Reading Allowed
GCD Weekly Newsletter January 30th 2023
‘I am no novel-reader - I seldom look into novels - Do not imagine that I often read novels. It is really very well for a novel.’ Such is the common cant. ‘And what are you reading, Miss - ?’ ‘Oh! It is only a novel!’ replies the young lady, while she lays down her book with affected indifference, or momentary shame.
Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
Some of the most rewarding times I’ve had reading have been speaking aloud the simplest of sentences. For about a year I worked in a Kindergarten, and whether in the classroom, out on a trip, or on a hot summer’s day in the playground, the kids would often ask for a quick story, complete with an entire cast of voices. Even now serving in the kid’s work at my church, seeing tiny eyes glisten as they hear a story for the first time always brings joy to my heart. My love for reading, whether it’s the Biggest Story Bible Storybook or James Hamilton Jr’s Typology, stands out because reading seems like a lost cause to some. When I read Northanger Abbey for the first time last year, I had to chuckle to some extent about the cultural reversal that’s taken place since the novel was first released, and that while non-fiction has largely gone by the wayside, fiction is seen by many as the last vestige of respectable reading.
Outside of the church, that is.
When it comes to Christians, fiction is often nothing but the butt of our jokes, “Christian Fiction! Do you mean God’s Not Dead pt.VII? There’s been no good Christian fiction since Tolkien!” This is due in part to many having given up looking for new fiction, but I believe it’s also due in part to an overreaction against trends within Hollywood and popular fiction which stand contrary to the Christian faith. It can leave us perplexed as to what to do with our imagination, and whether it’s simply a lost cause.
In this week’s articles, you’ll be encouraged to stimulate your imagination, whether to write good Christian fiction yourself, to engage with one of Jesus’ parables, or to dwell on Scripture, and contemplate the love of a God which surpasses even the furthest depths of our imaginations. The Bible gives us a wildly different perspective on imagination than the one we’re taught by culture today. The Israelites used physical representations and cultural stimuli to evoke memories and stories of encouragement throughout the generations, Jesus taught using a plethora of stories, not to mention the multitude of symbols, analogies, and poetry. Allow yourself to truly enjoy the books you read, whether it’s the Bible, reading aloud for your kids, or digging into the latest Bavinck translation.
Go forth and read.
Grace and Peace,
Adsum Try Ravenhill is married to Anna and together they are passionate about seeing young men and women discipled within the context of the local church. You can find Adsum through his writing at The Raven’s Writing Desk and alongside Anna as the co-host of the Consider the Ravens Podcast, you can also find Adsum’s articles for GCD here.
Articles of the Week
What Is the Sign That We Have Come to Know Jesus?
— Adam Ramsey
“An exercise I’ll often do when reading Scripture is to emphasize a different word in the phrase or sentence I’m mulling over. It’s like turning around a beautiful gem and watching it catch the light from various angles. Why don’t you take a few moments and slowly turn [these] four words over in your mind?
Do you know Jesus?
Do you know Jesus?
Do you know Jesus?”
The Absurdity of Unforgiveness
— Chrys Jones
These days, student loan forgiveness carries a mixed bag of emotions, and the implications are too complex to make a one-to-one comparison with the forgiveness of Christ. However, in general, debt forgiveness at the personal level is a very biblical concept. It is an illustration of a much deeper and lasting forgiveness.
On Writing Christian Fiction for Publication
— Timarie Friesen & Amanda Cleary Eastep
“Christian readers will always want good fiction based on biblical principles.”
Question of the Week