Why read books by old Christians? Eugene Petersons says, “That means they have been tested by more than one generation and given passing marks. That means that what these Christians have written has been validated by something deeper than fashion or fad.” As I get older I find that I read fewer books that were written recently, and instead am spending more time with books and authors from 75 or 100 years ago, and many much older than that. Don’t misunderstand me. I do not mean to say that I can’t learn anything from young, current thinkers and writers. I often read them and I do have a few favorites. But in a fast changing world where it seems like our theology and faith practices are being redefined every week, I am finding surer footing on the bedrocks expressed by the old authors.
The list below consists of the books I find myself returning to again and again. These are the books that have shaped me and continue to strengthen my faith. This is not an exhaustive list. I have probably forgotten a few. I may add others later. I have included only books that I have actually read and benefitted from, rather than books I know I should read but haven’t gotten around to yet. Who are your favorite “old” authors?
Autobiography/Biography
Abandoned to God, about the Life of Oswald Chambers
The Autobiography of George Mueller
Borden of Yale, by Mrs. Howard Taylor (about the short life of William Borden, who died en route to the mission field, 1913)
A Chance to Die, by Elisabeth Elliott, about the life of Amy Carmichael, missionary to India
Daws: The Story of Dawson Trotman, Founder of the Navigators, by Betty Lee Skinner
Evidence Not Seen: A Woman’s Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II, by Darlene Deibler Rose
The Five Silent Years of Corrie ten Boom, by Pamela Rosewell Moore
The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie ten Boom, by John Sherrill
Life Lessons from the Hiding Place: Discovering the Heart of Corrie ten Boom, by Pamela Rosewell Moore
Letters to an American Lady, by C. S. Lewis
Safer than a Known Way, by Pamela Rosewell Moore
The Shadow of the Almighty, by Elisabeth Elliott
The Small Woman, by Alan Burgess, about the life of Gladys Aylward, missionary to China
Surprised by Joy, autobiography of C. S. Lewis
These Strange Ashes, by Elisabeth Elliott, about her first year in Ecuador
Through Gates of Splendor, by Elisabeth Elliott, about the death of Jim Elliott in Ecuador
Devotional
George MacDonald: An Anthology, 365 Readings, by C. S. Lewis
A Diary of Private Prayer, by John Baillie
Joy and Strength, compiled by Mary Tileston Wilder
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Fiction/Novel/Allegory
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C. S. Lewis
Hannah Coulter, by Wendell Berry
Hinds Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard
Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo (Seriously, try reading the book. Full disclosure: I skipped/skimmed most of the lengthy chapter about the sewer system in Paris.)
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, by J. R. R. Tolkien
Pilgrim’s Progress, by John Bunyan
Spiritual Growth
Celebration of Discipline, by Richard Foster
Of the Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis
Life Together, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
A Resilient Life, by Gordon MacDonald
The Restoration of the Heart, by Dallas Willard
The Return of the Prodigal, by Henri Nouwen
The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis
Theology
The Divine Conspiracy, by Dallas Willard
The Knowledge of the Holy, by A. W. Tozer
Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis
The Weight of Glory, by C.S. Lewis
Worship/Prayer/Poetry
A Hymnal (You know, a book with old hymns in it: Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, etc.)
The Christian Book of Mystical Verse, by A.W. Tozer
Letters to Malcolm, Chiefly on Prayer, by C. S. Lewis
Prayer: Finding the Hearts True Home, by Richard Foster
Toward Jerusalem, by Amy Carmichael
With Open Hands, Henri Nouwen
If you want an additional list of books by someone smarter than me: Take and Read, by Eugene Peterson