Books written by Christian authors have been known to enrich the reading experience of readers of all ages. Their stories, filled with romance, mystery, history, faith, and forgiveness, can be both uplifting and entertaining.
Often, these books may even have a positive message to help you navigate difficult times in your life. These recommended Christian fiction books include books by both well-known and new authors.
Given the inspiring nature of Christian fiction[1], it might be worth picking up some exciting tales to motivate you on your spiritual path while also being able to relax and escape into a world of imagination and creativity.
By taking advantage of these Christian fiction stories, you can immerse yourself in the life of a character who has chosen to live out their faith. Also, these books have the power to help you strengthen your personal relationship with God.
Key Takeaways
- Christian fiction books offer a blend of entertainment and spiritual enrichment, appealing to readers of all ages with themes of faith, forgiveness, and redemption.
- The article highlights a curated list of the top Christian fiction books, including classics and modern works, that can deepen readers’ spiritual understanding and provide moral guidance.
- Christian fiction is not just an escape but also a tool for spiritual growth, helping readers navigate life’s challenges and reinforcing their relationship with God.
Contents
- 1 Key Takeaways
- 2 Here Are The Top 10 Best Christian Fiction Books
- 2.1 1. The Chronicles of Narnia
- 2.2 2. The Lord Of The Rings: 50th Anniversary, One Vol. Edition
- 2.3 3. Redeeming Love
- 2.4 4. The Screwtape Letters
- 2.5 5. Crime And Punishment
- 2.6 6. The Pilgrim’s Progress: A Readable Modern-Day Version Of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress
- 2.7 7. The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity
- 2.8 8. Before We Were Yours: A Novel
- 2.9 9. The Hiding Place
- 2.10 10. When Crickets Cry
- 3 What Can Christian Fiction Books Offer?
- 4 Summary
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions
Here Are The Top 10 Best Christian Fiction Books
1. The Chronicles of Narnia
This book is a hardcover collection of C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia series, including all seven novels, introduced by black-and-white images, and an essay by Lewis on the craft of writing. The essay On Three Types of Writing for Children is also included in this collection.
For nearly sixty years, readers across the world, both young and old, have been enchanted by this world where magic and reality meet. It is full of fantastic creatures, heroic acts, epic battles between good and evil, and amazing experiences. The Chronicles of Narnia was first written as a fantasy series, but it is now considered a masterpiece of English literature.
2. The Lord Of The Rings: 50th Anniversary, One Vol. Edition
This story is a certified classic of Christian fiction. The first Rings of Power were made by elven smiths, and Sauron used his power to give power to the One Ring so that he could use it to control all the others.
Yet he could not recover the One Ring after searching all of Middle-earth for it. After many years, a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins got it. From the safety of the Dark Tower in Mordor, Sauron could exert his influence over a vast area.
They brought every Great Ring to Sauron, yet he never stopped seeking the One Ring, which would give him absolute power. When Bilbo was eleven and a half, he vanished, leaving his young cousin Frodo with the Ruling Ring and the dangerous goal of traversing Middle Earth, entering the shadow of a Dark Lord, and destroying the Ring by hurling it through the Cracks of Doom.
The Fellowship of the Ring, consisting of the Wizard Gandalf, the Hobbits Frodo Baggins, Merry, Pippin, and Sam, Gimli the Dwarf, Legolas the Elf, Boromir of Gondor, and a mysterious tall man named Strider, embark on a perilous journey in The Lord of the Rings.
3. Redeeming Love
Redeeming Love is set in the Gold Rush era of the 1850s in California, a critical period of history when ladies sold their sexuality for a bed in a small town and men traded their souls for only a bag of riches. It follows the story of Angel who anticipates nothing, save for betrayal by men. A juvenile prostitution client’s only means of survival is a healthy dose of her vengeance.
And the men who do so only to leave her feeling drained and lifeless are the ones she despises the most. Suddenly Michael Hosea, a man after God the Father’s own heart, enters her life.
After hearing God’s invitation to love her without conditions, Michael decides to marry Angel. Day by day, he goes against everything that Angel has ever known to be true, and eventually, despite every resistance, her icy heart begins to melt.
