Christian Books

February 3rd, 2010 by Dr. Pauline

A meaningful discussion of Christian books would for the sake of clarity and order have to begin with the Holy Bible. All Christian books are taken from the bible and its truths. With that in mind our discussion has to rest solely on the premise that the bible is not just a nice, good, Christian book written by some “nice, good, people.” God declared through the second letter from the Apostle Paul to Timothy, whom the Apostle Paul recognized as his son in the ministry, that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for the following:

doctrine
reproof
correction
instruction in righteousness

Christian books usually clarify the above four principles and many other teachings of the bible. Doctrine is a belief system that a group of people choose to govern their lives by. Throughout the ages I suppose we could say that almost every generation has altered the previous doctrine, or the doctrine of their elders, to fit their own interpretation of the “modern” way of doing things. We are warned by the bible about that very thing, it is a warning about the dangers of leaning to one’s on understanding. Jesus Christ espoused the doctrine of love. In Jesus’ doctrine of love there are ideals that go against the “grain” of what we as humans believe to be fair and just. Some ideals he set forth near the top of the list of his doctrine of love are things like; turning the other cheek, loving those that hate you, love your neighbor as yourself, and I suppose the most outrageous thing about the doctrine of walking in love is the command for one not to seek revenge. He says he will handle the job of avenging. The civil rights movement of the sixties gave us a first hand look at the doctrine of love in action. Dr. King and his followers chose to walk in love instead of fighting the enemy in their own human power. Keep in mind the last verse Judges:

“In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”

There we have a picture of chaos. When all of us can do what ever we think is right, all I have to say is what the youngsters say, “It’s time to get out of Dodge.”

Christian books through reproof attempt to show us the problems and difficulties we bring on ourselves when we determine, either through ignorance or rebellion, to live outside of God’s principles. Reproof is having the courage to, as the youth would put it, get in the person’s face and declare, “You are wrong brother/sister.” A little word of warning here, we cannot take the splinter out of our brother’s/sister’s eye with a plank in our own. Jesus further explains that the blind can’t lead the blind, or both will fall in the ditch. Giving reproof or getting someone else to straighten up requires that we are straight. There was a song in the fifties that advised a wayward lover to “Straighten-up and fly right.” With the warning signs of earthquakes in diverse places, global warming, wars and rumors of wars, maybe we all should straighten-up and fly right just in case those people who are predicting that the end will come in 2012 are right, (I don’t know how they know that, when Jesus says he doesn’t even know). However, it would be a tragedy to awaken one day and all of these signs are happening before your eyes, and you realize that it’s too late.

Finally, Christian Books give correction and instruction in righteousness. The wisest man to have lived on this earth has this to say:

“…but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7b

And he further warns:

“A fool despises his father’s instruction: but he that regards

Reproof is prudent.” Proverbs 15: 5

It is good to remain teachable. We can learn from anyone even if they are wrong we can then learn don’t do that.