Books that Helped me Grow

By Bishop W.T. Handy, Jr.

January/February 1985

The books that have been most helpful to me in my spiritual walk (exclusive of the Bible) are:

1. Christian Way in Race Relations edited by William Stuart. This book taught me that protest against injustice is an absolute necessity, but that it must always originate and be grounded in the Christian perspective. Also, protest must be self-critical and self-restraining, it must be designed for the good of all, and must be certain that the objective is not the substitution of one evil for another.
2. A trilogy: A Case for Theology in Liberal Perspective by Harold DeWolf, The Case/or New Reformation Theology by William L. Hordern, and The Case for Orthodox Theology by Edward John Carnell. These three books together helped me understand that there is some intellectual truth in all of the major theological systems; but that no theological system has the whole truth, and all human theology ends in mystery, to the glory of God.
3. The Province Beyond the River by W. Paul Jones. This book is the diary of a professor of philosophical theology, which he compiled while living three months in a Trappist monastery. Jones’ work has helped me in the discipline of my devotional and spiritual development. His statement, “I am a professing Christian and a functional atheist” led me to serious soul-searching and recognition of the importance of solitude with God through Scripture, devotional reading, prayer, and contemplation. This has helped me understand that to be alone is not necessarily to be lonely.

Bishop Handy is episcopal leader of the Missouri Area of the United Methodist Church.