I haven’t done a book review in probably 12 years since I graduated University, and maybe even longer than that, since my degree is in Accounting. Business classes meant a lot of number-crunching textbook reading, as opposed to evaluating literary content, so pardon my methods. However, I’ve been spurred to share what God is teaching me from a few books I’ve been reading.
As I stated in my post about parenting last week, I believe the Word of God ought to be our authority on matters of living, including parenting, wifery, evangelism, money management, church life, etc. And in His Word I read, "Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored." (Titus 2:4-7)
The books I’ve been reading lately have fallen into this category of teaching. I’ve learned a great deal about how to live out these God-honoring traits and, although the teaching is not infallible, I believe it falls under God’s umbrella of teaching me in a hands-on way, which is very helpful. As I review, let me make some preliminary statements: I appreciate books that include a great deal of scripture as they discourse on life, but I am still careful to keep my radars up for "proof-texting", incorrect interpretation due to a neglect of context, and any sort of humanistic pop-culture via psychology, sociology or personal experiences.
We live in an age where books are so prolific that we, as Christians, need to be very aware of the attack on our minds, via ideas. Sadly, in amongst this arena of the printed word, there is so much being said that is counter-biblical, and even within a Christian bookstore, there can be a great deal of "biblical" drivel.
As with everything in life, let us read carefully, and filter through the lens of scripture. Then, (and only then) whatever true grains of help we may glean from a pilgrim also walking the narrow road, let us keep them, and follow their example. This is what I believe Titus was trying to have us women do.
Psalm 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it."
About Me
- Marlene S.
- I am the "wife of one husband", with three boys to love. I enjoy cooking, baking, scrapbooking, sewing, playing piano, reading, knitting, hospitality, cleaning, and gardening. At present my profession as homemaker includes the usual domestic arts as well as homeschooling.
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8 comments:
I totally agree Marlene! I am constantly going back to God's word when a "Christian author" says something that I think... are you sure? What is the context you took that from? Many authors grab one verse here and there to support their opinion and I know they are going to be held accountable for misusing God's word. I have found that the more I study the bible, the more sensitive I am to be discerning. Everything with a grain of salt. It isn't that I don't enjoy and benefit from Christian books. I love Mike and Debi Pearl, Donald Miller and Francine Rivers. But, if we studied God's book diligently we wouldn't feel the need for all the self-help bologna out there under the guise of "Christian literature"!
Thank you, Marlene for expressing your thoughts concerning what is being "called" Christian, and yet is a mix of truth and error. That is more poisonous that just plain error!
I know so many Christians that are not discerning in their selections of books.
It doesn't help when we have some of these errors reinforced in our pulpits.
I co-lead our women's bible study with one of our elders wives. (we have a plural eldership model) One of the things I did was to put together a list of good bible based books and give this list to the ladies.
I think as Titus 2 women, it is one way to help guide the younger women into better "eating". With that, I've also been pushing on the "disciplines". I do think that we need to have our "appetites" trained.:)
What do you think?
I was just thinking along those lines today, with respect to ministry to women. If we were to develop a women's ministry in our church from scratch, what would it entail? The disciplines of prayer, reading and obeying scripture, witnessing, serving the Body, understanding a theology of God, etc. would be places I might begin.
We already have a women's program, so this is not of real relevance, but it definitely might be a criterion worth using to evaluate our current program. I wonder if we are often getting off track because we have forgotten the importance of the basics.
Clearly what we encourage women to feed their brains affects what they think and consequently how they live. It troubles me that the most used part of our church library is the romantic fiction section. Not because reading a fictional book will contaminate us, but because a habit of feeding on fantasy can be like eating cotton candy all the time.
We need to feed our minds with ideas that challenge us to Christ-likeness, and do it in a manner that stirs us in our souls and in our cerebrum. This is like anything worthwhile... it takes diligence and hard work.
I better watch it. I think I'm starting another post.
Now you have two posts...
Martha Stewart, on spot removal and your thoughts about what we feed on! :)
I do believe that the Lord has us on the same page. It is exciting and encouraging to see how He lead us by His Holy Spirit!
God Bless!
Opora, I agree wholeheartedly that our food is God's word. It is life! God has given us everything we need in His word.
At the same time, there are admonitions in Scripture to learn from others, like in Titus 2, or as Deuteronomy 6:7 exorts parents to teach. Similarly, in the NT there are the gifts of teaching, preaching, etc. that are described as being "for the equipping of the saints for the work of service."
