In my former work life I spent the bulk of my day reading building disputes. I read all kinds of disputes: dodgy repairs, owners unhappy with the work (sometimes unjustly), contract obligations unfulfilled. There were some strange ones in there: like the man who was convinced his home’s foundation was laid incorrectly and was faulty despite multiple inspections saying otherwise, who then went bankrupt and took a jackhammer to the floor before the bank repossessed it. But more often than not most matters revolved around perceived dodgy work by the builder.
Reading all these disputes helped me realise that building a house must be done in a particular order. One memorable person who came through our way was a builder whose license was suspended. He had built a new house which the Qld Building Services Authority not only deemed unfit to live in but also potentially dangerous or life threatening. The house he built had its foundation laid correctly, but he failed to build a house which was safe to live in.
Reading books to build our renewed minds (Romans 12:1-2) is like building a house. The foundation needs to be laid first, then the framework of the house needs to be erected, a roof put in place, then walls and then all the interior stuff. I personally think the books we read fall into similar categories as building a house. The foundation is Christ, but how you build from there is important. Get the order wrong and you can end up with a funny looking home or worse: a home which falls over at the whiff of a storm.
As an avid reader, but by no means having read everything, can I make a few (non-exhaustive) suggestions on how choose what books to read:
First – you need framework. A good home has not only been designed well, but the framework is erected first. Not only does this give shape to the home, but it also sets up how you build the rest of your home. Books to help build your framework are books which help you understand God and the Gospel.
Second – you need a roof and walls. The roof and walls of your home help provide shelter from the elements and keep the nasties out. Books which help you understand how to read the bible and build your confidence in God’s Word are like the roof and walls. When the hard knocks of life batter away at you your roof and walls shelter you, and when you encounter strange (or false) doctrines your roof and walls keep them out of your home.
Third – interior decoration. This is where it’s up to you. Just like there are some essentials in a home (tables, chairs, beds) books on ministry and church help you feel more at home as you serve others. Apologetic books are useful at this point in time, after you’ve built an understanding of God’s word and your framework (not all apologetic books are useful nor would you necessarily agree with some of their arguments).
Fourth – the rubbish bin. This part requires a certain degree of discernment and humility. After re-reading and growing in our knowledge of God and the Gospel we might find that some books we read earlier may no longer be helpful or useful. I found one particular book very helpful in my Christian walk early on, but I’m loathed to suggest it now.
My next blog post will suggest some books which fit all of those categories.
Comments are closed