Still, the sudden change has left her with crippling feelings of inadequacy and fear. So, Angel takes off. She fled into the night, away from her devoted husband, scared of the reality she could no longer ignore: her ultimate restoration would have to come from the person who loves her more than Michael does.
A life-altering account of God’s unconditional, redemptive, all-consuming love, Redeeming Love is a retelling of the story of Gomer and his son Hosea.
4. The Screwtape Letters
C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters is a masterwork of Christian satire that entertains readers with Screwtape’s subtle and sardonic observations on human nature as a high-ranking aide to the devil, who calls himself Our Father Below. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is the most exciting story ever about the struggle against temptation and eventual victory.
It is both a fun and worthwhile read that offers thought-provoking insights into the human experience and spiritual conflict.
5. Crime And Punishment
Richard Pevear is a great man and Larissa Volokhonsky’s translation of The Brothers Karamazov won the PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Award. They’ve done it again with Dostoevsky’s amazing psychological thriller, updated for his bicentennial.
An act of murder and robbery committed by Raskolnikov, a poor student living in tsarist St. Petersburg, sets in motion a novel nearly unparalleled in literary history in terms of its agonizing suspense, atmospheric suspense vividness, and depth of character and vision.
Fyodor Dostoevsky takes a gruesome murder of an older woman and turns it into the most profound and engaging philosophical work of the nineteenth century by focusing on themes of sin, remorse, and salvation.
6. The Pilgrim’s Progress: A Readable Modern-Day Version Of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress
John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress Journey can be quite hard to navigate, even for the most accomplished readers. This new edition, which renders the original archaic language into basic conversational English, makes history’s most famous Christian allegory accessible to readers of all ages.
Christian, a man from the City of Destruction, embarks on a journey to the Celestial City to find the truth, and the novel follows his epic journey. Dramatic tension builds as Christian travels through exotic locations and meets fascinating characters, some of whom talk and aid him along his difficult path and others who stand in his way.
Bunyan’s allegorical tale recounts one man’s astonishing journey to faith through encounters with a cast of exciting individuals and excursions to various vivid settings. You can now read Bunyan’s classic and reimagine this renowned quest that has challenged and encouraged believers for ages without sacrificing the accuracy of the original text.
In addition to providing direct citations from the Bible, this book also offers a biblical study method that can be used privately or in a group setting. The story’s message of perseverance, faith, and redemption has been a source of inspiration and encouragement for countless believers.
7. The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity
Missy, the youngest of the two children and the daughter of Mackenzie Allen Philips, goes missing while the family is on holiday in Oregon. Relics from what may be her horrible murder are discovered in a remote cabin.
For some reason, four years later, when Mack is in the throes of his Great Sorrow, God invites him back to the hut for the weekend. He foolishly returns to the scene of his worst dread on a cold winter afternoon, arriving at the house.
What Mack discovers there will irrevocably alter his life. In a secular world, religious faith seems less and less critical. In The Shack, the age-old issue “Where is God in such a world fraught with unimaginable pain?” is explored at length. The information Mack uncovers will shock him and change him forever. It should be no surprise that everyone you know will be willing to pick up a copy of this book.
8. Before We Were Yours: A Novel
The year is 1939, and Memphis is the place. Rill Foss, age twelve, and her four siblings enjoy a fantastical existence on their family’s shanty boat on the Mississippi River. But when Rill’s father has to hurry their mother toward the hospital during a storm, Rill is left in charge until a group of strangers arrives.
Abandoned by their parents and placed in the care of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society, the Foss children are told they will soon be reunited with their family. Nevertheless, they soon come to understand the grim reality. Rill struggles to protect her family from the facility’s ruthless director and the uncertain future it presents. Current day: Aiken, South Carolina.
Avery Stafford, who was raised in a privileged environment, appears to have a promising profession as a federal prosecutor, a good-looking fiancé, and a big wedding on the horizon. Yet when Avery returns to her hometown to help her father through a health crisis, a chance meeting leaves her with unsettling questions and forces her to embark on a journey through her family’s long-hidden history, which could end in destruction or redemption.
