Theology really matters and everyone is a theologian, whether you realise it or not. I have often heard people in the past say “I don’t like doctrine or theology, it’s quite divisive. I prefer to have a childlike faith and leave the deep thinking to others” However, if you have a thought about God (which you do) then you are already in the realms of theology, so I would argue (and I hope you would agree) that we should try to be the best theologians we can be. Being a good theologian doesn’t mean that you will have all the answers, but it means that you’re a life long student of the Bible who submits to the authority of the Word. It means that you devote time to learning about the things of God so as to represent Him better and communicate wonderful truths about Him in a clear and logical way.
That is part of why I read so much and review books, 1) reading helps me stay theology on the ball and it helps me grow, and 2) I want others to be reading and benefitting from good materials too. Hey presto – this blog 🙂
So today I want to draw your attention to some books that will help you think about theology. They’re not boring or dry, you may not agree with everything in them (and that’s fine). They will certainly get you thinking and may expose you to different ideas and schools of thought that you haven’t previously considered. Let’s dive in.
A Confessional Perspective by multiple authors
This set of books is based on the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689 (LBC1689). They aren’t necessarily an exposition of the confession itself, more of a study of certain aspects of the confession. The ‘Confessional Perspective’ series has four books in it;
- God without passions by Samuel Renihan
This book is about the doctrine of divine impassibility – the theological point that God remains untouched by the ups and downs of emotions and that he is incapable of suffering. In short this book is about God being unchanging. - True love by James Renihan
This book is about love and what true love really is. IT does make reference to the confession, but is more of an expiation of 1 Corinthians 13. The book does touch on other passages and doctrines. I thought it would helpful, but at points the author tried to do too much in such a short space which meant that things weren’t necessarily clear at points. - Before the foundations of the world by Jeffrey Riddle
This book is about salvation, specifically how God saves people. The doctrines expounded in this book are often referred to as the doctrines of grace – a summary of theology which is all about God’s sovereignty in salvation. This theology is often summarised in the acronym TULIP (total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints). I thought this was a very good primer, or introduction, to reformed theology. - Green pastures by Ryan Davidson
This book is about the ‘means of grace’ the practices that the Lord has given us to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The main focus of this book is on the chapter about preaching, baptism, the Lord’s Supper and prayer. The most debated amongst these means of grace is probably the Lord’s Supper, Davidson holds to Calvin’s view – that whilst the bread and wine to not change in any way at the table, that Christ is spiritually present with his people in a special way as the Lord’s Supper is celebrated. - Which it isn’t technically in this series I would also throw in Under God, over the people by Oliver Allmand-Smith. This book looks at the relationship between the church and state. Whilst I think there are elements of the book that are helpful, it feels like a bit of a remaining push back against COVID and the restrictions that were put in place during that time.
Each of these books approaches a theological topic considered in the LBC1689 and thinks about it from a theological, pastoral and biblical perspective. It is important to consider these points from a theological and confessional perspective. The more I study, the more convinced I’m becoming of the need for confessions and creeds to root our faith and help believers remain within the bounds of orthodoxy. Whilst I do not hold to the LBC1689 as these authors do, I certainly benefitted from their writing whilst not agreeing 100% with it all.
The Trinity by Donald Fairbairn
Whenever you pick up a book about the Trinity, you don’t really know what you’re going to get. Some of the can be really thick. Others can be filled with jargon and endless words trying to explain the Trinity. This book is different, it’s short, it’s to the point and it gives you the Bible passages you need to understand what the Trinity is and is not. I like how Faribairn covers the right amount of ground in such a small book (just 85 pages). If you’re looking for a book that will invite you into how important the Trinity is for the Christian faith, I would say this is the one to go for, to start off with at least. This book isn’t merely a lecture of the Trinity, but invitation to see how the Trinity is central, not only to the Bible and redemptive history but to your own life as a Christian. Well worth a read!
The New Birth by Peter Mead
Who are we as Christians? What exactly happened to make us new? These are questions that many Christians have but don’t necessarily voice because they sometimes feel they are things that new Christians should deal with. The reality of our new birth through Christ is not something to be ashamed of asking, but something to be studied, enjoyed and marvelled at. Before Christ, we were dead in our sins and trespasses, therefore we need to be born again. This book helps you to see that the Holy Spirit gives us a new heart, that he changes our desires and helps us to love Jesus more. One of the things that I like about this book is that throughout you’ll find short testimonies and questions to help you reflect on what your new birth is and the practical impact it can and should have on your life. Another book well worth reading!
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