The 411 on My Fav Anti-legalistic Authors. — Peyton Garland
I’m a reader, which likely doesn’t come as much of a shock. Yet, I’m super picky about not only my topics, but my authors. If I’m reading WWII fiction, I need an author who knows how to weave the perfect love triangle amidst the raging seas of a Pearl Harbor-bombed shoreline. If I’m reading a thriller, I need an author to keep it suspenseful without sprinkling the book with gory, explicative axe murders.
(I’d apologize for my pickiness, but I think boot-chasing romances and an absence of ax murders make the world a better place, ya know?)
Same goes for my non-fiction books centered on faith. As a girl who grew up in a church laced with legalism, I’m wary of reading someone else’s thoughts on God’s goodness, let alone my grace-bought freedom. Some of today’s biggest, trendiest, skinny-jeans-wearing pastors have written books that I couldn’t finish, let alone navigate post-introduction. Their take on God (and even more intense, their take on self), seemed a little less like guiding others to hope and a little more like “Hey, lemme scare you into dressing like me and hosting a mega church all your own—with my help, of course.”
Yet, there’s hope for this genre, even laden with everyday Christian authors who sin like everyone else (self included). To save you some money, time, and an emotional upheaval, I thought I’d share the 411 on some of my favorite anti-legalistic Christian authors:
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Hannah Brencher
In 2016, my friend Danielle recommended that I check out Hannah Brencher on social media. After a few minutes on Instagram, I realized that she was one of the first big-name authors to get real about mental health in light of Christian faith. Her authenticity and commitment to inviting others into her vulnerable spaces won me over, and two years later, I was on her Come Matter Here book launch team.
Speaking of CMH, go ahead and push it to the top of your reading list. No joke. This book calls you to recognize that each day, each place you navigate is holy, set apart by God as a way for you to find His love and share it with others. Ugh, it’s just raw and redeemable and beautiful (and so is the cover).
It’s an honor that Hannah Brencher endorsed Not So By Myself, especially while she was in the grit of finishing her third book, Fighting Forward (another great faith-based read if you love practical tips and shorter chapters). What a joy to know that no matter where I’m at on my journey, her words make me feel like I’m sitting down to dinner with God.
Check out all three of her books here—and don’t forget to follow her on Instagram @hannahbrencher.
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Sharon Hodde Miller
Speaking of vulnerability, I gotta be honest and say that I’ve only read one of Sharon’s books, and by “read” I mean “currently reading,” but holy smokes! Her book, Nice, is kicking my butt. I mean, check out the byline: Why we love to be liked and how God calls us to more.
Sound the conviction alarm!
As a fighter against perfection, I have a hard time with conviction—not that I ignore it—but I’m so hard on myself that conviction often feels like, “Wait, so I’m not right on ______ either? WHAT GIVES?!”
But what fascinates me in the best of ways with Sharon’s writing style is that she consistently weaves in the reality that true, God-fearing Christians wade through the deep, unknown waters of niceness versus kindness. While she’s challenging my daily walk, she’s never challenging my relationship with God, if that makes any sense.
Her words compel you to action rather than condemn you through fear… which, you know, is kind of how most of the words in red operate throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Add Nice to your reading list for Sharon’s refreshing take on kindness, church culture, and life-changing conviction.
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Bob Goff
Bob Goff’s my man, plain and simple. He’s probably the only human on this planet who has mastered “kill ‘em with kindness,” and I think he’s the Jedi because killing others, from not only a physical perspective, but a mental and spiritual state, has never been his end-goal anyway.
He literally loves to love because Jesus loves him. Two of his works, Love Does and Everybody Always, are all about that simple truth… but remember that truth is a double-edged sword. While his books pack no legalistic, harsh rhetoric, his love for God overflows in such a way that you low-key know you gotta step up your game.
I was talking to a former high school teacher of mine about Bob Goff a few years back, and all I knew to say was: “Sometimes, I have to read a chapter and then just walk away.” His words come with such a tender gut punch that you have to take a few breathers in between so you and God can talk things out.
10/10 recommend that you check out more on Bob Goff—the guy’s a lawyer, college professor, pilot, adrenaline junkie, international missions founder, and ten-million other cool things. All the deets here.
Well, folks, that’s a short list of some of my favorite authors who don’t use fear and legalism to spice up your conviction life. Instead, they just let Jesus and their own realities do the trick.
Have any book suggestions for me? Drop ‘em in the comments!
Peyton Garland
Peyton Garland is an author who uses her OCD, disdain for legalism, and obsession with Jesus rap to showcase just how good God's goodness is. She's a wife and puppy momma who's on a constant journey to accept God's grace and her trial-and-error heart.