So how does teaching take place? By example, by verbal instruction, by written instruction, and that's where I believe some of these books fit in. However, as I mentioned in my post, I believe we need to be very careful in accepting this teaching - just as we should be careful listening to sermons given from the pulpit. 1 John 4:1 speaks to that end. We have to be vigilant in testing everything against Scripture. Are people helping us apply God's Word to our lives? Have we asked the Spirit to guide us and help us discern what is God's way? These are key questions that ought always to be part of any "learning" and "listening" that happens.
In regards to patience with the Spirit to teach and lead us... definitely this is something I believe we struggle with - particularly in our "instant fix" society. I often wonder how my great-grandmother grew spiritually, when she couldn't read. She had to rely on others reading scripture to her, interpreting it for her, and then trusting the Holy Spirit to lead her in His way. I think we often take the printed words for granted and therefore are slow to obey and slow to trust the Spirit to guide us into all truth.
Again, I want to affirm the sufficiency of Scripture and re-iterate my understanding of learning from other people as lining up under the umbrella of God's Word.
Marlene,
If I could add to your thoughts concerning reading books other than scripture...
One of the major reasons for reading someone else's book, is because we are a many membered body. As I'm reading and studying I might get an insight or understanding of a passage, when I share that with someone else, they might get another piece of understanding that I don't have.
How about the Christians that have gone before us? Are they not part of the "body of Christ" as well? We are not functioning as the body, if we don't have their input. How do we glean from their input? Is it not from reading what they wrote and taught concerning the scriptures?
I believe that there are "checks and balances" within the body, so that no one would think more highly of themselves and despise another part of the body.
This is where having a good knowledge of the scripture, and spending time in prayer gives us a base to discern other books.
We must humbly submit ourselves to one another as is stated in the scriptures for our protection from error and to bear fruit unto the kingdom.
If all we are reading is other books, then we can easily lose our way.
I also think that we need to choose books wisely. Ask a trusted Christian Pastor, Elder, Older Woman, who you know is following the Lord for recommendations.
Marlene,
I really appreciate your careful selection of materials. It is important for us to grow.
Thanks so much, dear friend!
Great points, yummy mommy, Opora, Home Maker and and Home Manager. As you've all expressed very clearly, the Word of God is our highest source. It is the only book that is inspired. It is the only book that is completely perfect.
Having said that, there are other books that are helpful. As Home Manager wrote in the last comment, this is one of the reasons God has placed us in a body of believers. And the saints of old are a great source of encouragement. Jude tells us to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed sown to the saints.
Also, if we were to not read anything but Scripture, would it not follow that we should not listen to anything but Scripture? In that case, preaching would be suspect.
Some Scripture passages might bring some light to bear on this. Here's just one:
Ecclesiastes 12:10ff The Preacher sought to find delightful words to write words of truth correctly... but beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. The conclusion, when all has been heard is, Fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.
Some wise words there. Excessive devotion is wearying, but that does not mean other books are prohibited. But the last word is to fear God and to keep all His commandments (i.e God's Word is pre-eminent in all we read.)
Great comments, gals. I think all these are probably worthy of a post. It's too bad your thoughts are hidden away in the comments.
Opora - I think you meant to say NLT in that first reference, not NIV.
You make some great observations throughout your comment. To try and answer your question about the body analogy, God is not called the brain anywhere, but Christ is called "the head" of the church (Eph 1:22, Col 1:18). I think this is probably talking about the fact that Christ has authority over the church as a Head has authority over the body (some might say, "Head" is referring to 'source'). In that sense, I suppose the brain can be equated with Christ, depending on how one makes that connection.
The Bible uses the "body" to heighten the meaning of the church as being interconnected and interdependent. That's the point I think Home Manager was tying to make - that we need one another to help us grow to maturity (including the writing of books).
Having said that, you are absolutely correct in your observation that some might be less able to discern what are biblically-based, God-focused books, and what gets passed off as "Christian" just by virtue fo the fact it is sold at a Christian bookstore. Even those that are supposedly more mature in the faith are still involved in "elementary teaching" (Heb 5:12; 6:1). My own little pet-peeve is that Christian fiction seems to be more popular than books that teach how the Christian faith ought to be lived.
To summarize, I agree with you wholeheartedly that the inspired authoritative, inerrant Word of God should be the content of our teaching, rather than the latest fads that publishing companies seem to be jumping on. To those newer in the faith, I suggest they look for studies that center squarely on the Bible.
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