manage those relationships.

• Life Together. Much of what makes the good life good is the opportunity to live it together, to share it with others, whether it be our families or friends or co-laborers or neighbors. This book is invaluable in helping us understand the possibilities and the pitfalls of living in Christian community.
• The Presence of the Kingdom gives an unusual answer to the question, How should a Christian conduct himself in today's society? Rather than separating ourselves from the culture, or engaging with and conquering the it, Ellul proposes that we are to simply bear witness to the truth by being Christians in a fallen world, neither separating ourselves from nor immersing ourselves in the culture.
• Withhold Not Correction offers direction to all parents who struggle with doubt or indecision in their roles as God- ordained disciplinarians, exposing the emptiness of contemporary advice and clearly outlining from Scripture the duties of every Christian parent.
• Elisabeth Elliot collection. Elisabeth Elliot has a universal appeal, taking a no-nonsense, tradition-soaked, solidly biblical approach to the thorniest problems of deliberate Christian living. Her works have the power to reach past cherished misconceptions, and we think you'll find these books particularly edifying.
• Stepping Heavenward. In this novel, a nineteenth century Christian woman speaks to modern-day women in this timeless classic, written in journal style. Follow her as she takes you on her journey to spiritual maturity, beginning at the age of sixteen and ending just before her death.
• Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons shows the reader how to witness to Mormons by concentrating on the gospel's positive message, showing them that we are trying to help rather than attack them.