One Book to rule them
all, One Book to gauge them,
One Book to bring them all and in the brightness engage them.
One Book to bring them all and in the brightness engage them.
Having
finished the first part of Lit!
A Christian Guide To Reading Books,
written by Tony Reinke, I thought I would write a review. Part 1,
entitled A Theology of Writing Books, can be summed up with the
Tolkien-inspired couplet above. Reinke makes it very clear throughout
the early chapters that the Bible is the primary and paramount book
that is unequalled and incomparable. We must “be determined to read
the imperfect
in light of the perfect,
the deficient
in light of the sufficient,
the temporary
in light of the eternal,
the groveling
in light of the transcendent.”
(28) That is to say, “Somewhere around 1450 BC, on a remote
Egyptian mountaintop called Mount Sinai, an author wrote something so
earth-shaking that the publishing industry has never recovered. It
never will.” The Scriptures, as God's inspired words, trumps and
triumphs over all other books and Reinke returns to this regularly.
The second essential idea proposed in
this book is that gospel, and its Subject, are necessary for accurate
and authentic reading; “Once God enlightens our spiritual eyes [in
beholding Christ], we can read books for the benefit of our
souls-whether it's the Ten Commandments, a thick systematic theology,
the poems of John Donne, C. S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, or a
microbiology textbook” (36). This spiritual eye-enlightenment is
crucial to Reinke's approach to reading as, according to the author,
“there is an eternal dimension to everything we read ... we read
all of our books illuminated by God and in communion with Him.”
(37)
These two concepts, foundational to
appreciating and apprehending literature, are presented in an fresh
and refreshing manner. Approaching books and reading with our Book in
mind and our Savior in our heart seems like an obvious strategy
having read the first part of the book. But as I was reading it came
at me almost unexpectedly and resulted in me being encouraged in my
reading and looking forward to more. These ideas permeate the rest of
the chapters in Part 1.
The Bible in general, and the glorious
gospel in particular, are the ultimate examples of why Reinke argues
that we, as “Christian living in an image-saturated world ... must
guard our conviction about the vital importance of words and
language. For it is words and language that best communicate
meaning.” (50). For the Christian, the Book and many other books
are important.
It is Scripture as our gauge, and
spiritually reborn eyes, that allow us to read Christian and
non-Christian books with discernment. These are what helps us, states
Reinke, evaluate what we read and perceive truth where it appears.
Simply, a “firm grasp of biblical worldview, learned directly from
the study of Scripture, is essential ...” (63).
It is with such sentiments that Reinke
boldly states that “[His] conviction is that non-Christian
literature-at least the best of it-is a gift from God to be read by
Christians” (65). We now see how his theology of books and reading,
built upon the preeminence of the Canon and a regenerated heart, is
the basis for reading other literature. Truth, beauty, and goodness
are all from God and praiseworthy where they are found. And we can
hear the “Giver's Voice” in non-Christian writing if we have a
strong biblical worldview and and revivified heart.
Finally, Reinke proposes that our
imaginations are essential for our pursuit of godliness and we can
train and cultivate our imaginations with, among other things,
imaginative literature. The author expresses the importance of this
genre of literature by giving several examples from the Book of
Revelation. A rejection of fantasy, sci-fi, our other fantastical
literature may leave us less prepared for comprehending similar
biblical passages.
Part 1 of Lit! is a convincing
approach to a cardinal theology for books and reading. Reinke has
taken great care to make his writing readable and the truths he puts
forward on a much written about topic are unexpectedly ingenious and
inventive. His stalwart faithfulness to God's inerrant, inspired Word
and the necessity of a regenerated life are educating, endearing, and
essential to this book's value. I have only read approximately half
of this book, yet I do not hesitate to recommend it.
Reinke, Tony. Lit!: a Christian Guide to Reading Books. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011. Print.
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