by Gary Fawver

What's with all the emphasis on the Christian classics? Could the church fathers and medieval writers, most of them Roman Catholics and many living a monastic life, be relevant to today's evangelical? Is it really possible to discover the communion of saints as a living reality during all periods of church history? Fifteen years ago as I first began to explore the Christian classics in earnest, the first writer to which the Lord directed me (of the hundreds I could have chosen) was Francis de Sales, a French monk of the seventeenth century. His opening paragraph says:

Others who have written about devotion, directed their thoughts toward those who have withdrawn from ordinary life. It is my intention to teach those who live in ordinary families and communities. Because many such people think it cannot be done, they never attempt living devoutly. No doubt, it is difficult, but I want to help anyone who will try it.(Introduction to the Devout Life)

As I read on, tears of rejoicing surfaced as I found De Sales's counsel to be "bed rock," so practical to my own Christian experience.

My sincere desire is that you would find the Christian classics to be a rich source of spiritual nourishment as well, an affirmation of and supplement to your study of the Written Word of God. Hopefully, the remainder of this article will help you get into the Christian classics comfortably and meaningfully.

What are the Christian classics?

How do a few books, from among the thousands of Christian books, come to have this singular distinctive? The following criteria are often used to classify books as "Christian classics":

1. They are concerned with the soul's life with God, as opposed to teaching doctrine.
2. They have stood the test of time.
3. They appeal to Christians of many ages and denominations.
4. They deal especially with the great theme of prayer.
5. They cannot be read only once, but must be reread and meditated upon.

Why read a Christian classic?

1. It will help you develop a deeper life of prayer and devotion.
2. It will help you understand how to practice 1 Timothy 4:7-8: "Rather train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

Reading the Christian classics will give you a clearer picture of what it means to live fully, but in balance - that fine balance between contemplation (the discipline of prayer and devotion) and action (working for Christ). The classic writer Meister Eckhart said: "What a man takes in by contemplation, he must pour out in love." I have become convinced that most Christians work at serving Christ to the point of neglecting to fill their own deep reservoirs of devotion. Consequently, they often end up trying to work for Christ out of spiritual emptiness. How much better it is to serve Christ from the overflow of one's personal experience with Him!

Are there some cautions that I should heed?

Yes, definitely!

1. Devotional reading is not a substitute for actual Bible meditation and prayer. It is only a supplement, albeit an important one. It should enhance the quality of both Bible meditation and prayer.
2. Don't be put off by words that are archaic or not used in your own Christian environment, such as mystic, monastic, ascetic, contemplative.
3. It is important to decide within yourself that the Roman Catholic devotional writers may have worthwhile spiritual truths to share. This is not to say one must agree with Roman Catholic doctrine; some of it is false and certain practices have been abhorrent to Protestants for centuries.

A. W. Tozer, a highly respected pastor, writer of another generation, and lover of the devotional classics, had one basic requirement of a classic writer: "that his teacher must know God, otherwise than by hearsay, and Christ must be all to him." Time and again these brothers and sisters in Christ have been instructive to me; I recommend them to you!

Remember that in the Middle Ages when the Roman Catholic Church was the only church and yet very corrupt, it was the devotional writers who withdrew from the mainstream of the church, often to monasteries, in order to keep pure faith in Christ alive, as their writings show us today.

Here are some guidelines for meaningful reading of the Christian classics:

1. Attempt to find a current English translation or a good paraphrase edition. Older versions with their literal translations that include hard-to-understand words present unnecessary barriers. The books listed at the end of this article are easy-to-read editions.
2. Devotional reading requires a quiet spot away from all distractions.
3. Read slowly and thoughtfully. Someone has said devotional reading needs its own time, which is not determined by the academic calendar nor by the impatience we have for instant results. Spiritual classics cannot be read in one evening like detective novels.

4. In your devotional reading, limit yourself initially to small segments. Madam Guyon (1648-1717), herself a classical writer of note, has this insightful comment:

   Whatever truth you have chosen, read only a small portion of it, endeavoring to taste and digest it, to extract the essence and substance thereof, and proceed no farther while any savour or relish remains in the passage: when this subsides, take up your book again and proceed as before, seldom reading more than half a page at a time; for it is not the quantity that is read, but the manner of reading that yields the profit. Those who read fast, reap no more advantage than a bee would by only skimming over the surface of the flower, instead of waiting to penetrate into it, and extract its sweets.

5. Devotional reading is living and dynamic and seeks to relate the material to life. You are not reading for information. Therefore, feel free to interpret its insights in such personal forms as a spiritual journal, regular sharing with close spiritual friends, and the practice of prayer. In these ways the effects of reading for the inner person are personalized and deepened to affect and shape character, nourish the soul, and permeate the whole of one's life. I find that writing my impressions, writing some of my prayers, and copying choice bits in a notebook are valuable ways to trace my spiritual growth.
6. After choosing a writer that you feel will benefit your soul, consider the answers to these questions as you read: What was the world like religiously, politically, and culturally at the time of the writing? How does this writer's personal spiritual background and experience affect what is written? How can I summarize what the individual is saying? Finally, what legacy has been left for me? Is there some way I can run the Christian race better (Hebrews 12) because of what this person has given me?

While you are still deciding which Christian devotional writer you will engage initially, here are two excerpts for you to reflect on right now.

From Introduction to the Devout Life by the seventeenth-century saint Francis de Sales:

One who has been walking in a beautiful garden departs not willingly without gathering a few flowers to smell during the remainder of the day; thus ought we, when our soul has been entertaining itself, by meditating on some mystery, to select one or two or three points in which we have found most relish, and which are most proper for our advancement. Think frequently on them and smell them as it were spiritually during the course of the day.

What bouquet of scriptural flowers can you smell throughout the day to make that day more pleasant?

From A Testament of Devotion by Thomas R. Kelly (1893-1941):

Religion isn't something to be added to our other duties, and thus make our lives more complex. The life with God is the center of life, and all else is remodeled and integrated by it.

Read Colossians 3:9-10. The word renew in verse 10 also means renovate or remodel. Picture your spiritual life as a building. How does Kelly see God the Builder working on you? How does what Kelly says apply to Romans 12:1 and Philippians 2:6?

An introductory list of readable Christian classics

A Testament of Devotion by Thomas R. Kelly

Authentic Devotion by Francis de Sales, edited by Bernard Bangley

Practicing His Presence, writings of Brother Lawrence and Frank Laubach

Devotional Classics edited by Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis