Proclaimer Blog
Engaging with…. a book
I'm in a highly privileged position to get to see what people are actually buying when it comes to books, not just what is being sold. And my observation (not empirical) from both this and time spent with pastors is that our reading is getting lighter. That is certainly true for my generation and below. Perhaps it is only a UK thing, but I imagine not. Pastor-teachers are still avid readers, but we tend not to stretch ourselves when it comes to reading. Why?
- It may be a function of busy-ness. Our already busy lives cannot take on extra reading, particularly if it requires our full engagement
- It may be a function of training. Perhaps those of us who are in our early forties (!!) and under have never been encouraged to read books that stretch
- It may be a function of volume. There are so many good books to be read and that are recommended, that ticking off the easier ones is the best approach to work management.
- It may be a function of narrowness. We know what we believe and we don't particularly want to entertain that (i) we may be wrong or (ii) we need to always be challenging our hard won views
Whatever the reason, I wonder if I can ask a question. When was the last time you read a book that really stretched you? Really stretched. When was the last time you read a book that challenged what you think rather than confirming your own views? When was the last time you read a book when you had to switch off the football because that was the only way to take it in? When was the last time you read a book pen or pencil in hand?
Our Cornhill+ students are reading What St Paul really said by NT Wright at the moment. It's full of good insights and is stretching in many ways. Sure, it's his popular version of what he believes, but it's still stretching as the reader has to think through what is good, what doesn't seem right – and why. It requires engagement and that engagement itself requires thoughtful application and careful processing.
I commend the practice.