Make a list of all the blessings the Protestant Reformation has brought, and finally, long after scoring iconic phrases like “salvation by grace alone through faith alone,” you’ll make it to the CT Book Awards.
>
Books, of course, existed long before Luther published his 95 Theses. But there’s no denying that reading and reform, with the vital help of Gutenberg’s printing press, went off together.
You are reading: Best christian books of 2017
“The reformation could not have happened as it did without publication,” historian Andrew Pettegree writes in his book, Brand Luther. “Print propelled Martin Luther, a man who had published nothing for the first 30 years of his life, to instant celebrity. it was his genius to seize an opportunity that had barely existed before he invented a new way of conversing through books. In the process, he changed Western religion and European society forever.”
reading helped drive the reform and, in turn, the reform helped drive the spread of reading.
pettegree again: “wittenberg, a town that had no printing press before 1500, would become a powerhouse of the new industry, trading exclusively on the fame of its celebrated teacher. And Wittenberg was not an isolated case. In many small and medium-sized German cities, the reform boosted an industry that had withered after the first wave of overly exuberant experimentation.”
As we mark the anniversary of the 95 Theses next year (be sure to check out the Reformation-themed January/February ct issue), our spiritual and theological debts to Luther are obvious. But it’s also worth remembering how Luther’s prolific pen and editorial genius helped make evangelicals a “people of the book,” in more ways than one.
These awards are just one small way to keep that legacy alive. —matt reynolds, associate editor, books
apologetics / evangelization
making sense of god: an invitation to skeptics
timothy keller (viking)
“making sense of god is not a parade of logical evidence for god, but rather a profound reflection on the existential realities of being human. Keller asks, simply, “Is the secular worldview capable of making sense of the things that secularists properly value: freedom, individuality, justice, community, rationality, personal meaning, human rights?” his answer is a convincing no. Christianity not only makes rational sense, Keller argues, but also does justice to the totality of human experience. his points are gracefully presented and delivered without a hint of exaggeration or triumphalism.” —gregory koukl, founder and president, come to your senses
merit award
Taking Pascal’s Wager: Faith, Evidence, and the Abundant Life
michael rota (ivp academic)
“rota, a skillful analytic philosopher, provides an attractive and compelling case for accepting pascal’s wager. the precision of the points is manifested on each page. but what makes the book even more profitable is its accessible prose. engaging, charitable, and provocative: this is the kind of book one might wholeheartedly gift to a believer, agnostic, or even a fervent atheist. a home run for Christian apologetics.” —chad meister, professor of philosophy and theology, bethel university (indiana)
(michael rota wrote about pascal’s wager in the may 2016 issue of ct.)
biblical studies
echoes of the scriptures in the gospels
richard hays (baylor university press)
“hays reveals how profoundly the old testament shaped the gospel writers, showing how each of them uniquely expresses the stories of israel, jesus, and the church. Academia often considers New Testament authors’ use of the Old Testament to be erroneous at best or manipulative at worst, but Hays effectively shows how his readings were inspired, intelligent, and imaginative. allows us to hear four different voices: the veiled jesus of marcos, the prophesied jesus of matthew, the promised jesus of lucas and the incarnate jesus of juan”. —David T. lamb, old testament professor, biblical theological seminary
merit award
neither complementary nor egalitarian: a corrective kingdom to the evangelical gender debate
michelle lee-barnewall (baker academic)
“lee-barnewell breaks new ground by emphasizing kingdom and countercultural values in biblical accounts of the relationship between men and women. clearly, she doesn’t settle this debate, but that was never her intention. her different perspective on various passages helps us see them in a new way, and that refocused vision is helpful.” —Thomas Schreiner, associate dean of the divinity school, southern baptist theological seminary
(read our review of neither complementary nor equal).
Christian life / discipleship
crossing the waters: following jesus through storms, fish, doubt, and seas
leslie leyland fields (navpress)
“drawing from a trip to israel and his family’s life as salmon fishermen on a remote alaskan island, fields shows what it means to be a child of god in today’s world. we get a clear picture of what jesus was doing with his disciples, his followers, his critics, and his family in and around the sea of galilee. Campos usefully intersperses his own family’s stories of adventure, risk, calm, and loss. his mastery of language, allegory and scripture is impressive.” —lore ferguson wilbert, blogger at sayable.net
merit award
saving the saved: how jesus saves us from a more strenuous christianity towards a love without performance
bryan loritts (zondervan)
“loritts teaches essential lessons about grace and the gospel without interpretation, without minimizing the important work of sanctification. he urges us to remain in christ and remember the good news until we reach the day when we are free from sin.” —trillia newbell, author of fear and faith
the church / pastoral leadership
how to preach and teach the old testament in all its worth
christopher j. h. wright (zondervan)
See Also: Here Are All The Black Book Locations In Skyrim – eXputer.com
“Old Testament preaching can intimidate the best of us. Wright’s excellent book combines a strong biblical framework with practical communication steps in an easy-to-read style. Each Old Testament genre is given extensive teaching examples along with practical checklists that help the preacher achieve faithful proclamation. Even more refreshing is the emphasis on exalting Jesus in ways that are true to the text and relevant to our culture. Experienced pastors, seminary students, and lay leaders will benefit from this excellent work.” —zack eswine, director of homiletics, covenant seminar
merit award
the next worship: glorifying god in a diverse world
sandra maria van opstal (intervarsity press)
“In a time of great ethnic diversity, but also division, this book is much needed. Van Opstal provides a practical theology and missional framework for why we need to rethink the corporate experience of worship. his vision goes beyond building a diverse worship team or singing songs in an unfamiliar language. I pray that every pastor and worship leader reads this book.” —efrem smith, president and chief executive officer, global impact
(Read our interview with Sandra Maria Van Opstal in the January/February 2016 issue of CT.)
