Exercising Discernment in Reading

by Tiffany S.
from Virtuous Daughters, May 2005~Volume 5, Number 2

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”—Hebrews 5:14

Like most girls, I love to read! In my spare time, I can often be found cuddled up under a blanket in my bed reading a book. Reading is a wonderful skill and pastime. But more so, it is an opportunity. To read a book is to gain knowledge, perhaps wisdom, and encouragement. For me, reading has also served as a writing tool. From different books, I am able to borrow phrases and writing styles I like. For centuries people have loved to read. The more I’ve studied history, the more I realize that some of our wisest and most influential leaders were those who did a lot of reading.
 
But what kinds of books make a person great? The Bible, of course, is the best. However, not all books are godly or edifying reading material. Even in the Christian bookstores we are surrounded by worldly sources. What sort of books are we to be reading? What about in the realm of Christian books or classic literature?
 
I believe that everything we do should be done in Jesus’ name, and to His glory and honor. Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”  Does this include reading? Definitely. Our reading material should be something that we would without hesitance hand to Jesus Himself. We must use discernment. Let me share with you how God has taught me this.

Even in “Christian” literature, we sometimes find material that is questionable or worldly. Here are some guidelines I have used to help me discern whether a book is edifying or not when I read. Of course, these are just suggestions; there are exceptions to the rule! :)
 
If the main character is not a Christian, is he converted? There are few times when we are edified by reading about a person who does not love the Lord. Because we will probably have a tendency to long to be like the author-esteemed person, it is preferred that the character is a strong Christian, or at least a Christian successfully striving to a deeper relationship with the Lord.
 
Is the main character a somewhat glamorized naughty person throughout the book, and then in the last chapter get better? This is the number one flaw our family sees in children’s Christian books. They give the reader nine chapters of bad, and one or one-half of the ending chapter of good. These are the type of books that, as you read, you are thinking, “Surely it will get better! Surely it will get better…” But it really never does. These books are not worthy of your time!
 
If the main character is undergoing circumstances, does he trust Jesus with them, “yielding his rights,” and become satisfied, or is he only happy when everything works out the way he wants it to? I recently previewed a Christian fiction for my sister about a 12-year old girl in the 1800s. Meg, the main character, was a Christian and loved to draw. Her parents, however, did not approve of her drawing because they felt it was a waste of time. This was a struggle for her, and instead of giving her desires up to the Lord, she shared her battle with her best friend. Her friend encouraged her to draw anyway, so she did. Very often she was secretly drawing in school or bed. She even took a secret trip to the art gallery at school. Does this sound like a godly example to follow?
 
In the end (the last two or three chapters), Meg is excited because she is able to learn more about drawing on a vacation she takes with her grandmother. She becomes “changed” into a godlier and happier person when her parents give her permission to draw on a regular basis. I thought about the plot as I did the dishes—wouldn’t it have been better if the character had given up her desires to the Lord and trusted Him? Then, when she was content in trusting the Lord, maybe she could have been rewarded for her unselfish attitude by being allowed to draw—a double blessing. Look out for subtle things like this; it was a Christian book, and so was the main character a Christian, but she did not display a Christian attitude. She was not happy until she “won” the battle she was so desperately fighting.
 
Look for good examples to learn from rather than negative ones. I have seen many books and children’s devotionals that give negative examples and the author expects a young mind to learn from it! They anticipate that the reader will see the wrong, and long to do the good. But very often this is not the case. If you are like me, you long to emulate the most admired and loved character! :) I remember reading a book several years ago about a daughter who was a constant servant in helping her mother keep house. She made many of the family meals and loved to sew. When I set down the book, I went straight to the kitchen, looked at the clock, and cheerfully made lunch! :)
 
Does the work completely contradict everything you believe? …Some literature is about the Greek gods or atheistic legends. To read this would be like reading a book about the theories of evolution. Why fill your mind with things that you totally reject?   
 
What is the author’s background? This is valuable information when discerning whether a book will be good or not. As my mother always says, an author’s beliefs, feelings, convictions, and life will come out in his writings—even if it’s a story. Before reading a book that you are unsure about, including classics, research the author’s life a bit.
 
In school recently, I read a short story about a man and his dog traveling through snow and running into many predicaments. Although he never directly said this, I noticed that the author was exalting the dog above the man, because in every problem they had, the dog was thinking of the right thing to do, and the man was completely imprudent. The man kept making life-threatening mistakes, while the dog was thinking of the exactly right way to save their lives. In the end, the man froze to death, and the dog successfully made it to the camp they were headed for.
 
It didn’t hit me much until I read the author information section. The author was highly influenced by the works and beliefs of Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, and Nietzsche. London himself was a socialist! It also stated that he lived dangerously and furiously, dying at the age of forty. By knowing the author’s background, I was able to assume that his works, even though popular, are probably something I do not want to read because what he believed will no doubt come out in his writings in a subtle way.
 
Seek the Lord to help you discern between good and bad in your books. Look for the character traits you know God wants to see in your life. If you read a story and see undesirable qualities, note that. In grammar, I do several critical book reviews a year. The goal is to get a critical idea of what the book was about. I have to discern whether the author used good writing skills, whether his writing was accurate, and whether it was overall good reading material. You don’t have to do a written report on every book you read, but do a mental critical review. You will likely be influenced by the books you read, and you want to be influenced for the good.
 
Never forget that parents are excellent counselors in the area of reading. They are older and much wiser, and will give excellent advice.

Lastly, use Philippians 4:8 as an overall guideline when you read. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.”  Whatever we read will be what we dwell on—what we think about. By reading things that are in line with this verse, you are reading good literature! Happy reading!