Applying your Faith in 2019: 5 Books to help

In the prologue of C.S. Lewis' The Great Divorce, Lewis says, "If we insist on keeping Hell (or even earth) we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell."

As I enter 2019 I want more of only heaven. Heaven on earth. Heaven in me. And these 5 books are helping me apply my faith in a real sense, not just a hopeful one.

As I look back on 2018 in myself, and honestly in many of those around me, I see a generation that seems to be straddling a crevasse. In one hand is a genuine desire to lead, to love, to see God. I don't for a second question the desire of this generation to take their faith seriously. But I also can't ignore that in the other hand, a lot of us are gripping onto souvenirs of Hell, as Lewis puts it. We want to be great, but we struggle to apply truth.

That's the perfect way to describe it. We don't want Hell in our lives, we don't crave destruction, but we want to keep tucked in our pockets the objects of destruction, because in fact they never look that way in our hands. While some of my closest friends are ridden with shame because of what they are clinging to, others have completely left any camp of regret and have submitted to living a double life without conviction, one that won't bother them as long as the holy side of them remains more visible. 

We don't crave destruction, but we want to keep tucked in our pockets the objects of destruction, because in fact they never look that way in our hands.

I don't want to settle for that. Hebrews calls us to continually 'throw off the sin that binds us', i.e. giving up is not an option in this fight. If our God is the perfecter, than we can be perfected. I'm putting my thoughts and motivations in the flame that reveal true intentions. I want better for myself, and I want better for those around me. And for those of us who still read books, we can build our arsenal. 2019 can be better. 

1. The Great Divorce -C.S. Lewis

I read this book this year in one sitting and I wept. It's short, it's an actual story (not a how-to) it's beautifully written, and it probably displayed the love and intention of God for me more clearly that I have understood in a while. Sometimes you need beautiful things to communicate to you how beautiful Christ is again. I also have never felt more compelled to share the gospel than when taking in this book. This book compels me towards application.

2. Single, Dating, Engaged, Married - Ben Stuart

Book 2 in our 5 books for applying your faith is-I know I know, another dating book. But Ben puts it straight. And there were several times where the margins of this book were marked with comments like, "I didn't know I could hope for a love like this." This book stirred up the heart dreams of the little girl that laid a lot down after a lot of disappointment. It's rooted in scripture. It's practical. And it's encouraging for those are ready to give up the wait.

3. Sex, Jesus, and the Conversations the Church Forgot - Mo Isom

I think lust might the strongest and most common souvenirs from Hell our generation is holding onto, and Mo took it on full-force. This book was a breath of fresh air, and honestly a breath of freedom. It's hard to apply to word "purity" to your life when everyone is afraid of talking about the mess. It's the honest conversation no one ever had with me, and the first step of many in owning my own sexuality in a way that's honoring to my faith.

4. Come Matter Here - Hannah Brencher

I've physically spent almost a year in Uganda, but if I'm honest my head hasn't been here that long. I and my peers have a fierce hunger for vision, the future, and pioneering our way there. But that can often come at the expense of our now. And neglecting where we've been placed is an easily overlooked disobedience. HB reminds us why now is beautiful, and teaches us that dreams are born out the present.

5. Between the World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coats

For book 5 to help apply your faith, I wanted to be sure to address an area that seems to have become exempt from faith application: oppression and social justice. We love to advocate for slaves oversees, but we don't want to consider how our votes impact our neighbors. Nor do we take the time to investigate the honest experience of minorities in our country. "Love your neighbor." is an application of faith. I read this book last year and it's one of the most honest depictions of what it's like to be at odds with the systems of America. Expand your capacity for compassion, extend your ability to see past yourself. Read.

This is a short list, but if you tackle all of these this year I'm confident that you will be moved into the space where people are not just readers of the word, but are doers. Application over consumption. Faithful small steps will leave us better in 365 days.

Want more? You can find last years book list here.