I jumped on the nerd bandwagon and started reading A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. A Game of Thrones is the first book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series which is now a television series on HBO. My interest was piqued when I started hearing about the show and I finally got the book and began reading it. I started reading the 800-page book less than a week ago and I’m already through 550 pages. Reading fiction is easy and it goes so quickly.
If the Bible was fiction I wonder if I’d have an easier time reading it.
I believe that the Bible is true and that it isn’t fiction. There is plenty of Christian fiction out there but the Bible does not fall into that category. If it was fiction, though, I wonder if I would attack it as voraciously as I have A Game of Thrones. I am obsessed with a story of kings and lords fighting over a kingdom yet I can hardly muster any excitement for the King and the Lord revealing his kingdom.
Perhaps familiarity has bred contempt and it is difficult to get excited over the Bible.
Just writing that sentence stirs up feelings of guilt. Regardless of how many times I’ve read the Bible and heard its stories, I shouldn’t have any contempt in my heart for God’s word. I love God’s word and cherish it, yet sometimes my actions and reading habits tell a different story. If I really loved and cherished God’s word, I would stop at nothing to spend time in it. However, often it seems like I’ll stop at anything to keep from spending time in God’s word. God’s word is powerful and active but it’s only going to do something in my life if I read it.
Reading A Game of Thrones or any other book isn’t bad, we just can’t allow it or anything else to keep us from spending time in God’s word. There’s a reason “read your Bible” is one of the most basic church answers: it works. Christians for thousands of years have drawn closer to God by spending time in his word. It’s a tradition that has borne fruit for centuries and will do so in our lives if we only give it time.
How do you make time for God’s word in your life?
Scott,
I found your post doing a google search on Christians and Game of Thrones. As a fellow Christian nerd, I am curious: what is your take on Game of Thrones from the viewpoint as a recommendation to other Christians? Specifically, how bad is the “sinful” content?
I have not read it yet, but the series is next on my list. I am writing my first novel (fantasy) and as such I am trying to read as much of the genre as I can, and Martin’s series is at the top of most people’s lists, some calling him today’s Tolkien. It sounds intriguing, but the latest reviews about the HBO series, namely the amount of sex and nudity, are giving me pause.
We Christian men (especially the nerdy ones with internet access) are constantly attacked with temptations, and I try to avoid the junk as best as I can. Regretfully, it looks like the HBO series should be something I stay away from, which is a shame because I loved the Lord of the Rings films. But as far as the books are concerned, I’m wondering if they took the book to the “HBO level” for sensationalism and ratings.
I seem to be able to handle books better than film (the images are not as burned into my brain). For example, I just finished Stephen King’s Dark Tower books, and aside from gore and the occasional sex stuff (very brief, surprisingly), I was impressed with the story, and was able to filter out the junk pretty well. If Game of Thrones is anything like that, I think I could handle it – or skip pages if absolutely necessary.
I’m interested in your thoughts.
Thanks,
Rob V.
Rob,
Thanks for your comment.
I haven’t read much fantasy so I can’t say how GoT ranks among other fantasy novels. There is some sex, violence and language but nothing terribly graphic. There aren’t any long, drawn-out sex scenes and nothing sensationalistic. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the first book and would recommend it to most people without worries of it pulling them away from God or offering too much temptation.
Scott
Based on what you said, I think I’ll be ok. Thanks for the reply.
God bless your ministry.
-Rob V.