Five Books to Read This Summer

Several folks have asked me, "what should I read this summer?"  "Can you suggest a few books?"

Yes, I can.

Start with Mike Horton's People and Place (Westminster/Knox):  Click here.   This is a brilliant book.

Next up is David VanDrunen's Natural Law and the Two Kingdoms (Eerdmans):  Click here.  Given all the hubbub about the two kingdoms and natural law of late, isn't it time to find out what the Reformed have actually said about the matter?  A very important book. 

Third, is Scott Clark's Recovering the Reformed Confession (P & R):  Click here.  This is a provocative book which forces the reader to deal with the Reformed tradition as confessed and practiced in the Reformed and Presbyterian churches!  I don't always agree with Scott on some of the fine points, but his treatment of the quest for illegitimate religious certainty and illegitimate religious experience are must reading.

Next is John Muether's, Cornelius Van Til:  Reformed Apologist and Churchman (P & R).  Click here.  A very helpful treatment of an often misunderstood figure.  A good read too.

The last one may come as a surprise.  I enjoyed it and found it useful.  Given the current political climate, you too might find it helpful.  Jay W. Richard's Money, Greed, and God (HarperOne):  Click here.  A robust defense of capitalism which offers a short but solid critique of Ayn Rand's "greed is good" creed.

Comments

[Bobby Grow]

Sounds good, esp. the one on Van Til; I don't really appreciate him that much, too much of a rationalist by orientation. But maybe this book will help soften my understanding of him.

[stephen roberts]

I recently read the books by DVD and Jay Richards for a political fellowship in DC. The DVD book is a wondeful summary of historic Christian social thought as it progressed through the Reformation. Richards' book is helpful, but he take one or two unfortunate potshots against Reformed theology. I also read the VanTil bio, which makes him a more sympathetic figure, though not as much as Machen. I am currently reading RRC, which gives a helpful defense of confessionalism. I can't wait to read Horton's book!

[Aaron]

I have been extremely edified by you and Horton's teaching over the last year, and I am encouraged to hear you don't agree with Dr. Clark on all points. I found the book as a whole to be enlightening but was rather discouraged by his treatment of hymn singing and his subsequent reactions to my blog on the issue... Thanks.

[MeanMrMustard]

My fondness for Rand has confused just as many Objectivists (apologists of Rand's philosophy) as it has my brothers in Christ. Most Christians misunderstand Rand just as much as Rand misunderstood the tenants of Christianity. Most Christians misunderstand her use of the word selfishness just as much as Rand misunderstood the biblical understanding of charity and altruism. Her defense of "selfishness" suprisingly reflects attributes in men that the bible would characterize as being noble and upright.
Is Rand a Christian at heart? Not even close. Nor am I an Objectivist. But there is so much to learn from her capitalistic view, particularly for Christians who have a 2 Kingdom understanding of their earthly lives. In the city of man, men would do well to live by the standards that Rand holds her finest characters to.
I have not read Money, Greed, and God yet, but i hope Richard's critique of Rand is "objective" and not misled by Rand's redefining (and unique use of) of the word "selfishness" and "greed". I hope he does not make the same mistake in her critique of Rand that Rand makes when critiquing Christianity. In regards to capitalism, i find little in Rand's view that would contradict any principle set forth by scripture.
I look forward to raeding the book. Thanks for the recommendations Dr. R.

[Alberto]

Stephen mentioned of some potshots against Reformed theology by Richards; what does he say in the book against Reformed theology?

[Gregg]

Dear Kim...Thanks for recommending Dr. Horton's book. I have the set of four on the Covenant series and have read two of them. I can't wait to read People and Place. These books are nice easy reading and very succinct, made especially helpful by the really big pictures on every page. I go thru a box of crayons for each volume. My 8 y/o granddaughter sits enraptured as I read out loud to her from Covenant and Eschatology. OK...for the uninitiated, my comment is meant as a joke! I'm just a dentist, so a lot of the references Horton makes to movements of philosophy and to the opaque discussions in Oxford libraries are way over my head, but I can get the gist of the arguments being made. It is not an easy read. That said, with the challenge that Dr. Tom Wright has thrown down regarding justification, I sincerely look forward to Horton's tome Covenant and Salvation. I understand the pictures are in color!!!

Gregg