The book that influenced me most – this is an intriguing category to think and write about. It wouldn’t be my favourite book which would be John Calvin On Prayer; nor the best book, which has too many sub-categories to give a simple answer, but the book that influenced me most. Hmmm? My mind scanned all sorts of volumes. Which one would I choose? While there are some weighty tomes which have shaped me, I found myself focusing on quite small books which had an impact at specific moments in life and ministry.
Preach The Word by Denis Lane is a simple introduction which shaped the early days of my ministry and influences me 30 years later. How Long O Lord? by Don Carson not only helped me to reflect on suffering and evil, but it is a book which helped me to understand the connections between Scripture, theology and pastoral ministry. The Call by Os Guinness helped my wife and me work through what life and ministry would look like after health issues closed the door of overseas mission. I could write this article on any of these, but on reflection there was no real competition with the book which played a pivotal role in the life changing experience of my conversion and that is Basic Christianity by John Stott.
I became a Christian at university. In my testimony there are other books; reading John’s gospel for myself had a profound effect in my introduction to Jesus; the witness of several Christian friends was vital in commending Christ and showing me true faith; and I still remember feeling a profound sense of conviction after an evangelist’s sermon. Stott’s book was used by the Lord to pull all of this together.
I specifically remember the sinner’s prayer at the end of the book. After lots of thinking, talking, arguing and resisting I was finally drawn to a place where I was convinced of the truth of the gospel. I needed a focus in the midst of a lot of turmoil in my head. One September night at about 3am I got out of bed, got on my knees and spoke the prayer in the back of the book as honestly as I could. I trace my conversion back to that moment.
Opening the book again I am reminded of other ways it influenced me. The chapter on the reality of the resurrection convinced my brain of the objective truth of the gospel and encouraged me to investigate the truth claims of the New Testament in more detail. Who Moved the Stone? by Frank Morison was also a contender in this category. Two chapters on the nature and consequences of sin showed me what being guilty before a holy God really means. The proposition that Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of my sin, not just some of it, blew my mind. This concept of complete forgiveness and justification was something which was hard for me to believe. The final chapter on being a Christian is surprisingly short, considering how many good things it put in place for a baby believer like me. The foundational discipleship advice still serves me well today.
At the time I had no idea who John Stott was. That was not important because Jesus was the focus and not the author. The book is basic as the title suggests. There are depths to be explored which Stott writes about elsewhere, but in this little volume there was enough for me to understand the gospel, to repent and believe, and to begin my life in Christ.