Recently on social media, specifically Instagram, I have come across several accounts that now promote reading what they call “closed door romance” mostly targeted at Christian readers of fiction especially those who read romance and this got me thinking deeply about what is actually appropriate for Christians to read when it comes to fiction. Before I proceed, I would like to state that everyone has a right to what they like to read and what they don’t like to read, however, I am not sure I subscribe to people making blanket rules about what Christians should or shouldn’t read. I will also add here that these are my personal views on the issue and a way to trigger your thoughts on the matter as well.
As someone who was exposed to reading at a very young age, I was allowed to read far and wide which in many ways may have been inappropriate for my age at certain times because back then, most parents didn’t spend time censoring what children read but it helped sharpen my taste and teach me loads of life lessons and about the world. I became a born-again Christian in my late teens/early twenties, and this was when I got introduced to Christian fiction and a lot of non-fiction Christian books. Albeit these were great for building my faith and teaching me more about the life of being a Christian, I found that it kept me in a very small world which in many ways was not my reality. I remember watching a game show then where the contestants were quizzed on general knowledge which included pop culture, politics, geography, history, etc., and a Catholic priest who was a contestant on the show made it to the final round because of his outstanding world knowledge. I was challenged by his performance and knowledge because it made me realize the importance of understanding the world and people around me especially people who were different from me and reading wide and diverse stories is one of the easiest ways for me to achieve that. Even when we look at the life of Jesus Christ, he spent a lot of time with people of diverse cultures and vocations, and it would have been important for him to understand where they were coming from to be able to engage positively and empathize with them e.g. the Samaritan woman, he met at the well, Zaccheaus and the woman caught in adultery.
On the other hand, as human beings, we all have our preferences based on experiences and beliefs. Some genres or stories may have a negative effect on our minds or mess with it for example, I am a scaredy cat who is mostly afraid of watching/reading thrillers and horror movies/books so I will rarely delve into these genres for fear of having bad dreams or imagining the worst when I’m alone at home. In this case, you should definitely guard your heart and flee from anything that will negatively affect your walk with Christ or lead you back to a sinful life. However, the point I guess I am trying to make overall is that I think Christians should be open to read diverse stories and books to be more knowledgeable about the world they live in and avoid being ignorant. As the bible says in Hosea 4:6, “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. How can you minister or share the word to unbelievers when you do not know or have a fundamental understanding of their lives and struggles? How will you as a parent effectively raise Godly children in this generation when you are not aware of the dangers they face and the things the enemy is putting in their way to tempt and ensnare them into his kingdom? I will leave you with these questions and with the hope that you will think upon them.
I would also like to know what your thoughts are on this. Share with us in the comments.
Thanks for reading.
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