One of my favorite subjects to study is the Reformation. Even those who disagree with what the Reformation stand for must admit to that these formative years in human history were fascinating and world changing. Recently I read the book Five Leading Reformers: Lives at a watershed of history
by Christopher Catherwood. As the title suggests, the author briefly explores the life and influence of five leading men during the Reformation. Beginning with Martin Luther, Catherwood discusses Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin, Thomas Cranmer, and John Knox.Each chapter covers primarily the life of each man surveying the issues of their life and legacy. For example, the author goes into some great pains to set the record straight regarding John Calvin and rightfully so. He gives a more accurate rendering of the Servetus execution and Calvin's role in it. He points out that the root of Calvin's theology wasn't predestination. He does the same thing regarding Luther (you know, that anti-Semite) and the rest of the Reformers. This does not mean that he turns them into saints. He does the opposite in fact. He criticizes Zwingli for living with a Bible in one hand and a sword in the other. Catherwood points out that instead of saints, these were mere Christians in whom God, in His providence, used to reform the Church and to get us to return to the gospel.
There is a lot to commend in this book. This is a good summary of each man especially for those who know little about them. This is a great introduction to the Reformers though the Cranmer chapter is difficult primarily due to how hard it is to keep the King and Queens straight. Over all I would consider assigning this book if I were teaching a class on the Reformation to a group new to the subject.
But the question the arises from books like this, (and Caterwood has another similar book titled Five Evangelical Leaders
) is the list he chooses. Are these the five most important Reformers? Although the question is rather circular and relative, I will say a few things. First, Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli are the three most famous and important Reformers. A book on the Reformation that does not focus on these men is not much of a book on the Reformation. That leaves us with Knox and Cranmer. Knox is critical particularly in his leadership in Scotland. Cranmer was without a doubt important in his leadership in England. But what about some of the Anabaptist and the Pre-Reformers? If I were to write this book, I would replace Cranmer with one of the first Anabaptist, but that's just me. Certainly Cranmer was critical to the Reformation and deserves our attention, but he is a mystery and his influence shrouded in politics.
And that is a point the author makes quit well. The influence of politics cannot be missed and is an unfortunate reality of this time period. Spiritual and theological reformation happened because the polis allowed it. No doubt this is the problem men like Huss and Wycliffe ran into, but praise be to God that these obstacles didn't keep the Reformation from happening when it did.
Finally, one should note that this is not a study of these men's theology. Certainly there is a lot of theology in it (like the question of the Lord's Supper in the Zwingli chapter), but little is said about their theology. So if one wants to learn about the theology of these men, consider books like Timothy George's Theology of the Reformers
. The lack of theology doesn't make it a bad book, but one need to be aware of this when starting.Overall, I'd recommend this book for those interested in or fascinated by the Reformation. It is an easy and quick read and beyond the difficulties of history (like names and dates) especially for those new to the issues raised. Solo de gloria!
Following his best-selling book 
David Platt needs no introduction. Platt has become the voice of the next generation of Evangelicals who remain conservative and orthodox in their doctrine and yet tired of playing "Christian." Platt's passion is to see the world changed with the gospel and with him is a growing number of younger believers who want to change the world with him. Younger evangelicals want to see real change, not just the same old church politics, useless, endless fights, intimacy with all things political, or wasting money on purposeless projects. We want to see people come to Christ and our world changed and Platt is the one with the bull horn.
. As the title suggests, this book is similar to the first with a slight difference. The urgency remains and the message is still the same: we Christians need to abandon the American dream and live out the gospel. In his first book, Platt called us to repentance and to reshape our priorities. In this book, Platt is more practical and warns us how well-intentioned Christians can actually stand in the way of changing the world with the gospel.
Max Lucado is an author who needs no introduction. Even outside of the modern evangelical bubble, his name is well-known and well-established. Lucado is a best-selling author whose books are always at the top of the list each year. Many love his books and for good reasons. He is engaging, a good writer, has compelling stories and illustrations, and seeks to point people to the words of Scripture.
is unique among his library of other books and resources. Instead of it being a book about a particular subject (like fear 
) or a certain verse (
) or on a certain biblical character (
) or about a particular passage (
), or about social issues (
) this book is a collection of commonly asked questions wherein Lucado offers his best, brief answer.
One of the areas of historical theology that I find fascinating and yet woefully ignorant of is the Early Church. I know the names, some of the concepts, and can even point to the development of the Papacy, the Trinity, etc., but still feel like I know too little of this important time in Church history. The significance of the early church should be obvious. It is critical to see what the first generations after the apostles believed, how they lived, and what their theology was.
. Haykin is an expert in the Early Church, its history, and its theology and this book reveals as much. Haykin does not offer a thorough, exhaustive look at early church history and theology, but instead highlights a number of significant persons and doctrines during this time that are crucial for us to understand. Haykin covers men like Origen, Irenaus, and Patrick.
One of the books that has been on my "to-read" list for quit some time has been Christianity Today writer Colin Hansen's book 
. Anyone that has kept up with young Evangelicals will quickly find that there are basically two leading movements. Since the writing of this book (2008) one group has sort of plateaued, or at least become less significant (apart from books that cause quit a stir only to fade like Brian McLaren's 
and the more recent 
), while the other seems to only continue to grow taking over entire seminaries (like the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), conferences (like Together for the Gospel and the Gospel Coalition), publishers (like Crossway Books), and leading pulpits (like John MacArthur's Grace Community Church among many others).
by Eddie Gibbs and Ryan K. Bolger and maybe even 
by Emergent leader Tony Jones are imperative to read in order to get a basic understanding of the Emerging Church, so too this book is imperative to read for anyone wanting to get a basic understanding of the New Calvinists movement and its appeal. 
One of the great modern challenges of theology today is Process Theology. In brief, Process theology begins with God's love which demands human autonomy. They hold that God is in process (not necessarily that He is evolving). Because both God and matter are eternal, the two are intricately connected, thus they affirm panentheism (not to be confused with pantheism though there are some similarities between the two). This theological movement has been around for some time and continues to make its case particularly in the academy but anyone who serves in ministry will be able to tell you, that portions of it are common among "the populace." In other words, process theology is alive in our congregations.
, John B. Cobb Jr., and David Ray Griffin (two leading process theologians) present their case for, defense of, and introduction to process theology. Such books are helpful to those new to such movements and to pastors like myself who seek to communicate to average believers what such movements believe and why it matters. Though I still believe that 
by C. Robert Mesle is an easier read and thus a better introduction for those in pastoral positions like myself, this book has its strengths.
For those who follow conservative talk radio, the name Kevin McCullough may be well known and over the years he has established a respectable following. McCullough has become known as the first American to predict that the freshman Senator from Illinois, elected in 2004, would run and win the White House in 2008. That Senator, of course, was Barack Obama who now, as McCullough predicted, occupies the White House.
, McCullough lays out his charge as to why President Obama is a bad president and should be stopped. If I could sum up this book it would be that if you enjoy listening to talk radio and want a one stop shop of what the average conservative host believes about Obama and why, turn here.