When I Read A Book

I love it when I find a book who’s author resonates. Style. Content. Vocabulary. Creativity.

But most of all I look for veracity. Does the author’s theme measure up to the incomparable Word of God, and is his or her premise verified by God’s words as the book or essay unfolds? In the relativistic soup in which we exist there is a proliferation of false advice and relativistic “truth.”

It is not that I read a book or author looking for things I disagree with, but I must triangulate between the Word, my tested world view, and the accuracy and consistency of any belief. When something of questionable soundness is mentioned, I fold the edge of that page to highlight it. After 3 of these I am wary, and after 5 or 6 I dump the book. Harsh?

Both of Paul’s pupils Timothy and Titus were taught to sift everything through the grid of sound doctrine. What we read should always line up with the “God beauty of God truth.” (sound doctrine)

The Word Is Life-Giving And Nourishes Us
“In pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” – 1 Timothy 4:6

Myths Are Powerful and Rob Us
“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”  – 2 Timothy 4:1-4

Sound Teaching Makes Us Solid and Successful
“…holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict…But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.”  – Titus 1:9, 2:1

This Is Because:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  – 2 Timothy 3:16,17

Bottom line? I read critically and carefully. And I avoid crap like the plague. Just saying. (the three C’s) If you can’t trust an author’s core, how can you trust his or her words? It seems to me this applies to education, politics, medicine, corporate life, and churches as well.

Dave (for Dave and Burnadette 🙂

 

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