Due to a slight alternation in our regularly scheduled programing, and because part two of this series is coming shortly, we offer this previous post for today’s mental fodder:
The newest Harry Potter movie released last summer. Truth be told, I wanted to go see it. But my husband loathes all things Harry Potter and I really don’t like going to the movies by myself, so I waited until it came out on video.
I mention this because I had an interesting conversation with a friend about Harry Potter recently. A friend so close I consider her family – a unique blend of sister, mother, and aunt. I adore her. And yet we don’t always agree about which books Christians should, or should not, read. My friend thinks that Harry Potter definitely falls in the “should not” category.
On one hand I think she has some valid reasons: heavy subject matter, focus on the occult, homosexual undertones (or so says the author – I didn’t detect that theme when I read the series).
But I disagree on the overall blanket statement that the books are “Bad.”
And it got me thinking about why Christians don’t read certain books. And if we don’t read a book, can we really have an honest opinion about it?
I, for one, love the Harry Potter series. They sit on my bookshelf right next to the Narnia Chronicles. As an author I live and minister in the world of publishing. I read many things that don’t support my world view or affirm my faith. And yet I am able to recognize great writing, great premise, and great content even in books that some would find offensive. If I want to authentically share my faith then I have to take an authentic interest in what others read and write. That’s what it means to be in my world.
I love books and I love the people who write them, even if they hate Jesus.
So what is a good reason NOT to read a book?
A dear friend of mine has chosen not to read romance novels by Nicolas Sparks because they create unrealistic expectations in her marriage. Her marriage. She made that decision after reading a few of his books and realizing that they created discontentment. Yet she does not place value judgments on the books or the author. They simply are not good for her. In my opinion, that is a good reason not to read a book.
I made a new friend several weeks ago who has chosen not to read the Harry Potter books because her mother got pulled into the occult and she witnessed first hand the damage that occurred. She has a deeply personal reason for not reading those books. In my opinion, that is a good reason for not turning those pages.
Yet I also have a friend who will not read any books that challenge her faith out of fear they will entice her away from Christ. I don’t think fear is a good reason to do, or not to do, something. Doubts should serve to strengthen our faith, not weaken it, as George MacDonald says:
“If perhaps your belief is but the shallow absence of doubt, then you must ask yourself a question: do you love your faith so little that you have never battled a single fear lest your faith should not be true? For what are doubts but the strengthening building blocks toward summits of yet higher faith in Him who always leads us into the high places? Where there are no doubts, no questions, no perplexities, there can be no growth into the regions where He would have us walk. Doubts are the only means through which He can enlarge our spiritual selves.”
As a discerning reader, I do not fear books or authors that challenge my worldview. Nor do I fear the doubts they may create should I tarry a little too long. I fear God, and that is the beginning of wisdom.
Yet, in all things, there is a balance. I choose not to read books, myself. Sometimes out of principle, sometimes out of preference. But do I have a right to place judgment on a book I have not read? Is it intellectually honest if I do?
So how do reading and discernment blend? How do we take a look at a words on a page and separate the wheat from the chaff? Ernest Hemingway was a master wordsmith. He played with words in a way that few people can. And yet I disagree with his worldview and have been troubled by the content of his stories. I can appreciate his writing without becoming obsessed with death the way he was. I can read the Harry Potter series and have no interest in the occult. I can read the DaVinci Code without it threatening my faith in the deity of Christ. And in the process of all that reading I can have an honest discourse with others who read them. I can read them (all of those books sit on my shelf right now) but I don’t have to. And neither does any other Christian.
I think it is perfectly fine not to read a book. But we must evaluate our motives: conviction or fear. And even then, personal preference comes into play.
How do you think reading and discernment blend? What are the reasons you have chosen not to read a book? And if we don’t read certain books, is it right to criticize them?
Simply my deep thoughts on this Friday morning…
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I totally agree with you about the use of discernment in reading. I am also a big Harry Potter fan, I think it’s amazing that a writer can create such a complete and imaginative world that inspires children to become readers.
I’ve recently had to make some drastic changes to my reading material for my own reasons. I’ve always been a voracious reader, the sort of person that reads at the dinner table and reads several long books a week. But God spoke to me and told me that I’ve been using books all these years as a means of escape, not just from the world, but from Him. Why was I so passionate about words that were put down by mere humans, out of the puny little minds of mere humans? For several months now I have been on a Bible-only diet and it has been good for me. I haven’t even felt the desire to pick up the latest Dan Brown that’s on hold for me at the library, which I’ve been on the wiating list for since it was released. I’m sure I will get back to fiction at some point, but not until I feel that nudge from God telling me I’m ready.
Ariel, thanks for reposting this one. Books certainly have the power to affect our attitudes and outlook. (BTW I agree with you about Hemingway) We take a risk each time we open one. When readers open a book by a Christian author, they risk having their lives changed in a big way – at least, the writer hopes so. I have personally grown from reading books that others have criticized without even having read them. The only book I’ve put down recently was ‘The Historian” because it gave me bad dreams – and I was only a third of the way through! It’s not a criticism of the writer, but a personal preference.
I think God and the Holy Spirit can help us discern what is helpful or not, and that may change as we grow in the Lord. What could cause a new believer to stray might be the fodder that a more mature believer needs to be able to help others who need Christ. We need to listen to our inner witness when we read and determine to either read or not read.
