Good Christian Books to Buy for Non-Christians!
There’s never a bad time to consider buying a book for someone who is hungry to know more about Jesus. Of course, that is much different than forcing a book down someone’s throat who has no spiritual curiosity. The books below are better suited for situations where someone you know is searching and would be open and happy to reading something that you would suggest. Whether it’s a birthday or just spontaneous, what better present than a book that could bring someone to Christ?
The following are five categories of books for hungry souls:
1. For the intellectual:
* Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. This classic is not to be passed by in this modern age. It still stands as one of the greatest books on theology. Chuck Colson (founder of Prison Fellowship) was famously converted to Christianity after reading it.
* The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller. He has been called the “C.S. Lewis of the 21st Century” for good reason. Common complaints against God and Christianity are knowledgeably dealt with in his book.
2. For the spiritual seeker:
* Sacred Space: The Prayer Book 2014 by The Irish Jesuits. Using the Daily Examen method from St. Ignatius has stood the test of time for drawing closer to God. For those searching out the spiritual, this is a disarming book that leads them gently along the path. If they practice it and read it, they will be drawn to the Living God.
* Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan: God’s love is truly overwhelming, and when we can grasp that concept, we move from being a spiritual seeker to a God seeker.
3. For the teenager:
*Jesus>Religion: Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough by Jefferson Bethke. His YouTube video “Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus” has been viewed 25 million times, so a book deal was inevitable. While the video’s content has ruffled some feathers, this book is much less controversial. Basically, he has grown up a bit since the video, and his book has a more mature outlook at the church and Jesus.
* Jesus Among Other Gods: (Youth Edition) by Ravi Zacharias: Famed apologist Ravi Zacharias has never shied away from the hard questions of faith, and here he looks at what makes Jesus and Christianity different from other religions. After reading why Jesus is the only answer to the sin problem, teens will come face-to-face with the truth.
4. For the struggling:
* The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey: An easy read that will encourage the weary soul. Yancey is honest and humble about his doubts, and he helps us come to grip with those struggles and move past them into a relationship with the Living God.
* When God Doesn’t Make Sense by James C. Dobson: The problem of pain and evil in the world is not a question that will go away any time soon. This book provides hope in the darkness when we need it the most.
5. Bible Versions good for seekers:
* New Century Version: One of the easiest Bible translations to read (it is at a 3rd grade reading level) it stays true to the original text. By utilizing short sentences and simplicity, readers can digest more chapters with ease and understanding.
* The Message by Eugene Peterson: Bono from U2 read passages from The Message to his dying father. Peterson has translated the original texts to a modern paraphrase, which seeks to cross the cultural barriers into our time. It reads as a novel. Single column pages make for an easier read.
