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Review By Luke Williams

Possibly one of the most informative and challenging books that I have ever read, The Screwtape Letters, by C S Lewis, is written from the point of view of one of Satan’s helpers, Screwtape. It is a document of the letters that Screwtape writes to his younger nephew, a beginner tempter in Satan’s ranks.

In a way that is easy to understand yet incredibly in depth and enlightening, Lewis paints a vivid picture of what the spiritual realm of angels and, in particular, demons, would be like were it visible to us today.

In his letters, Screwtape advises the inexperienced demon Wormwood on how to handle his “assignment”, a new believer in Christ. He goes to great lengths explaining the human’s condition, and how every vice, habit or sin can be used against him to his detriment. In a way that only Lewis can, he throws into sharp relief all of the ways that Christians leave the door open for spiritual attacks.

For example, on page 69 Screwtape writes:

“Your patient has become humble. Have you drawn his attention to the fact? All virtues are less formidable to us once the man is aware that he has them, but this is especially true of humility. Catch him at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, ‘By jove! I’m being humble’, and almost immediately pride–pride at his own humility–will appear.”

This sort of writing sums up most humans perfectly. The issue that Lewis puts forward again and again is how these spirits use our own weaknesses against us. They do not cause the sin, they use the sin which is already inherent in us, and make sure that it manifests itself in as many ways as possible.

This is another interesting point about this brilliant book: Lewis sums up the cruelty and zeal with which Satan will attack us. It scared me to read about their thoughts, and to get inside their heads, but to do so is essential in any Christian’s life. By shining a light on his tactics, Lewis gives us armour to defend ourselves against his relentless attacking.

Page 57:

“He must not be allowed to suspect that he is now, however slowly, heading right away from the sun in a line that will carry him into the cold and dark of utmost space.”

And on page 7:

“Keep everything hazy in his mind now, and you will have all eternity herein to amuse yourself by producing in him all the peculiar kind of clarity which Hell affords.”

These statements by Lewis are not easy to read, but it is a lot easier to fight against your enemy once you know how he will come at you, and the strategies he will employ.

Ideal for: I recommend this book to every Christian who wishes to put up a fight against our enemy; and that should be all of us.

Reviewed by Matt Scheffer

This is a great Aussie book by pastor Ray Galea. He grew up Maltese Roman Catholic. He then read the Bible and discovered lots of discrepancies between what the Catholic church said and what the Bible said. He understood the gospel from the Bible, then left the Catholic church.

This book describes his journey to Christ, and the painful journey out of the Catholic ‘identity’ and then what his faith in Christ means now.

The book also compares key doctrines of the Catholic church: Mary, Scripture, Salvation and the Roman Catholic Mass- and he critiques them  in light of the Bible.

It is a fairly short book, some parts are quite repetitive, but he explains the gospel of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone and speaks candidly about his upbringing.

Ideal for: Christians to better understand the differences between Catholics and Protestants (And why those differences are still there today!) It is also a helpful book to give a Roman Catholic person.

Reviewed by Matt Scheffer

John Piper’s aim in this book is to help Christians break free from Western middle class, luke-warm, materialism and live radically for Christ as our Supreme Treasure.

Piper draws from Philippians 1 and Paul’s exclamation that: “To live is Christ, to die is gain”. Piper takes those words and unpacks what a radical, Christ-centred, Christ-exalting life is all about.

According to Piper, too many Christians are wasting their lives. Too many Christians are living for and treasuring what the pagan, unbelieving world also lives for and treasures. What a waste!

This isn’t the first book I would give a non-Christian, since it’s mainly aimed at Christians, and already assumes Christian belief.

Some editions come with a DVD (there should be a sticker on the front cover of the book, stating this copy of the book comes with a DVD). The DVD sermon is a very passionate, stirring, message and well worth watching!

The book is a call for Christians to display the glory of Christ in all things: our use of money, our relationships, our careers, our family, education, church life, etc.. including our very life and death.

A very challenging message, from a very godly pastor. I highly recommend you read it over summer.

Ideal for: Christians who want some “edge” to their Christian thinking, and who want to know what to do with the rest of their lives.

Reviewed by Matt Scheffer

THIS IS THE CHRISTMAS PRESENT OF THE YEAR!

Forget giving socks, pyjamas, teapots, ipods, etc.. this Christmas. Buy this book and give it to someone! Especially a non-Christian.

Written by Aussie evangelist/ historian Dr. John Dickson, it is a part-historical, part-theological look at Jesus.

The first section of the book lists the historical evidence for Jesus (both inside the Bible and from outside biblical sources). He then discusses the person and work of Jesus in a very clear way.

It is not very long, it is very readable (not loaded with dense info) it’s very sharp, savvy… absolutely brilliant.

Ideal for: EVERYONE! Especially non- Christians. Buy it, wrap it, put it under the Christmas tree and then follow-up the person you gave it to by asking them what they thought of the book…