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From Chesterton to Tozer, discover eight remarkable “Christian influencers” whose wisdom and witness continue to shape lives across generations.

A good part of the Christian life involves having an impact on others. We are to have an influence, and we are to be salt and light. And that usually comes about by first being influenced oneself. As past and present saints impact us, we in turn can have some influence on others. What follows is a list of eight great men whose lives and writings have left a deep and lasting impact on me.

Before presenting my list, let me offer five brief introductory notes:

1. The word influencer is rather trendy today, often evoking images of glamorous social media personalities who gain fame by their appearance. That is not the type of influencer I mean here.
2. This list is far from exhaustive. Many others have shaped me deeply — including J. C. Ryle, J. I. Packer, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and D. A. Carson. Faithful pastors and friends, even those who never published a book, also belong in this company.
3. What sparked this reflection was a social media post about one of my former theology lecturers, David Wells. At 86, he may be nearing the end of his earthly race. His influence on me, and many others, is profound.
4. I’ve written much more on each of these men elsewhere — primarily in my “Notable Christians” series.
5. These short entries are not comprehensive biographies, but brief remarks, personal memories and reflections.

G. K. Chesterton (1874–1936)

I have often said that the great Gilbert Keith Chesterton may be my all-time favourite author, and his 1908 classic Orthodoxy, my favourite book. When I was a student at Trinity College in Chicago, a friend let me have a look at his copy. I read the first page and was hooked, as have been so many others. I now have plenty of his books, and three copies of Orthodoxy.

Chesterton may be the only Catholic featured here (the rest are evangelical Protestants), but we all should be aware of the man and his numerous writings. Along with Lewis and Spurgeon, he is one of the most quotable Christians around. Read more on Chesterton here.

Charles Colson (1931–2012)

Once known as President Nixon’s “hatchet man,” Colson came to faith in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal. His time in prison led to the founding of Prison Fellowship, where the gospel of Jesus Christ has been presented to countless prisoners worldwide.

Upon becoming a Christian, Colson was introduced to many of the authors that I present here, and he became a terrific Christian apologist and culture warrior. Some of his must-read books include Kingdoms in Conflict (1987) and How Now Shall We Live? (1999). I did get to hear him once, and I have often written about him and quoted from his many vital works. Explore Colson’s legacy here.

C. S. Lewis (1898–1963)

C. S. Lewis, a former atheist, became one of the twentieth century’s greatest Christian apologists. A gifted professor of English literature at Oxford and Cambridge, his many books such as Mere Christianity, The Problem of Pain, Miracles, The Screwtape Letters — along with his Narnia volumes — have sold in the millions.

When I had become a Christian, I needed to make a clean break from my wild past, so I destroyed all my books and albums — perhaps 350 of each. Soon thereafter, a well-read Christian friend introduced me to Lewis and Schaeffer. I then quickly gobbled up everything I could find by the pair. Like millions of others, I am forever in the debt of Lewis. Discover more about Lewis here.

Francis Schaeffer (1912–1984)

This American pastor and apologist has had a massive impact on evangelicalism. L’abri, his Swiss-based ministry to hippies and truth seekers helped to bring many people into the Kingdom, and it still functions in different parts of the globe.

Schaeffer’s foundational trilogy of Escape from Reason (1968), The God Who is There (1968), and He is There and He is Not Silent (1972) was the basis of his other writings and work. His important 1976 volume How Should We Then Live? is another volume that has stood the test of time. Learn more about Schaeffer here.

Charles Spurgeon (1834–1892)

The great English preacher can never be overlooked in terms of the massive impact he had all over the world. The “Prince of Preachers” drew massive crowds in London, and his many sermons, articles and books are still widely read today.

Notable works include his famous Lectures to My Students, and his 7-volume commentary on the Psalms, The Treasury of David. His place in Christian history is fully secure, and we need more great men like him. Reflect more on Spurgeon here.

John Stott (1921–2011)

The British theologian, teacher, writer and pastor has had a huge impact on evangelicalism. His many valuable books, and his very helpful commentaries in the Bible Speaks Today series are still in high demand.

His long-standing ministry at All Souls Church in London bore so very much godly fruit. I once heard him present a week of lectures on the book of Philemon. Classic volumes include The Cross of Christ (1986) and The Incomparable Christ (2001). Read more about Stott here.

A. W. Tozer (1897–1963)

This pastor and devotional writer who has inspired millions of believers over the years certainly had an impact on me. Once I became aware of him, I snatched up all of his now classic writings, such as The Root of the Righteous, Born After Midnight, The Pursuit of God, Of God and Men, and The Knowledge of the Holy.

Tozer and Leonard Ravenhill were some of the most important prophetic voices of last century, with a deep emphasis on holiness and really knowing God. Encounter Tozer more deeply here.

David F. Wells (1939–)

Wells lectured at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Boston for many years, and I had the privilege of sitting in some of his classes. I recall how some students avoided his classes as they said it was hard to get high grades from him. I managed to get As when I took his classes, and I always enjoyed being in them — as well as reading his incisive books.

Some of his important volumes that carefully examined the wobbly world of evangelicalism and the surrounding culture include: No Place for Truth, God in the Wasteland, and Losing Our Virtue. Examine Wells’s contribution here.

Postscript: A Glimpse into Wells’s Early Life

The social media post that stirred these reflections, shared a moving snapshot of Wells’s early Christian journey:

Wells was born in (what’s now called) Zimbabwe in a decidedly non-Christian home. In 1957, John Stott gave a series of evangelistic talks at Cape Town University in South Africa where Wells was studying architecture. Out of curiosity, Wells attended the first session. Not impressed, he walked out half-way through the sermon.

Two weeks later, a professor he respected shared the gospel with him and he became a Christian. That summer, he went back home to Zimbabwe. Infuriated by his newly found faith, his parents let him know how disappointed they were in him. As it turned out, Billy Graham was hosting a crusade that summer just down the road. Each night that he went, he returned to his parents’ house to find the doors locked. His parents made it clear: he could have faith or he could have his family, but he couldn’t have both. He packed his bags never to see his father again. He only saw his mother once or twice more, but he was never able to reconcile with her.

With $50 to his name, he moved to England. He was depressed, scared, and lonely. More pressingly, he was homeless. His first day in London he made a voyage to All Souls to see the man he’d scoffed at a short time before, John Stott. Wells told Stott how he’d heard him preach in South Africa, how he’d walked out of the talk, how he’d subsequently become a believer, and how he’d lost everything as a result.

After listening quietly, Stott asked, “Where are you staying?” “I don’t know,” Wells answered. Stott’s response shocked him: “You do now, you’re living with me.” And so for the following 6 years, Wells lived with Stott as he studied theology at the University of London.

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Republished with thanks to CultureWatch. Originally titled “Some of My Chief Christian Influencers”. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.