culture & the arts
75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know: The Fascinating Stories Behind Great Works Of Art, Literature, Music, And Film
terry glaspey (baker)
“The prevailing assumption is that evangelicals and art don’t really get along. Glaspey cleverly undermines this idea by advocating the integration of a range of masterpieces into the Christian tradition. he does it in the best possible way, not by offering conceptual reasons why Christians should care about art, but by getting down to business and revealing the work itself, piece by piece. Any book that attempts some sort of survey, especially one that covers hundreds of years and multiple genres, runs the risk of being shallow. Glaspey manages to avoid this with his illuminating and concise essays that accompany each piece.” -s. d. kelly, essayist
merit award
modern art and the life of a culture: the religious impulses of modernism
jonathan anderson and william dyrness (ivp scholar)
“what should Christians think of modern art? is it empty of all religious impulses and persuasions? Or is there a deeper insight that often goes unexplored? Rather than dismiss the last century and a half of visual art as purely secular, Anderson and Dyrness meticulously detail the patterns of piety and spirituality that influenced and empowered artists like van Gogh, Gauguin, Kandinsky, and Warhol.” —wade bearden, writer and film critic
fiction
x’s confessions
suzanne m. wolf (thomas nelson)
“In this beautifully written, gripping historical novel, Wolfe brings the ancient city of Carthage to life, immersing readers in the experiences that shaped the theology of Augustine of Hippo. In his skillfully told and well-researched story of his, the unnamed woman whom Augustine loved and with whom he lived for 13 years rises from the footnotes of the story to become a dynamic, flesh-and-blood character. her relationship shows us painfully real love, heartbreaking self-sacrifice, and the way beliefs are shaped by experiences in the beautiful and terrible world.” —amy peterson, writer and assistant director of honors programming, taylor university
merit award
the promise of jesse woods
chris fabry (tyndale)
“This is a well-crafted novel with likeable characters, delicately woven themes, and evocative descriptions. As a reader, I was completely immersed in the world of dogwood and the lives of Matt and her friends. Fabry is adept at portraying real people’s real-life struggles of faith, and manages to avoid the gravitational pull toward a clichéd ending.” —sharon garlough brown, author of the sensible shoes series
history / biography
kierkegaard: one life
stephen backhouse (zondervan)
“Kierkegaard offers an unflinching look at the pervasive despair and anxiety that mark the human condition, forcing his readers to confront the many ultimately empty and unsatisfying strategies we erect to mitigate pain or suppress the realities of our lives. destiny. While quality scholarship on his life and thought is abundant, Backhouse’s book seems to be in a class by itself. has done what many thought impossible: take the complex ideas and contributions of the great Danish philosopher and make them accessible to contemporary non-academic audiences. He has also succeeded in demonstrating in clear and lucid prose how the otherwise bleak circumstances of Kierkegaard’s life shaped his views and led him to write the major works associated with his name.” —Jay Green, Professor of History, Covenant College
merit award
Religion: Faith, Culture, and Politics from the Eisenhower Era to the Obama Era
kenneth woodward (convergent)
“woodward provides a highly readable account of the last seven decades of American religious history. Written from the perspective of him as a veteran national religion reporter, the book is filled with fascinating anecdotes about leading religious figures and thoughtful reflections on the evolution of American beliefs.” —kristin du mez, professor of history, calvin college
missions / global church
joyful witness in the Muslim world: sharing the gospel in everyday encounters
evelyne reisacher (baker academic)
“Perhaps understandably, much of our attention in the Muslim world, in the news and in the church, revolves around war, terrorism and other pervasive challenges. but reisacher shows us the history that we are missing. From a lifetime of missionary service, she reflects on how God’s image is beautifully reflected in the Muslim men and women she has befriended. And she calls us to share our faith not out of fear or anger, but out of joy rooted in the hope of Christ.” —christopher horst, vice president of development, hope international
merit award
jesus insider: theological reflections on the new christian movements
william dyrness (ivp scholar)
“the word insider in the title is accurate but also misleading, because the pleasure of reading this book is to learn more about how god acts and moves in people’s lives outside of where and how we might expect. Dyrness takes us through bible, theology, history, culture, and case studies to open our eyes to the different ways Jesus is followed today. As a result, our eyes are opened to God’s redeeming grace moving creatively in the world. And we are better prepared for thoughtful missionary work that engages in God’s story without imposing unnecessary cultural baggage.” —kent annan, slow coming kingdom author
politics / public life
the call to justice: where passion meets perseverance
bethany hanke hoang and kristen deede johnson (arms)
See Also: How to get ARCs and Read Books for Free! | Reedsy Discovery
“The vocation of justice is a remarkable book. part manifesto, part theology, part call to action, it must have an immediate impact on churches and communities. neither a political jeremiah nor a perfunctory analysis of biblical texts, the book instead paints a beautiful portrait of justice and righteousness as an inextricable fabric in the life of a faithful Christian. avoid the twin dangers of evangelical reductionism (save souls, not bodies) and exaggerated eschatology (if we don’t do something, no one will). we see clearly how the Christian faith provides the motivation, the method and the hope to seek justice, both where we are and throughout the world.” —samuel james, communications specialist, ethics and religious liberty commission
(read an excerpt from the call for justice in the Jan/Feb 2016 issue of ct.)
