Too many Christian Books?

[Anthony]

What do you think of all the Christian Books, which seem to be flooding the market? Do you think people rely too much on such books? What do you think about books like "The Prayer of Jabez"?

 

[Blindfaith]

I like to read them, as long as I don't get into the habit of replacing it for the Bible

 

[dignitized]

Okay I was scared for a second . . . I thought some one was gonna say that I have too many books and I just can't imagine having too many books! I think what the issue is, is the QUALITY of the available books. I do read some contemporary Christian books from time to time if they are QUALITY books. However, I prefer the classics.

The trouble with Christian classics is that so and so who is a health and wealth gospel preacher can't build WEALTH off of recommending for you to read: Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis but he can git rich off of telling you to read his new book BLAH BLAH BLAH. One of the worst self promoters out there is Hank Hanagraff. I think if you're book is worth while, OTHERS will recommend it so you won't have to

As for the prayer of Jabez book, I've never read it. Mere Christianity I've read along with the confessions of Augustine, the Little flowers of St Francis, Imitation of Christ, Dark night of the Soul . . . .pick up a Christian classic. You'll like what you read

Try: The Screwtape Letters by CS Lewis. It's light and fun and deadly serious all at the same time

 

[MatthewDiscipleofGod]

Hey I like Hank!

 

[Blessed-one]

I think what the issue is, is the QUALITY of the available books.

never read prayer of Jabez. I think Br. Max's hit the nail on the head with that one.

 

[Anthony]

Christian authors are great, but I have a problem with authors repackaging the Bible for fun and profit. They are sincere in most cases, but the lazy christian public, loads up on this fast food, and passes it off as the orginal meal, i.e. the Bible. Many of these books create speculative, nice sounding, christian looking doctrines.

Also some of these people produce books like cat litters, they seem to have a new book every 3 or 4 months. Also once they hit upon a successful idea they make several versions and repackagings of those as well.

 

[Tolpel]

Originally posted by Anthony
What do you think of all the Christian Books, which seem to be flooding the market? Do you think people rely too much on such books? What do you think about books like "The Prayer of Jabez"?

First I want to say that I like Hank even though he does have his faults.  Besides that I agree with what Br. Max said.  The classics are great.  Ipersonally like "Let Go" by Fenelon.  It is a great devotional book.  I read one chapter a day until I finished it and it helped me greatly.  The Confessions by Augustine is interesting.  He wrote some of the most amazing praise prayers to God in that book.  The first page is worth the price of the book.  C.S. Lewis is always good and I enjoyed Edwards sermon sinners in the hands of an angry God.  Maybe enjoyed is not the best word for that one but it made me think and revere God more. 

The main thing I suggest before pivking up a classic is that you pick up the kind that you are looking for and read many different types of them.  Some are theological, some are devotional, some are biographical, etc.  All though if dived into will give the reader a rich source of spiritual growth.  God has used the classics to touch my heart and I believe He will do so with you also.

now Ido read some newer books. I read many histories about old dead saints.  Also I like Dallas Willard and Brennam Manning for different reasons.  What od I think of the Prayer of jabez?  I read it and thought it was good only if you take the most general of concepts from it.  The concept that god wants to bless you is not bad but reciting a particular prayer is not going to help you get the goods faster and really shows that one is off target. 

 

[Tolpel]

Originally posted by Anthony
Christian authors are great, but I have a problem with authors repackaging the Bible for fun and profit. They are sincere in most cases, but the lazy christian public, loads up on this fast food, and passes it off as the orginal meal, i.e. the Bible. Many of these books create speculative, nice sounding, christian looking doctrines.

Also some of these people produce books like cat litters, they seem to have a new book every 3 or 4 months. Also once they hit upon a successful idea they make several versions and repackagings of those as well.

