Some More on Reading

July 28, 2006

Joe,

You are certainly right about how we often take the providences of God for granted.  Your mentioning the dinner that you went to six years ago where you met Erin made me think not only about the circumstances which led to my meeting Michelle, but also to meeting you at PSU almost nine years ago.  My decision to go to PSU, to get involved with a mediocre basketball program, your decision to choose PSU over other schools, and on and on we could go.  It is astounding to think that He is directing all things according the counsel of His will!  I feel like I keep mentioning that verse, but it is just amazing.  I thank God for the little ways in which He has brought about massive things in my life far too infrequently.

Anyway, I certainly agree with you that reading is a priority, and I think scheduling time to read is a great idea.  I think one of my problems is that I have unreasonable expectations as to how much reading that will entail.  I mean, twenty minutes is not what I am looking for brother!  What I really want is a couple of hours a day!  I mean apart from devotions.  When I was living in State College, I had that.  And I know it’s not because of anything I’ve done wrong that I don’t have that time now.  A wife and a lot more ministry commitments have lessened my time for leisure.  Of course those are “sacrifices” which are extremely rewarding, both in this life and the life to come.  But for me, I know I need to just get used to being okay with ten or fifteen minutes of reading, and trust that, as you said, I can read through some incredible books as I do.

But I wanted to probe a bit deeper into this reading issue, especially for the sake of one Jeff Crispin (I believe he is one of the four faithful readers who make up Blog Nation).  In your post you wrote, “Reading is a priority right?  It is necessary if we want to live and parent and minister and do everything else to the glory of our great God.”

Now, I agree with you, that it is necessary to read to live for the glory of God.  But what shall we say of those in countries like Iran, Pakistan, China, India, etc. who have a very minimal understanding of the Scriptures, and yet I would say their devotion to the glory of God puts mine to shame.  I mean, they are daily exposing themselves to beatings, imprisonment and martyrdom, yet I am hesitant to talk to my students in the driving school about Jesus Christ.  Yet my knowledge of the Word, my access to non-biblical books, is far greater than theirs.  So what do you say to the person who says, “Look at my brothers and sisters around the world; clearly it is not necessary to read a lot in order to live to God’s glory.”

I can run circles around Christians in other nations when it comes to my understanding of major Christian doctrines like substitutionary atonement, unconditional election, the sovereignty of God, sanctification, whatever.  I am not saying that, I trust you know, to trumpet my own knowledge.  But having been to India, I know how limited their knowledge of the Word is.  And yet, if a persecutor said to me, “Renounce Jesus or I will rape your wife in front of your eyes,” what would I do?  What would you do? 

I don’t know; but I do know people are standing for Jesus in the midst of that with far more zeal and boldness than I currently am, yet with far less knowledge than I have.  So what would you say to all of that?

Awaiting your (lengthy?) reply,

Larry   

Posted by Larry | Filed Under Uncategorized 

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