It is no secret that Calvinists love books. As a new believer I remember seeing a picture on a friends desk that said, “When I get a little money I buy books; if any is left over I buy food and clothes“. Given the topic of the blog, this quotes source (Desiderius Erasmus) lends itself to some irony. Don’t worry. He doesn’t have any books on this list. However, there is some amount of truth in this mindset. Reformed thinkers love to read and collect books.
With Christmas right around the corner, I thought it would be fun, and potentially helpful, to compile a list of 10 books that every Calvinist should own. This task was not without difficulty. There are hundreds of books that could be given worthy consideration for this list. Nevertheless, here it is – Enjoy!
1) The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin
Does it get any more classic than this? This book is found on almost every list of classic Christian literature. If you have read it, you know why. Calvin spent much of his life working on this masterpiece. Whether you align yourself with Calvin theologically or not, there is not a Christian out there who wouldn’t benefit from reading this book.
2) Desiring God by John Piper
As an echo of the voice of Jonathan Edwards, John Piper argues for what has been coined “Christian Hedonism”. It is the idea that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.” This book has garnered much praise and attention over the years and, in time, I think this book will be seen largely influential in the recent resurgence of Reformed Theology.
3) Knowing God by J.I. Packer
Aside from the bible itself, this book has had probably the most direct impact on me. I was given a copy as a new believer, and Knowing God does a fantastic job of providing a general understanding of the core theological ideas within Protestant Christianity. It does this is a very readable and moving way. Highly recommended.
4) The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotionals
This book, from Banner of Truth Publishing, is a fantastic aid to anyone’s prayer life. It offers (as the title suggests) prayers and devotionals from the puritans. It is set up mostly topical and has been a source of comfort to me in dark times. I have found it especially helpful when I find myself wanting to pray but not knowing where to start. For fun, here is a snippet from the devotional titled, “Worship“:
Glorious God,
It is the flame of my life to worship thee,
the crown and glory of my soul to adore thee,
heavenly pleasure to approach thee.
Give me power by thy Spirit to help me
worship now,
that I may forget the world,
be brought into fullness of life,
be refreshed, comforted, blessed.
Give me knowledge of thy goodness
that I might not be over-awed by thy greatness;
Give me Jesus, Son of Man, Son of God,
that I might not be terrified,
but be drawn near with filial love,
with holy boldness;
He is my Mediator, Brother, Interpreter, Branch, Daysman, Lamb;
him I glorify,
in him I am set on high.
5) On The Bondage of The Will – Martin Luther
I remember my systematic theology teacher telling me in college that if you want to be a theologian you must own this book. He couldn’t be more right. This book was written in response to some writings of Desiderius Erasmus on free will. The debate mentioned was among the first in the reformation between free will vs predestination. Luther contends that sin completely incapacitates human beings from working out their own salvation, and that they are completely incapable of bringing themselves to God.
6) The Christ of the Covenants – O. Palmer Robertson
Several years ago I was fortunate enough to attend the very first Together For the Gospel Conference. The conference has grown substantially since it started in 2006. However, that very first year it was small enough that I was able to walk up and have a conversation with Dr. R.C. Sproul. At the time, I was learning and pondering through covenant theology and its implications. So, naturally, I asked him what book he recommended on the subject. Without any hesitation he recommended The Christ of the Covenants. After almost 10 years and 3 baptized children later, I couldn’t agree more. This book is fantastic.
7) The Holiness God – R.C. Sproul
Dr. Sproul is getting props in back-to-back posts and its well deserved. This book has had a profound view thousands. It paints a picture of God that is majestic and mighty. A God that is holy and worthy of our praise. I am reminded of Chuck Colson’s experience with this book:
“All I knew about Sproul was that he was a theologian, so I wasn’t enthusiastic. After all, I reasoned, theology was for people who had time to study, locked in ivory towers far from the battlefield of human need. However, at my friend’s urging I finally agreed to watch Sproul’s series.
By the end of the sixth lecture I was on my knees, deep in prayer, in awe of God’s absolute holiness. It was a life-changing experience as I gained a completely new understanding of the holy God I believe in and worship.
My spiritual drought ended, but this taste for the majesty of God only made me thirst for more of him.” – Loving God by Chuck Colson (pp. 14-15)
8) The Life and Diary of David Brainerd – Jonathan Edwards
It is strange to me that this book is not as popular as it once was. David Brainerd was a dear friend of Jonathan Edwards. He was a missionary to Indians in early 1700’s who died fairly young. However, kept a diary that was discovered by Edwards after Brainerd’s death. Edwards was so moved by it that he published it. Ironically, it has seen more reprinting than all of Jonathan Edward’s work! It has become almost required reading for missionaries. For me, I have been blown away by the heart and the language of Brainerd. I can think of no one else who has better articulated the workings of the heart. Please read this if you have not.
Also feel free to check out Piper’s biography on Brainerd. Piper writes that “Brainerd’s life is a vivid, powerful testimony to the truth that God can and does use weak, sick, discouraged, beat-down, lonely, struggling saints, who cry to him day and night, to accomplish amazing things for his glory” (pg. 9)
9) The Glory of Christ – John Owen
Really anything you read by John Owen will blow your socks off. But this one in particular stirs intense affections and thoughts of Christ. This was the last book written by Owen and is basically a meditation on John 17:24. He shows us how the glory of Christ should be meditated on and can be seen, by faith, in almost everything around it.
Not that it carries much weight, but this is my personal favorite book of all time.
10) The Cost of Discipleship – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one of the more interesting people on this list. He lived in Nazi Germany and this book spawn out of that conflict that ultimately led to his death. The Cost of Discipleship takes a very hard look at what it means to follow Christ. Bonehoeffer explains that as the church has grown it has cheapened grace so much so that it has become “common property” and in doing so the gospel as been “cheapened”.
“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.”
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