It is important to read
good books. Some of you may not like reading at all, or you may only enjoy
reading things that are light, easy to understand, and entertaining. That is
okay. The Bible does not say you must read heavy, hard to understand books to
go to heaven. But good books challenge our thinking and expand our horizons in
ways that no other form of media ever can. Good books are those that are worth
reading and thinking through more than once, books that help us ask better
questions, books that excite our imagination and help us to think carefully and
clearly. Which books belong on such a list is, admittedly, subjective, but here
are five books I think every Christian, young or old, simple or sophisticated,
would benefit from reading…more than once.
1) Knowing
God by J. I. Packer
This new classic will help you think more carefully, deeply, and
biblically about the God who has revealed Himself in creation, canon, and
Christ.
2) The
Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
Okay, this is cheating. The Chronicles are seven books, but Lewis’s
series will capture your imagination as few other writers can.
3) The
Great Divorce by C. S. Lewis
This little book presents a helps us think about the eternal
consequence of human choice and the awesome reality of both Heaven and Hell.
4) The
Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan
Bunyan’s allegory of the Christian life is food for the soul. You
may find it easier to read in a modern English version the first time.
5) The
Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom
This is a powerful, historical account of Corrie’s experience
hiding Jews during WWII and being sent to Nazi concentration camps. This may
seem an odd choice for a Top 5 list, but I find myself frequently referring to
it and recommending it when counseling and discipling others.
These are not necessarily my favorite books, and many others could be added or substituted on the list. But these are the five I most often recommend, those I often return to in my own library. They cannot compare to the importance of Scripture, but next to the Bible these may be some of the most important books you will ever read. –JME
