Books for Christians in Doubt: 7 Book Recommendations to Strengthen Your Faith
Doubt is part of faith. It has always been this way. Moses had doubts. Abraham had doubt. Job had doubt. John the Baptist had doubts. And of course we all know about that Thomas fellow.
We all have doubts. It’s a human condition, but this doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do about it.
If you’re a Christian and you’ve committed your life to a relationship with the Lord, nothing can be as stressful as doubts about your faith. Such doubts strike at the very core of your being. How can you deal with them?
Here are seven book recommendations (in no particular order) for Christians dealing with doubt:
Who Made God? And Answers to Over 100 Other Tough Questions of Faith, edited by Ravi Zacharias and Norman Geisler
This book addresses some of the hardest questions you will face in your life as a Christian. Among the contributors are Ravi Zacharias, Norman Geisler, Lee Strobel, and William Lane Craig. Some of the questions and subjects taken up by the authors include the origin of God, how God can allow evil, evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, the beliefs of Islam, and various aspects of Eastern mysticism and the so-called “New Age” movement.
The Evidence for Christianity by Josh McDowell
This is a pretty comprehensive reference book covering much of the logic and evidence that supports core Christian beliefs. McDowell’s previous books include More than a Carpenter and Evidence that Demands a Verdict (which has been recently updated).
Truth Decay by Douglas Groothius
Ever wonder how we can “know the truth,” as Jesus says? It’s tough to hold to objective truth in our postmodern society, which would rather demolish and deconstruct claims to truth (especially those related to religion and morality). Groothius serves up what is essentially an irrefutable defense of classical Christianity (at least intellectually speaking). What’s more, he completely unmasks postmodern relativism for the bankruptcy that it offers.
Defeating Darwinism by Opening Minds by Phillip Johnson
Evolution got you down? Pick up a copy of Phillip Johnson’s devastating critique of Darwinian evolution. Johnson is no scientist, which is how many of his critics try to dismiss him. Johnson, however, doesn’t try to disprove evolution as a scientist disputing scientific evidence. Rather, he works with what the pro-evolution scientists themselves claim.
In short, all Johnson does is examine the claims made by evolutionists themselves, and he asks if (in light of basic rules of logic and reason) they are worthy of the assumptions and respect our society has accorded them. Read the book, and you’ll never be intimidated by an atheistic evolutionist again.
No Doubt About: The Case for Christianity by Winfried Corduan
This is one of the clearest and most comprehensive arguments for Christianity ever penned. Its weakest link is the explanation for evil in the world – weak because Corduan, in taking a Calvinistic perspective, rejects human agency altogether and argues that evil is necessary in order for good to be actualized. This is his weakest argument and the part of the book with which I disagree the most. However, the remainder of the book is outstanding. And it should convince any doubter that Christianity is more plausible than any of the world’s other alternatives, especially atheism.
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
A classic work of Christian apologetics, C.S. Lewis’ masterpiece is still one of the best. If you haven’t read Mere Christianity, don’t let today go by without getting a copy. And then, of course, read it. Lewis strips away much of the doctrinal disputings and theological uncertainty that has characterized Christianity for its 2000-year history, and examines its fundamental claims. If Lewis can’t convince you that Christianity (at least at its core) is almost certainly true, there may not be anyone who can.
Cries of the Heart: Bringing God Near When He Feels So Far by Ravi Zacharias
For most, doubt isn’t intellectual. It’s personal and emotional. If God is real and I am a Christian, they wonder, shouldn’t I “feel” His presence? Shouldn’t we “feel” our relationship? Must our walk with God feel so “distant”? Why must God be so “invisible”? Ravi Zacharias, one of the greatest Christian apologists of all time, tackles these questions directly. And he doesn’t disappoint.
If you’re a skeptic or critic looking to be convinced, the above books may not be the best for you. However, if you are a person who leans toward belief in Christ or who has already made a decision for Christ, these books can and will help you overcome your periods of doubt. They will strengthen your faith.