Regarding Harry Potter, before I got saved the first Harry Potter books came out and I was attending my church when a member got up and spoke on Harry Potter. Problem was, she never read the book, she read commentaries on the book and spoke from that. I had read the book and realized that those commentators did not know the whole truth and had gotten some facts wrong. Had I not been so hungry for God, those words of her could have turned me off from God. See, before I got saved, I was fully into the occult and new age and had been a witch – at one time of a coven of 150 witches. So I knew that Harry Potter was pure fantasy, and her teaching was not accurate. I now, as i have grown realize that for many youth Harry Potter can be dangerous for it does two things. One, it glamorizes the occult and new age. And, two, it shows that if you disobey your elders and the end result is good there is no problem. At the time though, this person’s arguments against Harry Potter were laughable to me.
Sometimes being well read on current literature can give you talking points. My children read Harry Potter and I did too, so I could use my knowledge of the book to counter things I felt was dangerous to them. Kids are able to get their hands on things that you try to protect them from, so I would rather have them openly read something and be able to have input.
Spiritual discernment is the only way we can be sure of what to read or not.
Heather
Luke 11:34-36 comes to mind but still, it is a personal conviction. For our family, the goal is to glorify the Lord in all we do without being legalistic.
I agree with discernment in reading. What cause one person to fall, may not cause another to do so. I had good Christian friends tell me not to read the Twilight series. I developed a very harsh opinion of the books without having ever read them. Months later, a Christian friend that I deeply love and respect told me how good they were. I was skeptical at first, but I ended up really enjoying them. I thought that one of the big underlying themes was about purity. The main character falls in love with someone who absolutely refuses to diminish her honor. The book did portray some somewhat skewed versions of what love is, and could perhaps raise someone’s expectations too high. The fact that Stephanie Meyer has helped teenagers all over the world fall “in love” with a character that believes in sex ONLY after marriage, and obedience to parents is something that is missing in the world of media. I applaud her, whether that was her intention or not.
As for Harry Potter, I haven’t read the books yet. They are on my to do list.
I guess I feel that God gave these authors a talent-a talent to show many different views of the world and their imagination.
Whether they are lovers or haters of God-by word or deed-you can’t deny their talent.
I just found you through the Proverbs 31 Devotionals I receive. I love to read and always looking for something new. Perhaps criticizing a book without reading it first is just like being critical of our political leaders when we fail to go cast our votes? I agree with you, ” I fear God, and that is the beginning of wisdom”. I think I’ll continue to rely on the Holy Spirits nudges as to what is beneficial for me .
Yes. Exactly. I have tried making this point several times with some of my friends who won’t allow their children to read or watch Harry Potter. I grew up in a fundamentalist environment and it took many years to overcome living in a ditch of legalism and to learn spiritual discernment. Being a writer, storyteller, theatrical and creative person, I struggle with reins on exploring literature and art. This is an excellent post and great perspective and I will share your view with others. Thanks for sharing your insight.
I eally enjoyed your article about reading. I have been struggling with this a little myself. I love reading and I am out of christian books and there is a secular one I wanted to read and I have putting it off. After reading your article, I think that listening to the Holy Spirit within is definately the best plan. I feel it would probably be OK to read it. I am worried about putting things above the Lord. You know how engrossed you can get in a good novel. I think making sure you are in balance is imortant. I was away from the Lord for many years, and one of the things that drove me nuts was the legalistic laws we put upon ourselves, or that others put on us. So I can see that maybe I am doing this to myself as well. There is one thing Jesus died for and that is to give us FREEDOM! Horray!!
Thnaks again for your thoughts!!
The last comment Jesus died for and that is FREEDOM says it all. When I first belived I smoked–I was accused being “less” of a Christain. Yes I knew that smoking is unhealthy–but for whatever reason I continued to smoked. It wasn’t until I grew more in my new found faith-that the Holy Spirit convicted me of not smoking. So one summer I decided to quit–I would be spending time with my niece who has asthma and my brother who doesn’t allow smoking. It’s been 15 years. My point that I’m trying to make–be it reading books or watching certain shows it’s how the Holy Spirit is speaking to you.
I believe that Harry Potter should not be a book to read by Christians because even though we do not know the real intentions of the author’s writings, we must stay in tune with the holy spirit, like the Bible says, we should think of things that are honorable and good. If certain books portray a tolerance of things such as homosexuality and the occult, wouldn’t we want to “flee from all forms of evil”? Even though we may not be convicted or fearful of certain books or movies, I think it would play a part in a believer’s testimony, not that we are better than those that my read or watch certain movies, but that we live a different way of life and that is what we are called to do.
We do not read Harry Potter and when my kids are old enough to read, I will not allow them to read books, even fantasy ones, that involve the occult. My husband read fantasy books as a child and became interested in the occult. He was deeply involved in the occult and witchcraft for years. Praise God that he has since turned his life over to Christ. Anything that glamorizes the occult or shows it for anything but evil should be avoided, at a minimum by those whose faith is not yet strong (i.e. any child and even new Christians). It’s too easy for tiny lies or sparks of interest to weave their way into someone’s life. As a parent, its my responsibility to bring my children up in the honor and admonition of the Lord. The occult or fantasy books about it, do not do that. As far as adults who choose to read Harry Potter, that is between them and God, and what he leads them to do. While I agree that the books themselves may not be evil, the subject matters involved in the books are.