True. very true.  Some that come to mind are the Fresh wind and fire books, Prayer of jabez junk, Chuck Swindoll's many books about certain Biblical characters, God chaser books, and there are many many more examples. Some of those I listed I like and some I do not like but all those seem to fit what you are saying. 

 

[She Believes]

I think as long as they use scripture in the book, great. And like blindfaith says as long as it doesn't replace the bible. Christian books are more inspirational than none, to me anyway. Not that I can't enjoy a non Christian book. Actually, I just recently read somewhere a warning about some book that claimed to be a Christian book but actually was based on man made beliefs and decisions and I can not find where I read that at. If I find it I will post agian.

 

[Anthony]

Originally posted by She Believes
I think as long as they use scripture in the book, great. And like blindfaith says as long as it doesn't replace the bible. Christian books are more inspirational than none, to me anyway. Not that I can't enjoy a non Christian book. Actually, I just recently read somewhere a warning about some book that claimed to be a Christian book but actually was based on man made beliefs and decisions and I can not find where I read that at. If I find it I will post agian.

Also, soon as the author writes, he starts is get creative. I love the way some authors feel that any cool thing they can invent or say about God's nature has to be true, because it's well super cool. Also some authors pyscho-analyze God, like he was a Car Engine, but forget in the end we need to learn to drive.

 

 

[Susan]

There are basically 4 categories of Christian books I cannot stand at all.

The first would be the crop of sexual trash that is being thrown at Christian couples. In that category are things like "The Act of Marriage," a few Focus on the Family marriage books, and the Song of Solomon studies, and those are just the more "polite" ones. It's sickening, because the Christian married life should be about soooooo much more than sex,

The second are what I will call "Legalism Rewrapped." These are the books where you will feel like prayer depends on the strength of your faith and works, that the Christian life consists of withdrawing yourself from society, living in perpetual fear of evil, and doing all the things the book says "good Christians" do in order for God to love you/call you to service/hear your prayers/give you blessing.

The third are the "Doomsday books." While I like Left Behind very well, and while I am a pretribulationist premillennialist, I HATE date-setting and speculations.

The fourth are the Word-Faith "God wants you RICH!" books. Those (I do not know if the Prayer of Jabez could be classified as one) are totally antithetical to what Jesus taught about money.

 

[dignitized]

The only contemporary Christian book I have read in the last year that was in any way worthwhile to me was: LIBERATION THROUGH SUBMISSION by P.B. Wilson. It was short, easy to read but the points it made were profitable and entertaining too

 

[Laura]

Originally posted by Anthony
What do you think of all the Christian Books, which seem to be flooding the market? Do you think people rely too much on such books? What do you think about books like "The Prayer of Jabez"?

I think some books can be really helpful, others are just filler...just like anything else. About the Prayer of Jabez...I don't really think very highly of it. I mean...it's pretty much telling peple that saying a generic prayer everyday will make their lives amazing. I always thought of prayer as something much more than that - it's a connection with God. It's not a good luck charm, it's conversation with God. It's not some memorized sentences that you say everyday without thinking, hoping that it will improve your life.

 

[coastie]

why I believe by Dr. James Kennedy is a great one.

Left ehind books are great, as long as you take them for what they are, entertainment. THe books will also allow you the opportunity to test yourself and think about things like "Would I be strong enough to do that?"

That's important stuff, as long as you don't approach the books like, "This is the way it's gonna happen" and constantly scan the newspapers for any one named Nicholae Carpathea.

 

[dignitized]

coastie: All I can say to your last post is - EW! lol

The Left behind books are terrible! shallow vapid and of course very skewed. I like a good fiction novel as much as the next guy but I prefer mine to have depth of plot and character not evident in those books.