Of course, the most important book to read is the Bible. In all your reading about Christianity and your relationship with God, don’t neglect the most important book ever written on the subject.
We all have doubts. It’s a human condition, but this doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do about it.
If you’re a Christian and you’ve committed your life to a relationship with the Lord, nothing can be as stressful as doubts about your faith. Such doubts strike at the very core of your being. How can you deal with them?
Here are seven book recommendations (in no particular order) for Christians dealing with doubt:
Who Made God? And Answers to Over 100 Other Tough Questions of Faith, edited by Ravi Zacharias and Norman Geisler
This book addresses some of the hardest questions you will face in your life as a Christian. Among the contributors are Ravi Zacharias, Norman Geisler, Lee Strobel, and William Lane Craig. Some of the questions and subjects taken up by the authors include the origin of God, how God can allow evil, evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, the beliefs of Islam, and various aspects of Eastern mysticism and the so-called “New Age” movement.
The Evidence for Christianity by Josh McDowell
This is a pretty comprehensive reference book covering much of the logic and evidence that supports core Christian beliefs. McDowell’s previous books include More than a Carpenter and Evidence that Demands a Verdict (which has been recently updated).
Truth Decay by Douglas Groothius
Ever wonder how we can “know the truth,” as Jesus says? It’s tough to hold to objective truth in our postmodern society, which would rather demolish and deconstruct claims to truth (especially those related to religion and morality). Groothius serves up what is essentially an irrefutable defense of classical Christianity (at least intellectually speaking). What’s more, he completely unmasks postmodern relativism for the bankruptcy that it offers.
Defeating Darwinism by Opening Minds by Phillip Johnson
Evolution got you down? Pick up a copy of Phillip Johnson’s devastating critique of Darwinian evolution. Johnson is no scientist, which is how many of his critics try to dismiss him. Johnson, however, doesn’t try to disprove evolution as a scientist disputing scientific evidence. Rather, he works with what the pro-evolution scientists themselves claim.
In short, all Johnson does is examine the claims made by evolutionists themselves, and he asks if (in light of basic rules of logic and reason) they are worthy of the assumptions and respect our society has accorded them. Read the book, and you’ll never be intimidated by an atheistic evolutionist again.
No Doubt About: The Case for Christianity by Winfried Corduan
This is one of the clearest and most comprehensive arguments for Christianity ever penned. Its weakest link is the explanation for evil in the world – weak because Corduan, in taking a Calvinistic perspective, rejects human agency altogether and argues that evil is necessary in order for good to be actualized. This is his weakest argument and the part of the book with which I disagree the most. However, the remainder of the book is outstanding. And it should convince any doubter that Christianity is more plausible than any of the world’s other alternatives, especially atheism.
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
A classic work of Christian apologetics, C.S. Lewis’ masterpiece is still one of the best. If you haven’t read Mere Christianity, don’t let today go by without getting a copy. And then, of course, read it. Lewis strips away much of the doctrinal disputings and theological uncertainty that has characterized Christianity for its 2000-year history, and examines its fundamental claims. If Lewis can’t convince you that Christianity (at least at its core) is almost certainly true, there may not be anyone who can.
Cries of the Heart: Bringing God Near When He Feels So Far by Ravi Zacharias
For most, doubt isn’t intellectual. It’s personal and emotional. If God is real and I am a Christian, they wonder, shouldn’t I “feel” His presence? Shouldn’t we “feel” our relationship? Must our walk with God feel so “distant”? Why must God be so “invisible”? Ravi Zacharias, one of the greatest Christian apologists of all time, tackles these questions directly. And he doesn’t disappoint.
If you’re a skeptic or critic looking to be convinced, the above books may not be the best for you. However, if you are a person who leans toward belief in Christ or who has already made a decision for Christ, these books can and will help you overcome your periods of doubt. They will strengthen your faith.
Of course, the most important book to read is the Bible. In all your reading about Christianity and your relationship with God, don’t neglect the most important book ever written on the subject.
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