HELP: Book Recommendation for a non-Christian Friend

Liam Maguire

Hi all, 

I recently met up with an old school friend and as we got chatting he was very interested in talking about Christianity. At the end of the conversation, he asked if I could recommend him a book and I said I'd have a think

However, I now find myself struggling to find a good fit for him. You see our conversation orbited around his first question, "what is it about Christianity that gives your life meaning and purpose?" 

The problem I am having is that I am struggling to find an evangelistic or apologetic book that is geared towards the questions he is asking. Many seemed to be geared towards to the secular, evidentialist, sceptic. True my friend is sceptical but other than that he is very spiritual and open to Christian things.

I'm also struggling because his question is a post-modern one. Not so focused on 'is Christianity true' but 'is it any more true than anything else?' or perhaps 'it is true for you, should it be true for me too?'

I know it is not much to go on but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Floyd Johnson

If we were 30-40 years in the past, I might suggest some of the work by C S Lewis. They might still be worthwhile, but would not want to scare your friend because they are dated.

Another idea - rather than finding the right book, which may or may not answer his questions, why not offer to spend 1 to 1-1/2 hour a week working through a Bible Study of some type. Most would suggest John, I would use Mark (both because it is short and because it is the oldest of the Gospels).

Your task is not to floor him with any intellectual knowledge you have of the material, but to give him the chance to meet our savior as someone in the 1st century CE might have seen him. Your time with him will allow him to see what Christ means to you, much better than any book could ever do.

I will keep you in prayer as you cross paths with him over the next few months.

Mark Barnes

LMAM said:

However, I now find myself struggling to find a good fit for him. You see our conversation orbited around his first question, "what is it about Christianity that gives your life meaning and purpose?" 

I'd suggest you take at one of Tim Keller's evangelistic books. IMO Keller is one of the best evangelists to understand the contemporary mindset and speak the gospel gently but firmly into it. For your friend, I'd probably suggest Counterfeit Gods:The Empty Promises of Money, Sex, and Power, and the Only Hope that Matters. That does exactly what it says — it looks at many of the things we look for in life, and how they fall short, and shows how the gospel not only fulfils that hope, but does so in better way.

An alternative is his Hidden Christmas which focuses on the person of Christ. It helps to answer the question, "What's beautiful about Christianity?", rather than "What gives meaning and purpose?".

Keller's other two evangelistic books are also both excellent, but probably not what you're looking for. The Reason for God considers the truth claims of Christianity, while Jesus the King (also called King's Cross) goes through Mark's gospel, and is really helpful for people who believe the gospels are true but haven't really understood them.

If you don't like Keller, I can suggest two other alternatives.

Tom Wright's Simply Christian takes a very accessible biblical and systematic theological approach to the gospel (with chapters on God, Israel, Jesus, Prayer, etc.) but does so only after four chapters that seek to demonstrate our longing and need for the gospel message. Those four chapters might be particularly useful.

Finally Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale Jesus Among Secular Gods looks at the alternatives to Christianity (atheism, scientism, pluralism, humanism, etc.) and compares them with Christianity. It's less winsome than Keller, but some people may prefer it's more direct approach. It answers the question, "what is it about the alternatives to Christianity that don't give your life meaning and purpose".

Dave Thawley

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/989622#Comment_989622

I would go for https://www.logos.com/product/2946/foundations-of-the-christian-faith 

It is for new Christians rather than agnostics but I love the approach Boice uses. 

RyanB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/989622#Comment_989622

Mark Barnes said:

Keller's other two evangelistic books are also both excellent, but probably not what you're looking for. The Reason for God considers the truth claims of Christianity, while Jesus the King (also called King's Cross) goes through Mark's gospel, and is really helpful for people who believe the gospels are true but haven't really understood them.

The Reason for God is fantastic, but in your situation LMAM, I would recommend Keller's prequel Making Sense of God. A few years after The Reason for God was published, Keller realized that as good as it was (and it really is good), it was answering questions people were no longer asking. People had actually slid further back from the starting point from which The Reason for God was written. In other words, The Reason for God was making assumptions at where people were beginning that were no longer true. So, Keller wrote Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical. I think it is a phenomenal book and I would HIGHLY recommend that others at least look over it to see if it fits their specific situation (at the very least, read over the table of contents). I have found it to be a wonderful resource in the evangelistic outreaches that I lead.

Both books are available through Logos.

Another option to explore would be: The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How it Ends and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl. Sadly, this book still isn't available in the Logos ecosystem (fingers crossed for one day).

Jan Krohn

LMAM said:

However, I now find myself struggling to find a good fit for him. You see our conversation orbited around his first question, "what is it about Christianity that gives your life meaning and purpose?" 

Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life... (I'm kidding of course. Even if the title suggests to answer this very question, better make sure your friend is not gonna get his hands on this book).

Here comes a serious suggestion:

Vaughan Roberts, Turning Points

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004VT4Y2G  

Erwin Stull, Sr.

I would downplay a book, and emphasize the way of life by observance. I doubt that a book would scare your friend, however, I have learned (and still learning) that in this generation and times, people are saying "I don't want to hear from you, let me see in you". With non-Christians, I do not even bring out the Bible (it initially creates a division), however, I give God the glory and praise in every moment. Soon, some of the people will desire to be around you more and more to learn more and more of HIM, and you may find that they will bring their own recommendation of books. [:)]

Keep Smiling 4 Jesus :)

LMAM said:

You see our conversation orbited around his first question, "what is it about Christianity that gives your life meaning and purpose?" 

Some true stories (testimonies) to consider:

=> Heaven Changes Everything (revised edition) & => Heaven Changes Everything

=> Flight to Heaven

=> 90 Minutes in Heaven

=> My Journey to Heaven

=> Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

=> Face to Face with Jesus

Keep Smiling [:)]

Liam Maguire

Hi everyone, 

Thanks for all the super helpful suggestions. Interesting, but not surprising to see Tim Keller feature so highly. 

For those who suggested Making Sense of God, it is worth knowing that I was going to get this initially, but passed on it because I don't think the chapter headings chimed with the questions my friend is asking. MSG is great for secular sceptics who struggle with the concept of God as a whole. In my friend's case, he is of his own admission a very spiritual guy and is asking questions that are not so much "why God?" but rather "why the Christian God?"

This led me to Counterfiet Gods another excellent book and much more where my friend is at. But alas, Amazon is out of stock in the UK. So I settled with giving him Sipping Saltwater by Steve Hoppe (https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0753VPZ6N/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1) which is almost Counterfeit Gods 2.0. Hoppe covers the same ground as Keller (and more) whilst also covering how we can demonise something not simply idolise it (Eg. idolising work = workaholism; demonising work = laziness). 

thanks for all of your help. Much appreciate.