5 "Catholic" Books Every Evangelical Should Read

In honor of Christian Unity week, I am presenting some items that will help Evangelicals learn about their Roman Catholic brothers and sisters and enhance their own understanding of the gospel. These books have been helpful in my own spiritual life and I hope they will be a blessing to everyone who reads them as well.

These books come from a wide spectrum of Christian history and as such, some of them have been claimed by other traditions.  But Evangelicals should realize the contributions the Roman Catholic Church has made to Christendom and the books below are representative of that.

5. Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI. This book is an absolute gem.  I discovered this book on a whim while I was looking for something to broaden my understanding of the gospels.  When I began to read Benedict's work, I was immediately impressed by the Pope's understanding of Scripture and his ability to interact with faith traditions and critical scholarship. The book is divided into three volumes: Vol 1 covers Jesus' life from the beginning of his ministry to the Triumphal Entry, Vol 2 focuses on the Holy Week and Vol 3 is dedicated to the infancy narratives.  Do not let the size of the book deter you, the reader who enters into this work will be greatly blessed by a fresh look at the gospels and a deeper understanding of our Christian walk.  Simply put, this is the one of the best books about Jesus ever written.

4. Crossing the Threshold of Hope by Pope John Paul II.  Pope John Paul II is something of a Christian superstar, even in evangelical circles.  His work in the areas of world peace and promoting life were respected by people around the world.  In this short book, Pope John Paul addresses some of the most critical issues facing the world.  He is able to make profound thoughts accessible to the lay reader and it is a truly joyous read.  As we stand together as a church against the 'culture of death,' this book is a critical read.

3. Orthodoxy and Heretics by G.K. Chesterton.  In these short books, Chesterton, one of the best known apologists of the modern era lays out what Christians believe...and more importantly what they don't believe. Heretics is actually the more fun read as it lays out why certain beliefs were considered out of the mainstream.  Chesterton's unique writing style is almost as entertaining as it is informative.  He often speaks in short, plithy comments, and humerous observations.  These books are filled with informative insights into the faith and well worth the read.

2. Institutes by John Cassian.  St. Cassian is one of those individuals who are claimed by both the Eastern and Western churches, and rightly so. Cassian was a 'desert father', a monk who wandered out in to the desert to spend time with God. He was known as a founder of monasteries in Egypt and France.  In the first part of this book, Cassian describes the order, clothes and life of monks in his monasteries.  The second part is probably of more interest to the modern Christian reader as he deals with overcoming vices in one's life with many practical suggestions on how to follow God in this modern world.  This book had a lasting impact on the Western Church primarily through the work of St. Benedict.

1. The Confessions by St. Augustine. It is remarkable that many Reformed and Evangelical Christians who admire a great deal of Augustine's writings have forgotten that he is a fundamental theologian in Roman Catholicism.  The Confessions is the spiritual autobiography of all spiritual autobiographies.  In this book, St. Augustine speaks frankly about his struggle with sins and the way he ultimately found God. I have read this book many times and every time I read it, I am in awe of the depth of Augustine's spiritual convictions and the concern he has for God's glory.

Honorable Mention
1. On Being a Christian by Hans Kung (note: this book was criticized by the Conference of German Bishops for being unorthodox in a number of areas.  Kung himself was stripped of his ability to teach Catholic theology, but remains a 'priest in good standing.'
2. On Law, Morality, and Politics by St. Thomas Aquinas
3. The Rule of St. Benedict by St. Benedict (available in a variety of versions)
4. Confessions by St. Patrick
5. Catechism of the Catholic Church