merit award
seeking refuge: on the edge of the global refugee crisis
stephan bauman, matthew soerens and issam smeir (moody)
“The authors of Seeking Refuge have accomplished a great deal in clearly explaining the complexity and significance of the global refugee crisis and showing how the church must respond. seek refuge informs without being pedantic, and calls us to action without intimidating. The approach is an outstanding example of what Karl Barth allegedly said about holding the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other. While there are many worthy causes Christians should support, Seeking Refuge makes a persuasive case that God is especially calling his church right now to love mercy and act justly for the good of our refugee neighbors near and far.” . —Micah Watson, Professor of Political Science, Calvin College
spirit formation
the life that listens: embracing attention in a world of distraction
adam mchugh (ivp)
“at a time when we are drowning in words, both digital and spoken, this quiet little book throws us a lifeline. listening life is gracious, thoughtful, biblical, and eminently practical. outlines a broad theology of listening along with clear, specific practices that teach the reader to listen in a new way. whether he is a lover of loud words or a shy lover of solitude, this book is likely to win him over.” —tish harrison warren, author of liturgy of the ordinary
(Read our review of listening life in the November 2015 issue of ct.)
merit award
you are what you love: the spiritual power of habit
james k. a. blacksmith (arms)
“too many Christians pay attention only to what they think and affirm, without allowing their attention to investigate what they really practice and love. you are what you love is an invitation and a guide to that deeper look. With rich wisdom and engaging grace, we are encouraged to cultivate trustworthy, holy rhythms of worship rooted in the rich tradition of life-giving liturgy.” —Alan Fadling, President, Unhurried Life, Inc.
(Read an excerpt from you are what you love in the April 2016 issue of ct.)
theology / ethics
biblical authority after babel: recovering solas in the spirit of mere protestant christianity
kevin vanhoozer (arms)
“vanhoozer takes on the charge that Protestantism unleashed a cacophony of biblical, theological, and ecclesial perspectives on the church. post-babel biblical authority offers a deeper understanding of the intent and meaning of reformation alone. This book will reward its readers, not only for Vanhoozer’s typically creative prose, but also because it offers a compelling account of biblical authority in a Protestant guise.” —Vincent Bacote, Professor of Divinity, Wheaton University
(biblical authority after babel was one of two books reviewed by fred sanders in the nov 2016 issue of ct.)
merit award
Befriending Time: Disability, Time Keeping, and Gracious Discipleship
john swinton (baylor university press)
“swinton challenges the notion that ‘time has become a commodity to be bought and sold rather than a gift to be received, cherished and valued’. under this assumption, only those who are able to use time productively have value in society. but he shows that these ideas are anything but biblical. taken seriously, they would dictate that the fetus with down syndrome not only can but must be aborted. or that people with dementia are a “waste of time”, which justifies euthanasia. Swinton’s love and compassion for the disabled is contagious. he projects a Christian vision of time in which each person has a real, unique and valuable identity”. —Mathew Barrett, Executive Editor, Creed Magazine
women
ruined: a memory
ruth everhart (tyndale)
“This book is gripping from the start. everhart is talented, brave and attractive. She and I may disagree on some fundamental theological issues, Reformed theology and Complementarism, but I benefited greatly from reading her memoir. It’s not just a story about the horrific sexual assault she endured, but also a story about how her conservative theology failed to help her deal with why God allowed it. readers like me can learn a lot about how to teach and live our theology well.” —bethany jenkins, writer and editor, the gospel coalition
merit award
without shame: leave the luggage, collect your freedom, fulfill your destiny
christine caine (zondervan)
“Thanks to writers like Brené Brown, the problem of ‘shame’ has returned to the American consciousness in a big way. Caine strikes up that conversation unashamedly, offering some serious advice to Christian women. reading the book is like sitting next to the author as she gives kind but deliberate advice about areas of her life where she might be letting shame get the best of you.” —Jess Archer, author of Finding Home with the Beatles, Bob Dylan and Billy Graham
(read tish harrison warren’s article on three recent unashamedly titled books).
Do you have anything to add on this? do you see something we missed? share your feedback here.
See Also: How to Store Books in Boxes, Containers, & Storage | Boombox