I once heard a speaker say that we should be very careful about the books we choose to read. We only have a limited number of books that we can read in this life and we shouldn’t waste time with books that don’t matter. I’ve taken that advice to heart so I don’t read that much fiction.
And I don’t read any Christian fiction.
I don’t have anything against people who read Christian fiction. My wife has a bookshelf full of Christian fiction and she is my favorite person in the world. But, with a limited number of books that I’ll be able to read, I don’t want to spend my time reading about pilots surviving the rapture or farm girls falling in love with the righteous blacksmith.
Granted, I have read The Chronicles of Narnia and I bought Redeeming Love to impress some girls when I was in college. Beyond Aslan and the Pevensies, though, I am severely limited in my knowledge of Christian fiction.
And I am more than comfortable with that blind spot in my life.
I spend most of my time reading books on leadership, theology, ministry and spiritual growth. Obviously those topics parallel my work as a pastor. My sister is a high school English teacher so she spends most of her time reading novels and other literature.
It’s not that I don’t enjoy reading fiction, I really do. If I didn’t care about learning and growing in my abilities as a pastor, I would spend all my time reading science fiction and fantasy books. Whenever I sit down to read a Star Wars novel, though, there’s always the thought in the back of my head that I could be reading something more worthwhile. So if I feel that way about my beloved Star Wars novels, then Christian fiction really doesn’t have a chance.
However, I did buy a Frank Peretti book to impress my wife before we were dating and it totally worked!!!
So while I do enjoy fiction I try to limit the amount of fiction I read. And, when I choose to read fiction, I try to read a classic that has stood the test of time.
That being said, I just finished a dense book about discipleship and next I’m reading Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Not necessarily a classic but it sounds funny. I just hope it doesn’t give me nightmares.
What do you choose to read? How does what you read add value to your life?
Oooh tell me if the Lincoln book is fun, I’ve been thinking about reading it
Good post, I learned two things. 1- apparently I am not your favorite person in the world… fair enough, I kinda had a feeling after that Chickfila party (I hope Sarah and everyone else who was invited had a great time). 2- That speaker never heard of audible.com. Why read a book when you can “read” a book 😉 I listen to… er… “read” books all the time. At work, driving, in bed (after the wife is asleep of course) etc… Even Christian books like Mere Christianity, Wild at Heart, Velvet Elvis, Under God: Volume 1, and Sex God (are Rob Bell books still considered Christian). Even books I read in High School (Cliff’s Notes) like The Count of Monte Cristo and Faranheit 451. I love fiction (Nelson DeMille) and even sifi (Peter F. Hamilton) since I can now multitask when I “read”.
I know a lot of people really like listening to books but it just doesn’t work for me. I don’t think I’m really an auditory learner; I learn a lot from just sitting down and reading a book with my eyes instead of my ears.
Maybe I can convince Ed and Monica to throw you a CFA party and then you can not invite me and we’ll be even. Make sure Sarah can come, though, she’s cool for a 10-year-old.