Lisa Wingate’s compelling, heartbreaking, and uplifting story is based on one of the most infamous scandals in American history: the head of a Memphis-based adopting company, Georgia Tann, kidnapped and sold underprivileged children into wealthy families across the country.
9. The Hiding Place
A remarkable preacher and survivor of Hitler’s prison camps, Corrie ten Boom, was originally a Dutch watchmaker. She and her family put themselves in danger to aid Jews and underground laborers during World War II, and as a result, they were put through the wringer in one of the Nazi concentration camps. Corrie ten Boom was the only member of her family found dead to make it out alive to tell the tale of how faith can overcome evil.
This page-turning narrative details how Corrie ten Boom and her family helped rescue many of the Israelites. For 35 years, millions of people have witnessed that no depth is too low for God’s love to reach. Reissued for a new audience, The Hiding Place maintains its message that God’s love can ultimately triumph, heal, and restore.
10. When Crickets Cry
The beginning of this captivating story opens in a quiet Southern town in the shaded town square. The lemonade stand run by an enterprising seven-year-old girl is rather successful. A scar on the little girl’s chest is visible despite her lovely yellow clothing.
A bearded man finishes his drink and walks out to his car, thinking about his own life and the boat he’s fixing up at the adjacent lake. It turns out that he knows more about the scar than he is willing to say.
What’s more, their lives are about to be altered by the battered bread truck careening from around the corner with its radio blaring. They’ll both learn that there are sad reasons for crickets to weep and that you can find miracles in the most uncommon places before it’s all over.
What Can Christian Fiction Books Offer?
People often look to fiction books as a method to escape from the world, but these stories can also be a tool for spiritual growth. Reading has been known to help people unwind, expand their knowledge, and get the confidence they need to develop their own reading and writing skills. Reading fiction benefits Christians because it can broaden their worldview, deepen their understanding of the Bible, and even serve as a form of prayer.
Christians who are less dogmatic in their faith can read whichever novels they like. However, believers need to be careful and recognize their own limitations. You always have the option to close the book, especially if it makes you feel guilty or tempts you to sin. Christians can gain valuable knowledge from reading various works, not just Christian fiction.
Summary
Whether or not it proclaims the Christian faith, good literature will inspire, challenge, and educate its readers, leaving them with a lasting impression. The sins of profanity, violence, sexual settings, and the more subtle sins of idolatry and self-worship are often not openly displayed in Christian fiction, as it offers more than just the thrill of these transgressions.
In a corrupted world, it’s only natural for characters, as humans with a life of their own, to make mistakes. Nevertheless, the dismal realities of life are not shown in Christian fiction for the simple purpose of realism or for the sake of excitement but rather to lead the reader to the only trustworthy source of hope: God Himself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Christian Fiction?
Christian fiction is a literary genre that incorporates Christian themes and values into its storytelling, often focusing on characters’ spiritual journeys, moral challenges, and the demonstration of Christian beliefs and principles.
Why Read Christian Fiction?
You might choose to read Christian fiction for spiritual growth, moral guidance, and entertainment. These books often provide uplifting stories that reinforce faith, offer hope, and explore ethical dilemmas through a Christian lens.
Who Are Some Popular Christian Fiction Authors?
Popular Christian fiction authors include C.S. Lewis, known for “The Chronicles of Narnia,” and Francine Rivers, author of “Redeeming Love.” These authors are renowned for their ability to weave Christian themes into compelling narratives.
Can Non-Christians Enjoy Christian Fiction?
Non-Christians can enjoy Christian fiction, as these books often offer universal themes of love, forgiveness, and resilience that can appeal to a broad audience, regardless of their personal beliefs or religious backgrounds.
What Are The Common Themes in Christian Fiction?
Common themes in Christian fiction include redemption, faith, grace, the struggle between good and evil, and the portrayal of Christian life and values. These themes are explored in various settings and through diverse characters.
Is Christian Fiction Suitable For All Ages?
Christian fiction is suitable for all ages, with specific books tailored for children, teenagers, and adults. The genre offers a range of stories, from simple moral tales for children to more complex narratives for adult readers.
