Curtis Klingle

I believe it is safe for me to assume the title of avid student when speaking of my interest in the Bible. I never tire of reading it, studying it, or writing about the message which lines its pages. It is the single piece of literature that you can read your entire lifetime and continue to discover new insights embedded within. As in gardening, you must invest time and toil in order for it to produce its fruit. So it is in our study, we must work to glean the fruit from the Bible, and as we do so it is illuminated by His Spirit. But there is an added bonus which one receives in studying God’s word as C.S. Lewis noted,

“Anyone who is honestly trying to be a Christian will soon find his intelligence being sharpened: one of the reasons why it needs no special education to be a Christian is that Christianity is an education itself.  That is why an uneducated believer like Bunyan was able to write a book (The Pilgrim’s Progress) that has astonished the whole world.”[i]

Like Lewis, I too believe we must study the Bible and do so with all our strength and mental resources. But we should also make room to explore other literature because there are often hidden paths to the throne room of God concealed within. As he pointed out, The Pilgrim’s Progress, is one such book. Published in 1678, it has never gone out of print, has been translated into over 200 languages, and it continues to inspire. 

With Lewis and other non-biblical literature in mind, I am reminded of the Scottish preacher George McDonald’s book, “Phantastes.” This fairy tale par excellence is quite simply beautiful, and it was instrumental in Lewis’ own journey to salvation. I know in my own case, I have experienced significant spiritual growth through varying genres of literature. God can and does use many different avenues to convey His message of love and sacrifice.

There are many books that have influenced me and my thinking in this journey which began 62 years ago. Most of these writings would fall into the Christian/religious genre, but I have gleaned something (and still do) from virtually all genres of literature. I have been led to many works by paying close attention to what books or essays an author might reference. I then do the same with those referred to authors. If I come across a quote that piques my curiosity, I look up information about the person. If what I find is appealing, I search out some of their works and purchase a used copy or two. I listen to recommendations from other readers as well.    

I have been asked for book recommendations and thought I would include a short list of some I have enjoyed. I limited myself to 10 and pulled from different genres to drive home the fact that we can learn from different sources. These selections are tomes based in Christianity, philosophy, fiction, and non-fiction. Please understand, some of what I initially began to read simply for pleasure have ended up being reference books, in fact, that is still very much the case. Mind you, some of these I have listed were challenging to read, to put it mildly. But even those that required more effort were rewarding in the end, maybe even more so than others.  

1. Mere Christianity- C.S. Lewis. This book was based upon a series of talks Lewis gave over the radio waves during World War II.
2. The Everlasting Man- G.K. Chesterton. An excellent apologetics work.
3. The Weight of Glory- A short essay by C.S. Lewis. These words haunt me, always.
4. The Jesus I Never Knew- Philip Yancy. A very thorough handling of the life of Christ and what we can expect from an encounter with Him.
5. Frederick Buechner- Secrets in the Dark. A moving compilation of essays and sermons straight from the author’s heart.
6. Silence- Shusaku Endo- A historical fiction depicting a missionary’s travails in early 17^th century Japan.  
7. Tom Sawyer- Mark Twain- Anything by Twain exercises the mind and his character development is exceptional. I reflect upon this story as I reckon most men of my age do, because it reminds me of childhood in many ways. 
8. Walden- Henry David Thoreau- Thoreau’s ability to see and then convey those things to the reader in a richness that enraptures is an extremely rare gift. It is quite simply one of the greatest writings ever penned and challenges one’s way of seeing and thinking.
9. The Greatest Thing in the World- Henry Drummond- This very short book is a beautiful treatise on the subject of love. My first copy is over 35 years old now and I still refer to it often.    
10. Crime and Punishment- Fyodor Dosteovesky- A dive into the mind as it battles with the commission of a heinous crime, the resulting torment of the soul, and the path to redemption.

Some of these books may stick with you for life while others may and probably will disappear from your mind. But while you have them, immerse yourself within them and let them tell you their story.    

The Bible was omitted from the listed 10 because study of the Bible was pointed out at the beginning; I do think it prudent however that I reiterate and emphasize a bit more though. I have a variety of translations on my bookshelf, and I use them frequently. However, the translations I primarily utilize are the: New King James Version (NKJV) and the New American Standard Bible (NASB). The NKJV is a modernized version of the King James Version (KJV). I like the NKJV because of its readability (omission of thee and thou and other Old English archaic intricacies). Another reason which is more intimate of course, is that I was gifted a NKJV by a man named Don Ivy 36 years ago (I have had it recovered twice now). So, yes, I am a bit biased. Even with this affinity, I believe it is a good translation. My other favorite, and in many ways preferred is the New American Standard Bible (NASB). The NASB reflects the original Hebrew as well as the Greek much more accurately than do other translations. It is also an easy to read translation. Oh, one additional note on Bible translations: I personally shy away from any Bible translation that is accredited to a specific preacher. Unless its reliability has been scrutinized by a variety of scholars and found to be free of said preacher’s own biases, one should refrain from using them.

For in depth Bible study a must have would be a concordance to facilitate word studies in the original Hebrew and the Koine Greek in which it was originally written. Another indispensable tool is one or more commentaries. Think of a commentary as a resource tool such as when you study one of the sciences or say, history or another discipline. In these works, someone else has gathered information from the original texts, studied the original words and prepared their journey and interpretation as a guide, not as dogma. Remember, there is only one meaning, that being the one God intended, but there may be varying opinions regarding that meaning.

My intent with the works I have recommended are to help you draw closer to Him and give you a better understanding of who we are and how intricately linked we are to one another. But they are merely recommendations formed from my own subjectivity, my own experiences and opinions. They have helped me, of that I am certain.   

“We should always choose our books as God chooses our friends, just a bit beyond us, so that we have to do our level best to keep up with them.” Oswald Chambers, Shade of His Hand, 1216L

C. Klingle

Post Script- Should you desire further suggestions, or have recommendations of your own, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.  

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[i] Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity, New York: Harper Collins, 2001