Now, as for Kennedy . . . . I do admit that I listen to his program Truths that transform from time to time, I have to say I do not find his preaching to be . . . "all that and a bag of chips." He often takes historic events out of context, white washes them and sells them whole sale as gospel truth. I heard him speak of the Pilgrims recently on his program and I had to laugh at how prettily he painted them ignoring known facts. He is a typical reactionary. He does have some good guests though

And how anyone can identify with Knox like he does is BEYOND ME!! But that is just my own personal opinion.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

 

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Originally posted by Anthony
Christian authors are great, but I have a problem with authors repackaging the Bible for fun and profit. They are sincere in most cases, but the lazy christian public, loads up on this fast food, and passes it off as the orginal meal, i.e. the Bible. Many of these books create speculative, nice sounding, christian looking doctrines.

Also some of these people produce books like cat litters, they seem to have a new book every 3 or 4 months. Also once they hit upon a successful idea they make several versions and repackagings of those as well.

I agree with ya on this one Anthony .  I have seen this copy-cat mentality in the world as well.  Ya get one successful reality series and all of a sudden America has people in their homes that are quite ungodly, yet America loves (used loosly) them.

As Christians we should know our Bibles better than we know any other book written.  I don't know if it's true or not but I heard that one of the ways bank tellers are taught how to catch conterfit money is by handling only real money first.  Then when their handed counterfit they know the difference immediately.

I like to read but I don't read as much as I like.  Because of that usually it's the Bible only.  With an occational magazine, etc. 

I don't think that all the books are necessarilly bad, it's just that I think people are reading them more than they read the Word.  Then they get flaky and believe things that maybe the book did not even really say or if it did say it they don't catch it as incorrect.

I believe any book that trashes fellow believers should not be read.  In my opinion it is gossip, and merely a shined up copy-cat of the supermarket tabloids.  It's not at all the means that Jesus said to approch someone when you dissagree with them.

Even in learning about the cults we should not be taught to treat them like imbeciles, but like people who Christ died for. 

So, that's enough of my opinion.

Quaffer

 

[Anthony]

Originally posted by Quaffer
I believe any book that trashes fellow believers should not be read.  In my opinion it is gossip, and merely a shined up copy-cat of the supermarket tabloids.  

We must alway test what we read, even if we agree with it. We must agree on the Majors, and not become divided and defensive about discussion of the Minors. The problem is many books take the "minors" and make them into Majors.

There is more pain created by Doctrine within the Christian ranks then any other topic. Yet knowledge of Doctrine doesn't bring you any closer to God nor doesn't it make your daily life easier.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

Originally posted by Anthony
We must alway test what we read, even if we agree with it. We must agree on the Majors, and not become divided and defensive about discussion of the Minors. The problem is many books take the "minors" and make them into Majors.

There is more pain created by Doctrine within the Christian ranks then any other topic. Yet knowledge of Doctrine doesn't bring you any closer to God nor doesn't it make your daily life easier.

and That's the truth!

 

[Extirpated Wildlife]

Originally posted by Anthony
What do you think of all the Christian Books, which seem to be flooding the market? Do you think people rely too much on such books? What do you think about books like "The Prayer of Jabez"?

I like the Prayer of Jabez, and i use it alot.

But, WOW! How many Christians read only books nowadays and not the Bible? WOW! Lets count...1.2..3..44.1111.3256. I've lost count.

There are some good books out their and most are good, but WOW! Can we have people reading the Bible instead.

No wonder most people need to be spoon fed still. The books they read don't have meat. All they have is milk. So many mal-nourished Christians in America.

This is one topic that also bugs the you-know-what out of me.

You get your people who will come and say how much books have helped them learn the Bible, but still these people are still unknowlegable about the Bible. All they know is Jesus loves them and Love you too.

That's it. So you wonder why the divorce rate goes up in Christian homes.



And people blame the authors of these books when you guys keep buying them. I go to the Christian bookstore only about once or twice a year. But typically to buy a present. I have my favorite authors, sure. But i haven't found that reading their books make me any closer to God. Only devotion to Bible reading and truly prayer.

OH......and dont forget the Counseling Business. Or the Music Business. Or the Christian kid business.