My Top Books of 2018

Non-Fiction

2018 brought me a collection of theological books that, once started, I couldn’t put down. Fascinating topics, excellent writing, insightful commentary, and good storytelling—the best ingredients for intelligent, enjoyable reading.

Vindicating the Vixens, Dr. Sandra Glahn (editor)

1. This book is #1 on my list because I can’t stop recommending it. I think every pastor, preacher, and Bible reader needs a copy. Before teaching on any passage that includes these women, they should be required to read the chapter in Vixens that pertains to the passage they are addressing. So many of the women featured in this collection of essays continue to be taught wrongly.

   For instance, did the Samaritan woman really divorce five husbands in a world where women rarely divorced evenone? Did Bathsheba seduce King David by bathing in the nude? Was Mary Magdalene really a reformed prostitute? Through this book, we gain a greater understanding of gender in the Bible through the eyes of a diverse group of evangelical scholars who assert that Christians have missed the point of some scriptural stories by assuming the women in them were “bad girls.”While many have written studies of the women in the Bible, this is a new kind of book—one in which an international team of male and female scholars look afresh at vilified and neglected women in the Bible. The result is a new glimpse into God’s heart for anyone, male or female, who has limited social power.Get your copy today! It’s designed to be read one chapter at a time, not all the way through in one long sitting. Pick the biblical woman you wish to know better, and sit with that chapter for awhile.

2. The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ, by Rev. Fleming Rutledge
   I took my time digesting this theological masterpiece. Several things had to come together for me to know about it, read it, enjoy it, and recommend it (again, to every pastor and teacher I know). First, I heard writing and seminary friends gushing about the author’s engaging, humorous, intelligent writing, and how they found themselves engrossed in the content. This is not your normal reaction to a 700-page theological tome (you see why I had to take my time?!).Second, I was able to hear the author speak at a writing conference. If she records the audio version, I’m buying that too. (Listen to a recent podcast here.) And third, the sheer breadth and depth of her covering of the most critical event in history is breathtaking.

   From the Amazon summary: Though the apostle Paul boldly proclaimed “Christ crucified” as the heart of the gospel, Fleming Rutledge notes that preaching about the cross of Christ is remarkably neglected in most churches today. In this book Rutledge addresses the issues and controversies that have caused pastors to speak of the cross only in the most general, bland terms, precluding a full understanding and embrace of the gospel by their congregations.

   Countering our contemporary tendency to bypass Jesus’ crucifixion, Rutledge in these pages examines in depth all the various themes and motifs used by the New Testament evangelists and apostolic writers to explain the meaning of the cross of Christ. She mines the classical writings of the Church Fathers, the medieval scholastics, and the Reformers as well as more recent scholarship, while bringing them all into contemporary context. Widely known for her preaching, Rutledge seeks to encourage preachers, teachers, and anyone else interested in what Christians believe to be the central event of world history.

3. Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ, by Rev. Fleming Rutledge
   She’s back! Rutledge, an Episcopal priest ordained in 1977, maintains that Advent is her favorite season of the year. When I saw the book was planned for publication in September, I brainstormed ways to get a copy without having to pay for it. Being a review has its perks! Thanks to a colleague, I was able to review Advent for Fathom Magazine. There you’ll find a longer, better description of why I recommend it.In this book, Rutledge explains how Advent assists believers in anticipating the coming of our Savior—the time he once came as a baby, and his future coming in glory and judgment. She includes a collection of sermons, which make for enjoyable quick reads—each one takes less than ten minutes to read and gives you a fabulous sense of her intelligence and wit, cultural and literary insight, and a significant concept about Jesus you probably haven’t considered before. Thanks to its format, the book lends itself to being used to supplement anyone’s Advent reading. Rutledge moves deep theological concepts from the altar to the pew—communicating so well that everyone can understand and apply her teaching.
4. The Road Back to You, by Ian Morgan Cron
   Introducing the Enneagram! Earlier this year it was the word on Twitter among those I followed. Some were a bit obsessed about it, but only when I heard how knowing your “number” helped you communicate with others did I feel compelled to read it. Also, a friend gave me a copy, so that helped!”The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing system with an uncanny accuracy in describing how human beings are wired, both positively and negatively. In The Road Back to You Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile forge a unique approach―a practical, comprehensive way of accessing Enneagram wisdom and exploring its connections with Christian spirituality for a deeper knowledge of ourselves, compassion for others, and love for God.”

   It took me awhile to figure out my number. I like that you don’t have to take a personality test, though you can if you want, but rather you can read through the descriptions here and self-identify.

Short Story

The Twelve O’Clock Patient, by Shannon Gianotti Baker

“Would you ask Jesus to pee in a cup? The medical tech wasn’t sure. The doctor stammered around for the right word. Micturate? Void? Urinate? Jesus just smiled. Clearly he was enjoying this.”

This humorous and thought-provoking short story about Jesus coming in for a physical will provoke smiles and likely some uncomfortable feelings. You might even find your notions about Jesus’s humanity challenged. Written by a friend from Dallas Seminary, this little story is perfect for a lunch break or carpool line.