Top Ten Books of the 21st Century

Though this new century is only 8 years old, and though the church seems as confused as ever, a number of very fine books have been published in that time span. And even though I live by the creed 'older is better' (at least when it comes to printed matter) the following list of the top ten books of the 21st century demonstrates something of the limitation of my creed.

I offer this list not as the final word, but as one minister's humble appreciation for the labors of certain faithful ministers and theologians of our generation.

The list is in no particular order. Book number 10 may be just as significant as book number 1 -- though I do think one of these books ought to be the standard for future generations. The list is also confined to my narrow window on the (theological and ecclesiastical) world. I don't pretend to have read every new book that comes down the pike. I have neither the time nor the interest, especially given my creed (see above). One more thing: no reprints made the list. If it was published before 2000, it's not on the list.

With all the caveats out of the way, then, here is the list:

1. D. G. Hart and John R. Muether, With Reverence and Awe: Returning to the Basics of Reformed Worship (P & R, 2002). Simply put, the most important book on the most important subject. Hart and Muether cover a whole range of liturgical issues in brief compass, and with great clarity and cogency. This little volume needs to become the gold standard for Reformed churches everywhere. Buy it, read it, and when you're done, read it again. See also D. G. Hart, Recovering Mother Kirk -- not quite as good as With Reverence and Awe, but still quite stimulating on the subject of worship.

2. Richard A. Muller, Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics: The Rise and Development of Reformed Orthodoxy, ca. 1520 to ca. 1725, 4 volumes (Baker, 2003). Yes, the first two volumes were published in 1987, but both volumes underwent revision and the final two volumes are brand new. So, it still makes the list. One of the most important, if not the most important work of historical theology in the last 100 years. Muller's extensive knowledge and familiarity with the primary sources makes for a fascinating read by itself. But perhaps the greatest value of this set is that it demolishes the Kendall-Armstrong-et al thesis that the generations following Calvin corrupted the pristine biblical theology of the Genevan Reformer by developing a rigid system of theology centered on the doctrine of predestination. For Pastors and Theologians of the Reformed tradition this is a must read. As an aside, I am tempted to put Muller's After Calvin on this list, too; but, I've not read the whole volume, and I don't own it. Because it is published by Oxford the cost is astronomical.

3. Walter J. Chantry, David: Man of Prayer, Man of War (Banner of Truth, 2007). Walt has the rare gift of employing an economy of words to communicate fully and powerfully the truth of Holy Scripture. The Lord's use of David is instructive, comforting, and challenging all at the same time. This little volume captures the heart of our Lord's dealings with David and, with theological precision and pastoral discernment, draws the reader into the life and world of the Lord's anointed. This is, without a doubt, a must read for every Christian.

4. R. Scott Clark, editor, Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry: Essays by the Faculty of Westminster Seminary California (P & R, 2007). Most volumes of collected essays by various authors suffer from a lack of cohesion. Not Covenant, Justification, and Pastoral Ministry. On account of the authors' commitment to classical covenant theology as enshrined in the Reformed confessional standards this work sets forth a coherent and cogent defense of the Reformed faith and the gospel against every contemporary revisionist movement, especially the Federal Vision and the New Perspective on Paul. The essays by Scott Clark and David VanDrunen are alone worth the price of the volume.

5. Michael Horton, Covenant and Eschatology (Westminster-John Knox, 2002), Lord and Servant (2005), and Covenant and Salvation (2007); one more volume forthcoming. There hasn't been a real attempt to write a comprehensive Reformed systematic theology since Berkhof early last century. Horton makes this list, not because I concur with everything he says, but because of his attempt to redress this glaring error. [As an aside, neither Robert Reymond nor Wayne Grudem can be considered comprehensive Reformed systematic theologies. Reymond is, by and large, his class notes put into book form -- and his understanding of the doctrine of the Son's eternal generation is highly problematic. Grudem is outside the bounds of Reformed theology on a number of points, most notably his affinity for Charismatic conceptions of revelation and worship.] While a number of salient points could be made, the most important aspect of Horton's work is his self-conscious attempt to structure theology around the organizing principle(s) of Scripture itself, viz., covenant and eschatology. This unifies the system of theology, and avoids an atomistic consideration of the various loci. Horton also deals with contemporary theological problems, thus avoiding a kind of Reformed parochialism. I should also say that the first volume can be tough-going; the second and third volumes are far more user friendly (though, neither would qualify as light or easy reading).

