Of Book Bashing.

9:24 PM

Two very patient people over at Homeschool Alumni taught me a lesson a couple weeks ago. A lesson that is very fitting to share during the March of Books.

I am one of those people with very high standards when it comes to books. I am also one of those people who tries to allow people have their own standards. I found out that, sometimes, I am not as tolerant as I thought I was.

When it comes to certain books, I just can’t understand how Christians justify it. All I can think about when I hear someone tell me they like the Harry Potter books/movies is all the verses in the Bible condemning witchcraft; that and J.K. Rowling’s anti-Christian rants. When someone tells me that the Twilight books are so romantic, I want to throw up. When they tell me what wonderful lessons Hunger Games has in it, I shake my head and wonder why they would want to put such a gory depressing story in their head.

I got into a discussion with two very patient people, I think I mentioned that. One of them made me sit and really think about my book bashing. And I realized something; maybe I am the one in the wrong.

Before you panic, I do not plan to read any of the books mentioned above. However, I have come to the conclusion that bashing books rarely helps, and maybe, just maybe, God can use the very books I disdain to teach the readers lessons. Maybe I shouldn’t jump to the conclusion that, just because I shouldn’t read the book, no one should.

God calls us to live in harmony with each other. You know, that outdated idea of live and let live? Somehow, we lost that in our quest to be right. We are so busy trying to be better and holier than others that we have forgotten to be loving and kind to them.

I am going to endeavor not to do anymore book bashing. This does not mean when asked that I won’t share my thoughts on a book, it just means I won’t actively tear down a book. Will you join me? I know that book/movie bashing is popular in some blogging circles, but I hope you will join me in showing some restraint.

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6 comments

  1. I guess it's wrong to judge from the outward, but I guess Christ in me will clearly show what is light and what is darkness, and very clearly there are books out there to deceive and are full of Satan's darkness. How would you deal with that? I mean, God wouldn't speak to us through lies and deceit. Can anything good really come of it?

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  2. Rebekah,
    I have issues with all the books mentioned. I have seen the bad effect that they have had on people. When our friends ask, we should tell them why we think there is a problem.

    Also, if you feel called to write a blog post against a book, you follow Gods leading. Right now, I feel called to not bash the books. If someone asks what I think, I will tell them why I don't think they are a good idea, but I'm not going to actively tear down the books.

    Yes, I find it hard to imagine how these books can be helpful, but who am I to judge?

    Sarah

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  3. *cough, cough, cough, insert major cough*

    As you know I am a huge HP fan and a huge Hunger Games fan, but Twilight? Was that directed at me since I have two posts dedicated to bashing it? lol *hides face in shame*

    I completely agree though about bashing. Lately God has been telling me that I need to stop bashing Twilight and to just tone it down. I'm a really fiery person in real life and I'm afraid that can come across online as well. :/ I am working on it though. ;) Great post and thank you for the reminder!

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  4. Aw man, does that mean I can't moan about how gross Eddy is? *groooaan*

    Haha, just kidding. You do have a point: some times people will tune out everything you say if you get really frantic about a certain topic, thus even tuning out what you say about God. But at the same time, I think it's nice to have a support group for those of us that don't like to amerce ourselves with witchcraft stories and the like; or don't want to create a stumbling block to one with a weaker faith.

    Quite the conversation starter. ;-D

    -Jess

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