Oct
27
2006
Building a Library of "Old Books"
I just finished reading a great article from Christian History about why it is important to learn about our Christian heritage. One of the issues that kept coming up in the article centered on “old books,” and the importance of understanding where we’ve come from and what has been debated and studied in our past.
As a seminary student who hopes to soon be in the pastorate, I’d like to get your take on what “old books” have inspired you, taught you, or have been greatly informative for your Christian walk and your knowledge of Christianity. “Old” means keeping the list limited to books that are older than 50 years.
I already have a short list of books that have profoundly influenced me:
CONFESSIONS by Saint Augustine – quite possibly the first autobiography. A cross between a prayer and a journal.
MERE CHRISTIANITY by C.S. Lewis – to the point, easy to understand, and provocative, fresh takes on old, biblical truths
THE IMITATION OF CHRIST by Thomas a’Kempis – great meditative insights on what it means to live like Jesus
PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD by Brother Lawrence – a devotional classic
What books should I add to this list?