My Books of 2020

It's cliché at this point to say 2020 was a challenging year, but it is still true, nonetheless. For me, though, the challenge extended into my reading. My goal was to read 24 books (a pace of two books per month) and to post at least two blogs each month. The reading went better than the blogging, but my reading led me to shift my focus in my blogging, which led to the creation of this website. So, in defense of not making my blogging goal, I did spend a lot of time thinking about, and experimenting with this new format, created with a different focus in mind (see Welcome and Why Walking to Emmaus) of being more interactive and less static (I would love to have more people - members - participate!).

Many of the books I read this last year were related to classes I am taking at Whitworth, but I was also able to squeeze in some books that have been staring at me from my "books-I-want-to-read shelf" for quite some time. I knew before I started reading many of them that they would stretch me, but that is part of why I wanted to read them. Despite knowing that, some were more challenging and uncomfortable than I anticipated. In that sense, it was a good year. For instance, my eyes were opened to a Christian history that is messier than I realized and often more than a bit disturbing. As distasteful as this was to discover, I recognized that knowing this reality can be good only if it pushes us toward something better. That is probably a good overview of my reading for 2020 - reflecting on history (my own as well as the church), as distasteful as it can be at times, pushes me (us) toward something better.

Even without the requirements for my Whitworth classes, there are some obvious themes that jump out at me as I reflect on my 2020 reading list. Theology is a recurring word in the titles and in the books themselves, but theology is really the umbrella for the major themes. Here is what I see reflected in my readings (or at least in my takeaways from my readings):

1. Understanding scripture

2. The function of the church

3. How #1 and #2 should be reflected in how I live as a Christian

In some ways, these seem like pretty generic themes, but over the past several years I have pursued each of these (and the three together) with increasing intensity. Maybe it was the pandemic with the resulting isolation, that caused me to focus even more on these things in 2020, but in my heart and mind, this year's themes have seemed especially significant. Maybe it was the vile political atmosphere, or maybe it was the disparaging commentary from Facebook "friends" directed my way, but it seemed more important than ever to come to a better understanding of how I want to emerge from this strange year. I keep hearing people talk about their desire to get back to normal, but I want more than that. Normal wasn't really working for me before 2020, so I am not all that anxious to return to it. What I want instead is to embrace a better version of faith. I want to encourage others and to be challenged by others to live out my faith better - less "normal" and more transformational.

Three books are left out of the photo, but the complete list, with some commentary, is below.

• Spiritual Direction by Henri J. M. Nouwen

• Where God Was Born: A Daring Adventure Through the Bible's Greatest Stories by Bruce Feiler

• The Story of Christianity, Volume 2: The Reformation to the Present Day by Justo L. González

• Seasons of Refreshing: Evangelism and Revivals in America by Keith J. Hardman

• Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor - This was one of the most challenging books I read this year, mostly because of my theological differences with Taylor, but the final chapter brought everything together in an extraordinary way. By the end, I felt like we had taken very different paths to reach similar conclusions about life, faith, and the church. If you are willing to squirm while you read and sit in the discomfort of unsettling questions, I highly recommend this book. You may not agree with all that she has to say, but you will be forced to think more deeply about your faith as you read.

• The Sin of Certainty: Why God Desires Our Trust More Than Our "Correct" Beliefs by Peter Enns - This was the most freeing book I have read in a long time. I wasn't always captivated by his writing style, but the central message of his book was timely for me.

• Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church by Rachel Held Evans - Like the book by Barbara Brown Taylor, I struggled with my theological differences with Evans, but I found myself arriving at the same conclusions about life, faith, and the church. This is wonderfully written and manages to be engaging and uncomfortable at the same time. There is much wisdom to be found here even if you don't agree with everything.

• Something Needs to Change: A Call to Make Your Life Count in a World of Urgent Need by David Platt - I respect David Platt as much, if not more than, any pastor I have encountered. He is passionate about the spread of the gospel and reaching the lost, especially those who have never had the opportunity to respond to the gospel message. His anguish and tears for the lost come through clearly in this book and challenges us as Christians to not live our lives in vain.

• Theology as a Way of Life: On Teaching and Learning the Christian Faith by Adam Neder - Theology matters. Theology is not merely an academic pursuit, it should shape the way we live and should be taught in that light. This book was written for those in formal education, but I believe it is equally relevant and important in the church. How we live should be shaped by our theology and for that reason, it is important for all of us to wrestle with it.

• Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People by Bob Goff

• A Theology in Outline: Can These BonesLive? by Robert W. Jenson

• Theology: The Basics by Alister McGrath

• A Little Exercise for Young Theologians by Helmut Thielicke

• City of Thorns: Nine Lives in the World's Largest Refugee Camp by Ben Rawlence - This is an agonizing book to read, but offers important insight into the plight of so many refugees struggling just to survive. If you are dismissive about the plight of refugees, you need to read books like this.

• Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do About It by David Zahl

• Spiritual Theology: The Theology of Yesterday for Spiritual Help Today by Diogenes Allen

• Scripture and the Authority of God: How to Read the Bible Today by N. T. Wright

• Five Views on Biblical Inerrancy edited by Albert R. Mohler Jr.

• Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice That Restores by Dominique DuBois Gilliard - I was not enamored by the writing style of this book, but it certainly opened my eyes to the way we approach criminal justice in the United States. Before you jump on the bandwagon of getting tougher on crime, you should read this book.

• Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals by Shane Claiborne - I love this book! During the election, I wanted to post a "Jesus for President" sign in my yard. It doesn't mean what you might think!

• The Real Scandal of the Evangelical Mind by Carl R. Trueman

• Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity by David W. Swanson

• Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices by Frank Viola

• What if?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions by Randall Munroe - By the time you get to this book in my list, you might think it is a mistake. It is the one that is not at all like the others, but we all need something a little different from time to time. If you are even remotely a science and/or math nerd, this is a must-read. This is not a Christian book, at all, but read from a Christian perspective it is a reminder of the absurdly complex and intricately crafted universe we live in, not to mention the comically unsettling places the human mind wanders.

• Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends by Kevin J. Vanhoozer

One last theme that emerges from my reading this last year is this - I can learn from people that I don't completely agree with. In our current culture, it seems like a crazy idea, but even people who don't believe the same way as I do can speak truth into my life. Rather than dismissing people with different theological backgrounds, I am learning that there is much I can learn from them. I think that is a lesson that would be good to embrace as 2021 begins and we would all be better off if we embraced this idea.