Ten Books For Elisa

1.) Biblical Theology: Old and New Testament — Gerhardus Vos

This will give you an insight on how to read the Scriptures in a way that you won’t typically find coming from the pulpit. Vos gives us Biblical theology as opposed to Systematic theology. It is not that systematic theology is bad (it is to be prized) it is just that it is not the only tool in the toolbox. Biblical theology reads Redemption like a novel seeking to identify underlying architectonic themes and then tracing their progress, growth, and advance in the Scriptures. When done right (and nobody does it better than Vos) it is an exciting way to read the Scriptures. (But beware… there are hosts of people out there who really do a hatchet job on the Scriptures using this methodology.)

2.) Prevailing Worldviews of Western Society Since 1500 — Glenn Martin

This is Martin’s 101 work on Worldviews and the way they work. Martin was my mentor in undergrad and so I am prejudiced in favor of his work. This book will begin to peel the onion on how ideas have consequences and will demonstrate how it is we must be careful in what we believe.

3.) Poverty of Multiculturalism — Patrick West

A short book that punches way above its weight. This will begin to give you and idea of what multiculturalism is, its roots, and where it is taking us. I couldn’t put this book down once I started it.

4.) Winter in Moscow — Malcolm Muggeridge

Muggeridge initially swallowed the Communist Utopia dream and then later, upon visiting Russia, had his eyes widely opened. This is Muggeridge’s novel pulling back the curtain on the then new USSR. Written as a novel it is an easy read but again Muggeridge, like his contemporary Orwell, is telling a much deeper story then what appears on the surface. Should be ranked with “Animal Farm,” and “1984.” Under-rated and ignored because it was less than flattering on the Moscow Utopia.

5.) Read something by P. J. Wodehouse

Except for Samuel Clemens, I’ve never read anybody who made me laugh who I knew was setting out to make me laugh like Wodehouse. I’m giving you some reading that can be heavy on the soul. I’ve found that if I can occasionally set the burdens aside and laugh awhile I will be more confident and less dour. His stuff on Jeeves is hilarious. His material on Uncle Fred is likewise the stuff that belly laughs are made.

6.) The Death of Death in the Death of Christ — John Owen

After reading this all you will do is laugh at Arminians. Owen is a 17th century Puritan and he writes like one. Never met a period he like and finds commas to be his soulmates. Still, if you can get through this your faith will be stronger. You can usually find this in paperback.

7.) Secular Discussions — R. L. Dabney

Dabney was the 19th century version of Rushdooney. After reading this book you’ll declare that Dabney was a prophet. He takes on issues that still bedevil us today and traces all the implications and in doing so you see he was exactly right and should’ve been listened to. This is around 500 pages but the nice thing about it is that you can pick it up and read a chapter that interests you and come back to the book later and not have to worry about having lost the train of thought. Each chapter is a self-contained essay and not dependent upon the previous chapters. He takes on issues like Government schools, women voting, social order, how the war against the Constitution will change the culture going forward, etc. A truly beautiful book. If you absorb Dabney you’ll be able to identify Cultural Marxism when you see it.

8.) Nihilism; The Root of the Revolution of the Modern Age — Eugene (Fr. Sephraim) Rose.

Another short book that packs a wallop. Rose is Eastern Orthodox but his analysis of modern culture will help you see through the fog that is Cultural Marxism. Trenchant observations everywhere in the book. My copy looks like a pencil vomited all over the pages. I love this book. Underneath Cultural Marxism lies the worldview philosophy of Nihilism. Rose tells you what that is, and what its implications are and how it is eating the West alive.

9.) Read anything by Christopher Dawson. I might recommend starting with “Religion and the Rise of Western Culture.”

Dawson is brilliant. British academic who taught at the most prestigious Universities both in Britain and in the States. Few academics match Dawson in terms of cultural and civilizational analysis. Unfortunately Dawson was Roman Catholic and sometimes that leaks through, but on the whole his work is spot on and again contributes to seeing through the lies of this age. Dawson knew what it was that made Christendom Christendom and he lamented over what he saw, even in his time, as the undoing of the faith that created Christendom. This book will also help you see through the demonic worldview that is cultural Marxism.

1o.) Christianity and Culture — T. S. Elliot

Another beautiful book that should be read before anyone mounts a pulpit. Elliot, like several of the books I’ve listed here (per your request on subject matter) explores the relationship between Christianity and culture. This book will help you smell out R2K, as R2K denies there is a intimate relationship between culture and belief.

There is so very much more Elisa. I’ve tried to give you a starter kit. I’ve tried to give you several books that are shorter in length so you can see that you are making headway while at the same time trying to make sure that these shorter books are still heavy in content. I admire your desire to see through the fog that this culture — both in the Church and outside the church — is offering up.

May God bless you in your reading and your children for your reading.

Author: jetbrane

I am a Pastor of a small Church in Mid-Michigan who delights in my family, my congregation and my calling. I am postmillennial in my eschatology. Paedo-Calvinist Covenantal in my Christianity Reformed in my Soteriology Presuppositional in my apologetics Familialist in my family theology Agrarian in my regional community social order belief Christianity creates culture and so Christendom in my national social order belief Mythic-Poetic / Grammatical Historical in my Hermeneutic Pre-modern, Medieval, & Feudal before Enlightenment, modernity, & postmodern Reconstructionist / Theonomic in my Worldview One part paleo-conservative / one part micro Libertarian in my politics Systematic and Biblical theology need one another but Systematics has pride of place Some of my favorite authors, Augustine, Turretin, Calvin, Tolkien, Chesterton, Nock, Tozer, Dabney, Bavinck, Wodehouse, Rushdoony, Bahnsen, Schaeffer, C. Van Til, H. Van Til, G. H. Clark, C. Dawson, H. Berman, R. Nash, C. G. Singer, R. Kipling, G. North, J. Edwards, S. Foote, F. Hayek, O. Guiness, J. Witte, M. Rothbard, Clyde Wilson, Mencken, Lasch, Postman, Gatto, T. Boston, Thomas Brooks, Terry Brooks, C. Hodge, J. Calhoun, Llyod-Jones, T. Sowell, A. McClaren, M. Muggeridge, C. F. H. Henry, F. Swarz, M. Henry, G. Marten, P. Schaff, T. S. Elliott, K. Van Hoozer, K. Gentry, etc. My passion is to write in such a way that the Lord Christ might be pleased. It is my hope that people will be challenged to reconsider what are considered the givens of the current culture. Your biggest help to me dear reader will be to often remind me that God is Sovereign and that all that is, is because it pleases him.

2 thoughts on “Ten Books For Elisa”

  1. May this post reach all the faithful servants of Christ, whom seek His way in our day and the future, in rebuilding Christendom, in Jesus name, amen.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *