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Christian Reading

Besides all the articles I wrote and the other material you will find through the links on the left, I found some good material on the internet which I could recommend and which I found through Christian Classics. I will continue to add to this page as I find material I consider worth recommending.

So far I have only one recommendation, but it is quite extensive reading. It is the preaching by Charles G. Finney as written in 1878. So you could imagine that some parts, especially the beginning, may see outdated. However, one can argue that it would still apply today.

I broke up the big file into smaller parts because, when I was viewing the initial large and complete file in Word, the program went berserk and hogged up the computer's entire processor speed. Which is not good and could damage your computer (more computer tips - Task Manager). Some of the files may still hog up your processor if opened up in an older version of Word, such as 97, and may be better opened in XP or later (refer to your Task Manager, as explained through the computer tips link above). Or you can just break up the file into still smaller parts yourself.

Charles starts his sermon preaching about obedience, and then moves towards our motivations, then Christian perfectionism, and now I am at the various nuances how believers can fall short of the glory of God. It is heavy reading, especially the first section, but I think it is good because one should be forced to analyse themselves and see their own faults. His reading will rip open your soul and dissect your motivations in every aspect. It will force you to reflect deeply on your beliefs, and all his arguments are broken down very logically and are easy to follow. Below I will provide links to the individual sections with an excerpt and possibly brief description from each. I would recommend reading all of it, even if the beginning part may seem out of date. I hope to read it several time. And above all, I hope to be able to apply it!!!
In the document you may find coloured areas or my famous < symbol (we use it to make comments to one another when handling translations). I may add to these comments during subsequent readings.

File 1 - SELF DECEIVERS
           Are you conscious that the gospel is producing a practical effect upon you, according to your advancement in knowledge? Is it weaning you from the world? Do you find this to be your experience, that when you receive any practical truth into your minds you love it, and love to feel its application to yourself, and take pleasure in practicing it? If you are not growing in grace, becoming more and more holy, yielding yourselves up to the influence of the gospel, you are deceiving yourselves.
        - Why do you pray, or keep the Sabbath, or give your property for religious objects? You answer, "For the sake of promoting my own salvation."
          THREE CLASSES OF PROFESSING CHRISTIANS; LEGAL RELIGION; RELIGION OF PUBLIC OPINION

File 2 - TRUE AND FALSE REPENTANCE; DISHONESTY IN SMALL MATTERS IS INCONSISTENT WITH HONESTY IN ANYTHING; YOU ARE BOUND TO KNOW YOUR TRUE CHARACTER; TRUE AND FALSE CONVERSIONS

File 3 - TRUE SUBMISSION; SELFISHNESS NOT TRUE RELIGION

File 4 - RELIGION OF THE LAW AND GOSPEL
           But it is not the way to get right feeling, in the first place, to dash right into the work, without any regard to the motives of the heart.
          JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

I will put up the other parts as I finish reading them. If you are a faster reader than I (which is not difficult) and want the rest before I put them up, just email me and ask.

I read most of what I had uploaded above, but after some point it was demoralizing me. I'd still like to read the rest, but the stern finger of judgement depleted my motivation, and I could not muster any more. I am thankful of what I read because it forced me to analyse myself and realize how selfish and unserving to Christ I really was. It tore up my Christian convictions and laid me bare - naked and humble as we should be before God.
But since I ran out of motivation, it was time for encouragement, and the following reading should be good for that. Perhaps you could read it in conjunction with the above to provide you with inspiration and fuel. It is a wonderfully written literary piece speculating what might happen if a movement began, in full earnest, whereby its participants would ask themselves, "What would Jesus do in my shoes?", and follow it.

"In His Steps" - by Sheldon, Charles M. (1857-1946)

Happy reading!