The Book Besides the Bible to Take If You Get Stranded on an Island

G. K. Chesterton was once asked what one book he'd take if he were stranded on an island. He said a book about shipbuilding.

Other than that, and the Bible... this is what I'd suggest you take: Tim Keller's new The Reason for God.
If you read one book in your LIFETIME, THIS SHOULD BE IT. I know this sounds like I'm exaggerating, but this really is the absolute best book I've ever read at interpreting the Gospel for our culture.

Keller shows the reasons why only the Gospel can address the needs of contemporary people, why belief in the Gospel is eminently reasonable, and the absolute difference between religion and the Gospel. Keller is a very "plain-spoken" author, but some of the passages in it are so beautiful and compelling you feel as if you are reading poetry. That's because the beauty does not come from the eloquence of the words, but from the clarity of the Gospel.

Here is one sample passage (which you must read in context to get the power of it):

The repentance that really changes your heart and your relationship with G od begins when you recognize that your main sin, the sin under the rest of your sins, is your self-salvation project. In both our bad deeds and our good deeds we are seeking to be our own Saviors and Lords. We have alternative trusts and 'gods,' even though we do not call them that. We try to prove ourselves by our moral goodness or through achievement or family or career. Even diligent involvement in church and religion may need to be repented of once we understand that it was all a way to put God in our debt... (p. 234)

The Gospel is about turning from your worshipping of and being rescued by other things to worshipping and being rescued by Jesus. When you understand the Gospel, it creates such an intense love for and desire for Jesus that you want to spend your whole life just getting more of Him.

One depressing thing about reading this book is I realize how little many "evangelical" churches preach the actual Gospel (seems to me). I'm thinking even of those places that have high "conversion" numbers. People are moved to pray salvation, come-to-Jesus prayers and get baptized, but you don't see a people falling in love with Jesus. And I've heard a number of those places give invitations where the actual run-to-Jesus-who-was-substituted-in-your-place-Gospel was never really explained. Instead, "accepting Jesus" was presented almost as if it was some kind of sacrament that would make you closer to God and fill in that missing piece in your life. Most "converts" come to Jesus as a "way out of hell" or a "path to a better life," but not as a beautiful God with whom we fall in love with. In these converts you see little passion to worship and really know Jesus. If our converts are not passionate about worshipping Jesus, what are we converting them to?

And it starts with us leaders, it appears to me. Sometimes when I listen to successful church leaders I get my mind filled with new, cool ideas (for which I'm grateful), but they don't make me fall in love with Jesus more. They, and we listening to them, appear to be more enamored with success at growing a church than we do adoring the Jesus of the Gospel.

Sorry for the tirade. But on a separate, much lighter note, there is a ridiculously hilarious (new) blog called "Stuff Christians Like." Check out #'s 108-106 (Summitters, we get mentioned in 107)... 101, 100, 26... 98... 90, 89... 68 67, 60... especially 31... Heck, THEY'RE ALL GOOD. WARNING: YOU WILL WASTE AN HOUR OR SO IF YOU GET ON THIS BLOG.

Comments

[Andy Rowell]

That's high praise for the Keller book. I have heard others recommend it but it is good to hear your recommendation. I checked the book's sales figures at Amazon. Pretty high.

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #55 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

#1 in Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Theism

#1 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Theology > Apologetics

#6 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality

Andy Rowell
Doctor of Theology Student
Duke Divinity School
Blog: http://www.andyrowell.net/

[dmg]

JD-you wanna add the link for the free sermons correlating to each chapter in the book? http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=29
These are "must listens" direct from the mouth of Yoda.

[Joe]

JD, I am at ministers conference--as I type this comment--listening to Ligon Ducan interview Keller by phone on this book. I love the book even more after listening to Keller explain the background of its writing. Devastatingly gracious!

[Blair G.]

JD,

I look forward to reading the book. Sounds like a good one. From your post, it sounds like it is best enjoyed with sunscreen and a frozen drink that has a little umbrella in it.

Also, thanks for posting about the blog, "Stuff Christians Like". The post about hand holding is absolutely a riot!

[Kurt Holiday]

I am reading this book now and I agree with JD 100%
it is a must read!

[LS]

so i guess i will be the random commenter who doesnt comment about the book, but the awesome "stuff christians like" website....i think the hour warning was a low estimate of how long you would stay on it though...personal favorite so far:

-the side hug
-the tankini
-disguising gossip as prayer
-telling instead of showing
-rededicating your life. again.

great website, i might be first at the bookstore to buy this guys book when it comes out.

[Justin Nale]

Keller's book is really good, especially at interpreting the gospel for our culture, as you said. However, since there wouldn't be any culture on a deserted island, I'm not so sure how helpful the book would be to me there. Since I probably wouldn't last long anyway, I'd probably take a book like Ligon Duncan's new one: "Fear Not! Death and the Afterlife from a Christian Perspective"

Thanks for the great post!

[Zack]

Just bought it.

[Will Roberts]

JD,

After reading the book myself, I realized that you must have be reading it also because I heard it coming through in your gospel expositions each week from the pulpit (like Luke "JD" Skywalker following Yoda). Personally, I have never heard the gospel so transformationally clear in my life, and have never been better equipped to contextualize it to my many skeptical/agnostic friends and family members.

My family and I are new to your church, and I am so thankful to my Lord Jesus for bringing me to Summit Church where this true and clear gospel truth is presented week after week (along with many other great things that we love about Summit).

For those contemplating on getting the book, you may want to watch a great online video introduction to the book by Tim Keller himself when he spoke last month at Google and Stanford.

Here are the links to the events.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1372792008392060120&hl=en (Stanford Lecture)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6379760306431796019 (Stanford Q&A)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kxup3OS5ZhQ (Google)

I am also using these handy online video introductions to encourage some of my skeptical friends and family to check out this excellent book.

It's currently #7 on the New York Times Bestsellers list, which also helps boost it's credibility among non-believers.