Recommended Reading (pt. 3)

Simply Christian by N.T. Wright

Summary
Why do we expect justice? Why do we crave spirituality? Why are we attracted to beauty? Why are relationships often so painful? And how will the world be made right? These are not simply perennial questions all generations must struggle with, but, according to N.T. Wright, are the very echoes of a voice we dimly perceive but deeply long to hear. In fact, these questions take us to the heart of who God is and what He wants from us.


For two thousand years, Christianity has claimed to solve these mysteries, and this renowned biblical scholar and Anglican bishop shows that it still can today. Not since C.S. Lewis's classic summary of the faith, Mere Christianity, has such a wise and thorough scholar taken the time to explain to anyone who wants to know what Christianity really is and how it is practiced. Wright makes the case for Christian faith from the ground up, assuming that the reader has no knowledge of (and perhaps even some aversion to) religion in general and Christianity in particular.


Simply Christian walks the reader through the Christian faith step by step and question by question. With simply yet exciting and accessible prose, Wright challenges skeptics by offering explanations for even the toughest doubt-filled dilemmas, leaving believers who wants to travel beyond the controversies that can obscure what the Christian faith really stands for, this simply book is the perfect vehicle for that journey.


This is comparable with Mere Christianity in the fact that it's partly an apologetic, defending the Christian faith and explaining why it makes sense (which is why the book's subtitle must be Why Christianity Makes Sense), and mostly an explanation as to what we believe if you just ignore the different denominations and expressions for a minute. Being a scholar, he knows a lot about the early church, what they believed, and how Jews and Christians back then thought. Using this knowledge and his extensive knowledge of the Bible, he goes chapter by chapter explaining what we believe about God, prayer, Jesus, the church, and creation. A good book for skeptics, beginners, and a good read for those who believe, but just want to learn more.



Love Your God With All Your Mind by J.P. Moreland

The Mind plays an important role in Christianity. Unfortunately, many of us leave our minds behind when it comes to our faith.
In Love Your God with All Your Mind, J.P. Moreland presents a logical case for the role of the mind in spiritual transformation. He challenges us to develop a Christian mind and to use our intellect to further God's kingdom through evangelism, apologetics, worship, and vocation.

This book isn't a defense of Christianity. It's assumed that the reader of the book will already be a Christian. It's a defense of reason and using ones intellect in the faith. Many think that faith in God is detached from the intellectual side of our lives, but Moreland provides a compelling case that that's not the way it's suppose to be. Using our minds is not only required, but can help enhance our faith by giving us a greater understanding of the world, God, and the Scriptures. A recommended book for believers.