6. Guy Prentiss Waters, The Federal Vision and Covenant Theology: A Comparative Analysis (P & R, 2006). For anyone attempting to understand the way in which the Federal Vision diverges from Scripture and the Westminster Standards, Waters is essential reading. Waters quotes the FV men extensively, letting them speak for themselves. He contrasts the FV and classic covenant theology on several points (e.g., election, justification, perseverance, assurance, apostasy, etc.), demonstrating that the FV and Reformed theology in its confessional form are two different theological systems. Waters has also written a very fine volume dealing with the New Perspective on Paul: Justification and the New Perspective on Paul (P & R, 2004).

7. Terry L. Johnson, The Pastor's Public Ministry (Reformed Academic Press, 2001). I plan on writing a review of this little book in the near future, so any comment here will be extremely brief. Two things of note make this volume very helpful. First, in only 76 pages Johnson distills the best from the pastoral theologies of the past. Second, in all three sections of the book (leading in worship, leading in prayer, and preaching), Johnson draws on the extensive work of Hughes Oliphant Old in the area of historic Reformed worship. Since some of Old's work is out of print and unavailable, this is a helpful way of getting that information second-hand, and in a context dealing more with the pastoral implications of Reformed theology and worship. This work is written for pastors, but a work that is far more generally applicable, read Johnson's Reformed Worship: Worship According to Scripture.

8. James M. Renihan, True Confessions: Baptist Documents in the Reformed Family (Reformed Baptist Academic Press, 2008). Hot off the press, this massive volume puts in parallel columns several 17th century baptist confessional documents, primarily for the purpose of elucidating the historical and theological context out of which came the 2nd London Baptist Confession of Faith (1677/1689). For any serious student of the confessional standards of Reformed Baptists (or the Reformed faith more generally) Renihan's work is most welcome. This work should sit alongside Beeke and Ferguson's Reformed Confessions Harmonized, and should be perused frequently.

9. D. G. Hart, The Lost Soul of American Protestantism (Rowman & Littlefield, 2002). What is there to say except that this is classic D. G. Hart: cranky and iconoclastic (as the cover asserts). Hart contends that the standard two-party typology of 20th century Protestant Christianity (i.e., liberal vs. fundamentalist/evangelical) excludes a third way, namely confessional Protestantism. Confessional Dutch-Reformed, Presbyterian, and Lutheran churches, in fact, represent a way of 'being Protestant' that is at odds with both liberal and fundamentalist-evangelical ideologies. Instead of individualized, mountain top experience piety, confessional Protestants have stressed the ordinary means of grace, catechesis, and the like. Hart offers several historical examples. While accepting folks like John Williamson Nevin as the standard of confessional Protestantism is a hard sell for me, the Mercersburg theology (e.g., Nevin), old school Lutherans, and old school Presbyterians were correct to eschew the 'new measures' of Finney, et al, and maintain an emphasis upon Word, sacrament, and prayer as the ordinary means of grace. Hart reminds us of just this emphasis, and he is to be commended for his labors.

10. Michael S. Horton, God of Promise: Introducing to Covenant Theology (Baker, 2006). This is the best contemporary introduction to covenant theology. I obviously disagree with Horton's views regarding the implications of covenant theology for baptism (he is paedobaptist, I am not). Nevertheless, the overall treatment of the divine covenants is highly commendable. Horton, in fact, is quite comprehensive. After a very fine introduction (probably the best I've ever read), Horton deals with the covenant of redemption, the covenant of works, the covenant of grace, and even considers the doctrines of providence and common grace under the rubric of covenant. Again, at work here is the conviction that covenant theology is the Bible's own organizing principle and super-structure; it is the marrow of theology. For anyone holding on to the atomistic approach of dispensationalism, in any of its forms, Horton will challenge those convictions, and demonstrate that God revealed himself consistently and harmoniously by way of covenant. God of Promise should be on every the shelf of every serious Christian.

A few more for your consideration: Cornelis P. Venema, The Gospel of Free Acceptance in Christ, and The Promise of the Future; David F. Wells, Above All Earthly Pow'rs: Christ in a Postmodern World; John D. Currid, Genesis, 2 vols.; Fred A. Malone, The Baptism of Disciples Alone: A Covenantal Argument for Credobaptism Versus Paedobaptism; Kevin J. Vanhoozer, The Drama of Doctrine: A Canonical-Linguistic Approach to Christian Theology; Hywel R. Jones, Job; David VanDrunen, A Biblical Case for Natural Law; Dennis Johnson, Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures, and Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation; and anything written by Carl Trueman, but especially The Wages of Spin: Critical Writings on Historical and Contemporary Evangelicalism.

Happy Reading.