christian non fiction

Book Review: From Aristotle to Christ

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From Aristotle to Christ by Louis Markos

From Aristotle to Christ: How Aristotelian Thought Clarified the Christian Faith
by Louis Markos

5 out of 5 stars

Aristotle, like his teacher Plato, had a particular way of asking questions about the world and organizing information in the way that seemed most logical to him with the information he had available. Even without the direct revelation of the Bible, Aristotle intuited some universal truths that have helped Christians to examine their faith more closely and find deeper truths in the Bible than Aristotle ever dreamed of.

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Book Review: Joseph: A Man of Integrity and Forgiveness

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Joseph by Charles R. Swindoll

Joseph: A Man of Integrity and Forgiveness (Great Lives from God’s Word, #3)
by Charles R. Swindoll (Goodreads Author)

3 out of 5 stars

This book takes a close look at the history of Joseph, and how his faith in God shaped his life and saved his family. Although Joseph endured terrible injustice, abuse, and trauma, he trusted that God was with him in every situation. God worked in every circumstance to bring joy and prosperity to Joseph and his family.

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Book Review: The Liberty of Obedience

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The Liberty of Obedience by Elisabeth Elliot

The Liberty of Obedience
by Elisabeth Elliot

5 out of 5 stars

This book explores the deeper meaning behind spiritual obedience to God, and how it is not limiting but liberating. Elisabeth Elliot draws on her experiences living with the Aucas native tribe to strip away all the distractions of American culture and all the social rules that we mistake for God’s rules. When you consider only the instructions of the Bible, obedience to those instructions becomes very simple and joyful.

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Book Review: How to Pray

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How to Pray by John Wesley

How to Pray: The Best of John Wesley on Prayer (Value Books)
by John Wesley

3 out of 5 stars

This compilation brings together snippets of Wesley’s writing and sermons on the subject of prayer. Each page has a devotional for the day, along with a Bible verse to reflect on.
Some of the pages are obviously taken from the middle of a sermon, and it can be a little difficult to grasp the context. But for the most part, each page has a complete thought regarding prayer or some prayerful aspect of Christian life.

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Book Review: From Plato to Christ

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From Plato to Christ by Louis A. Markos

From Plato to Christ: How Platonic Thought Shaped the Christian Faith
by Louis A. Markos

5 out of 5 stars

The philosophy of Plato prepared the way for Christianity to be widely accepted in the ancient world. Socrates and Plato had a way of asking the right questions, even if they didn’t know the true answers that can be found in the Bible. Their philosophy points the way for a searching soul to find the truth of Christ. There are some spiritual things that are well-known to all of creation in general revelation, and Plato used that limited knowledge to formulate his own ideas about virtue and spiritual life. His philosophy directly reflects and leads to the specific revelation of truth in the person of Christ.

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Book Review: From Achilles to Christ

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From Achilles to Christ by Louis A. Markos

From Achilles to Christ: Why Christians Should Read the Pagan Classics
by Louis A. Markos

5 out of 5 stars

Christians can look back on the pagan classics from Homer and Virgil and see the universal human longing for a Savior. As Achilles and Odysseus struggle through their heroic adventures, the Christian can draw parallels to Christ’s own heroic deeds, finding the completion of every myth in the person of Christ. In the Bible, God often uses pagan kings to reveal His truth and further His kingdom. The truth of Christ can be found reflected in all of creation and especially in the greatest creative literature of the ancient world.
The author says that “…the great, overarching symbols of literature can function as they do only because history and the universe are inherently meaningful and moving toward a purposeful end.”pg. 133
The pre-Christian myths of the Greeks and Romans include the same symbols and themes that are present in the Bible, and which find their final fruition in Christ.

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Book Review: The Mind of the Maker

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The Mind of the Maker by Dorothy L. Sayers

The Mind of the Maker
by Dorothy L. Sayers

5 out of 5 stars

Dorothy Sayers explores the intricacies of the creative mind, connecting how our creativity functions with how the Creator God also works within the Trinity. She examines the nature of art and why mankind feels the urge to create, just as God created us. We ask questions about life and death, free will, and what it means to be created in the “image of God”.

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Book Review: The Weight of Glory

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The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses by C.S. Lewis

The Weight of Glory, and Other Addresses
by  C.S. Lewis

This collection of essays from C.S. Lewis includes “The Weight of Glory”, which explores humanity’s innate desire for God. The essay says that the ultimate reward for a Christian is, not just to know God, but to be known by God. To be acknowledged and to receive approval from the Creator is the very essence of “glory”. Lewis talks from his own experience about how one of the most awful human experiences is to be ignored as if you did not matter, but to be noticed and invited in and welcomed as one who belongs is the highest happiness. We are not only to delight in our own glorious fellowship with God, but to also delight in the glory of our fellow human souls. Appreciating God and enjoying His Presence is the ultimate goal and design for every soul.

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Book Review: Following Prince Caspian

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Following Prince Caspian by Thomas Williams

Following Prince Caspian: Further Encounters with the Lion of Narnia
by Thomas Williams (Goodreads Author)

5 out of 5 stars

Do you ever feel like you are lost, longing for something more meaningful? So did Prince Caspian. He ran away from the Telmarine culture that was so dangerous to him, and plunged headlong into adventure with the Narnians so that he could find a more meaningful life with Aslan. The Chronicles of Narnia invites us to consider spiritual truths that lead us to a closer relationship with God. This little book draws parallels between Caspian’s story and our own spiritual journeys.

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Non Fiction Book Review: God in the Dock

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God in the Dock by C.S. Lewis

God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics
by C.S. Lewis, Walter Hooper (Editor)

4 out of 5 stars

This collection of essays and letters from C.S. Lewis covers a wide range of topics, including Christmas traditions, miracles, vivisection, morality, dogma, and prayer.
He talks about how a God who is good can allow pain in the world, briefly summarizing concepts from his book “The Problem of Pain.” He talks about the common man of his day and their objections or misunderstandings that keep them from believing in Christ. He talks about the decline of religion in Britain, and the Christian truths hidden in pagan mythology. He answers questions, refutes common mistakes of his contemporaries, and responds to criticisms from his fellow intellectuals.

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