“I find television very
educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and
read a book.” Groucho Marx
When I
was in grade school, each year my school dragged us down to listen to the
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. How many ways can you spell b-o-r-i-n-g? At least
we were out of the classroom and the seats were comfortable. I still remember
working my way down the program, trying to track where they were in their
repertoire of arrangements, and how much longer before we could escape. I couldn’t
stand classical music. If I never heard another symphony or classical song, it’d
be too soon. And then I grew up…
Continually, you’ll hear people say, “I don’t read.” 24% of adults didn’t
read a single book last year. 75% only read one book. There’s a direct
connection between pragmatic illiteracy, in that people know how to read yet
choose not to, and a lack of being able to reason in a logical, rational
manner. Engage the average person, often even in the Church, on nearly any
issue and you’ll soon hear the claptrap that’s propagated throughout the
cultural mainstream.
Why don’t people read? Because for too many, they associate reading with
school or homework. Once you graduate from school, who still wants to do
schoolwork? It was once my view of classical music.
Somehow
in our physical exercise obsessed world, we’re ignorant of the fact that our
brain is like a muscle. It only grows stronger with use and practice.
Scientists have demonstrated how your brain grows and becomes stronger when you
learn. They’ve shown that when people study hard and learn new ways to study,
their brains change and grow. But if your brain isn’t used, it atrophies. Victims
of brain atrophy are all around us.
Is
it any wonder that as we become a non-reading society, there’s a deterioration
in communication skills? Listening to far too many, you discover a very limited
vocabulary, primarily composed of monosyllable profanities and obscenities.
Much of their communication “education” has come from the media, popular movies
or the top 40. Think Cee Lo Green.
Someone astutely observed that in five years you’ll be the same person
that you are today except for the books that you read and the people that you
meet. Look back over your life. How much have you changed? How much have you
grown over the last five or ten years? Then, how many books have you read
during that same period of time?
As
Christ-followers, a lost culture pressures us to conform whereas the Christian life is to be transformational. Reading God’s Word, listening to faithful
preaching and teaching, engaging in godly conversation, and the reading of good
books are invaluable tools to assist in this process of transformation and what
Scripture calls “the renewing of our
minds” (Romans 12:2). Add to that, there are a multitude of other
transformational benefits that can be derived from reading including…increased
intelligence, stress reduction, problem-solving skills, improved analytical
thinking, better memory, broader vocabulary, better concentration and focus…to
name a few. Yet, like anything worthwhile, reading books require time, effort
and commitment.
Though we continually talk about quality education, society is addicted
to a junk food brain diet. Rather than reading, most spend their time watching
TV, going to movies, or watching sports. While none of those are wrong, any
more than periodically having a Big Mac, they’re not going to help you move
forward in what Jesus died for you to have – a transformational life.
This
past week Jane and I went to see The
Avengers: Age of Ultron. It was entertaining. I appreciated, too, that it
was clear who the good guys and bad guys were. Yet, there was a subtle message
about an evolutionary worldview and a ridiculing of moral purity, specifically in
language. But for the most part, there was zero transformational benefit. There
was nothing in that investment of my time and money which made me a better
person, much less a better Christ-follower.
Be
honest, what TV show, movie, sports event, video game, Internet activity actually
delivered some transformational benefits in your life? Did watching encourage you
to love Jesus more? Make you a better spouse or parent? Were you kinder, more
committed to serve others after watching? Or, were they subtly conformational,
in that they lowered your tolerance for sinful behavior or even opened you up
to be more accepting of unbiblical worldviews?
While
I can find little benefit there, I can think of countless books that have made
a huge difference in my own soul and life. So how can we grow up in our reading?
1.
Never neglect the supremacy of God’s Word. The most important
book for the child of God to read is God’s Book. If you’re a young believer or
struggle with being a disciplined reader, start with the basics like the
Gospels or one of the New Testament letters. It’s better to take small, consistent
steps forward, than to stay stuck because you’ve made reading your Bible some
type of spiritual Olympics.
2.
Begin with your own personal taste yet something brief. Because it had
been talked about so much, I determined one summer to read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. It was over a 1,000 pages. If I hadn’t
been a disciplined reader already, I know I would never have finished it. So
start with an average book. Most are between 150 to 200 pages. More
importantly, start with something that YOU are interested in. If you love
sports, there scores of Christian sports biographies. If you love drama, then
pick up a well written book of Christian fiction. Think about what you’re
interested in and no doubt, there’s a Christian book that fits it. While there’s
nothing wrong with secular books. In fact, Christians need to read them, yet most
of us need to first strengthen our mental grip on a biblical worldview, which
is why I’d suggest a Christian book first.
3. Find
a book partner or group. The Bible commands fellowship. Why not enjoy
community through reading? This summer we’re encouraging our church family to
read a book together. Why not join us? Perhaps partner with a friend and meet
weekly to discuss it. Because we believe reading together is important, our
leaders continually read a book together.
Today
I enjoy classical music. I grew up and got over school. God gave each of us a
mind that we’re to be wise, faithful stewards of. What goes into our mind,
comes out in our life. So what are you putting into your mind? Reading good books
is a great mental diet to help you grow in grace.
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