Faithfully Reading for the Sake of His Name

July 28, 2006

Lar,

That’s good stuff for sure, really good stuff. Here are a few things that came to mind.

First, you mentioned that you would like to have more time for “leisure” reading. Here is what I am thinking: let’s not look at it as leisure reading, but as necessary to true gospel living and ministering. You preach; and in order to do so powerfully, I believe that you must read (a lot in fact). Therefore, your reading is not so much leisure, as it is an essential component to your ministry. Of course, I know there is a place for leisure reading, but my point in setting aside the time was to read and wrestle with the great truths of Scripture. And how you think of it does make a difference. Just a thought. Take it for what it’s worth.

Second, that is great question regarding the necessity of reading good books. Here is the first thing that comes to mind: “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more” (Luke 12:48). If you could grant me some grace, I would like to revise my statement just a bit in light of this verse and your question. Now I would say that to the degree that we have time and opportunity, it is necessary for us to read in order to live and lead and minister to the glory of our great God.

That verse seems to shed light on a lot of kingdom things for me. I know it is only part of the answer, but the reality is that we will be judged on the basis of our faithfulness. I believe the Lord grants special grace to those who do not have His Word, or who do not have men who can aptly teach and preach His Word with depth and clarity. Clearly this is true in those countries of which you speak. Is the Lord at work? Absolutely. He is granting a special grace. But surely our great God did not inspire the Scriptures–the many times hard to understand Scriptures–so that we can settle for a superficial knowledge. By no means! (And I know you would agree). Instead, He inspired the Scriptures so that we could search Him out with diligence and discipline through study and thought and listening (preaching) and much reading!

If the Lord were content for us to possess a superficial knowledge–even if we would die for it–He would not have inspired a book of such massive proportions. He would just have given us some simple truths to embrace. But He did not. Instead, He inspired a book of such depth that we will not fully understand it until we are welcomed into glory. And His wisdom in doing so must not go unnoticed.

I don’t know if I can explain this faithfully, but I’ll try. God inspired such a hard book, b/c He is not simply concerned with helping us to live moral lives rooted in a basic gospel, but about the transformation of society and culture–the transformation of the whole world through all the truths of Scripture as unleashed through that basic gospel. And the complexity of the Bible serves to do just that. Why is it that everywhere Christianity spreads, schools spread? Why else but b/c the complexity of the Word of God stirs us to educate others so that they might come a greater understanding of the Scriptures and therefore, a greater understanding of our great God? Education is never an end in and of itself. It is a means to the end of knowing and loving the Lord our God. The Lord wants us to learn how to read, b/c He has revealed Himself primarily in a book. Of course, in His wisdom, His plan of salvation does not require that we know how to read. That is glorious! Whether educated or uneducated, one can understand the truths concerning Christ, and so be saved. But when one is saved, the first thing one learns how to do is read–b/c the Lord has revealed Himself in a book! Missionaries preach the gospel, then translate the Scriptures into a language the people can understand. Why? B/c it is vital to the success of the Christian mission. If simple believers stay simple, the church dies out.

I even heard a story a few weeks ago from Rod Conner (www.toeverytribe.com) about an illiterate man who, after He was converted, was supernaturally given the gift to read! He was the lone believer in his community, so the Lord saw fit to miraculously enable Him to read the Scriptures! And why else, but b/c it was vital to this man’s faith, and vital to the good of the community that he be able to read and understand and thus, communicate the truths of God’s Word?

There is more. Much more in fact, but the point is that wherever there is most light, the people in that light are most responsible to get and give more light! And much of this comes through reading–and not just the simple reading of the Scriptures, but reading (and writing) books of all disciplines, so that the light of Christ might aptly stream forth and permeate the whole of God’s creation–just as the Lord intends it to do! Everything must come under the dominion of Christ. And the writing and reading of good books is essential to this mission. Of course, the writing and reading of such books must be rooted in a deep, foundational understanding of the Scriptures and the mission of God to fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea. But with that said, let is be emphasized that the writing and reading of all kinds of books are necessary.

I am thankful for our brothers and sisters who possess little more than a simple understanding and faith in Jesus Christ–and who consequently die for Him and His gospel. I pray for them daily. But I also hope and pray that they do not remain simple, but grow in depth so that the Lord Jesus Christ might transform their cultures and societies and kingdoms in such a way, that His glory shines forth! He is doing it all over Asia, and there is nothing wicked men in power can do about it. Indeed, Christ is doing it all over the world through his church. The leaven of gospel is permeating the lump.

And you know what else I am thankful for (among others things of course)? I am also thankful for the abundance of opportunity that we have to further the Christian mission through the reading of good books and the communication of rich, theological truths concerning the Person of Jesus Christ and His everlasting kingdom. They are being faithful with what they have. But the sad reality is, we are not. In our busyness and laziness and worldliness, we are failing our brothers and sisters in Christ by settling for a superficial understanding of Christ and His kingdom, while glorious depths of knowledge and joy lie just beyond our reach. Let us repent and get down to business for the glory of His name. Whether it be 20 minutes or 2 hours (and Lord willing, it will be 2 hours some day), let us be faithful with what we have for the sake of the kingdom.

Seeking to be faithful with you,

Joe

p.s. let’s dialogue some more on this, b/c there is much more to be searched out and said.
p.s.s. even Jeff has 15-20 minutes!

Posted by Joe | Filed Under Seeking Him 

Comments

2 Responses to “Faithfully Reading for the Sake of His Name”

  1. on July 29th, 2006 7:19 am

    Yes, even Jeff has 15-20 minutes….but he just used it all reading your post!!

  2. on July 29th, 2006 7:27 am

    This is true, very true. I love it and hope that it was 15 minutes well spent!

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