Lighthouse Community Church

"Of making many books, there is no end..."
(Ecclesiastes 12:12b, ESV)

We only need to step one foot into one of the local superbookstores to discover that Solomon's statement is dead-on accurate. Even within the Christian community, publishers crank out volume after volume on every conceivable subject. At some point we all find ourselves looking for books, whether on prayer, parenting, or theology. What if we have no clue where to begin? How can we know what to trust? How can we be good stewards not only of our pocketbooks but most importantly of our hearts and minds, knowing that what we read can have a profound influence on our thinking and our choices? Here are some steps I'd recommend following:

1. Get lists from trustworthy readers. Track down "lists" of quality authors/ books from several people you trust ("experts", even). Not everyone's list will agree. At this point, don't go out and buy from all the authors or all the books on these lists. This is just the first step.
2. Compare the lists. I once ran across an article where popular pastors were asked to list the most influential Christian books they'd ever read. Comparing the lists I found that a few books were common to many of them. I made careful note about those books.... Compare your lists.
3. Inquire about those authors/ books. Nowdays you can go online and learn quite a bit about authors and their books. Find out if an author/ book is proven over time and across a wide variety of readership. Narrow your list to the "best of the best" authors and their books.
4. Buy a book or two of the "best of the best". Read them. You should be able to tell if the book is a "good buy" or a "good-bye!" Buy others from your list. When that's done, find others recommended by those authors. Repeat. Build your own list. Build your own library!

Now as with everything in life, there are dangers and pitfalls. Books are no different. Here are some missteps, some faulty ways of thinking when evaluating the quality of authors and books:

1. "Inner circle" books. Some books have longevity because they get passed around small, inner circles of Christians who swear by them, though they have failed to gain a broader acceptance. Rather than assuming this is due to "persecution for righteousness' sake", what probably true is that the book is pushing a narrow, perhaps extreme agenda, one that may be the very lifeblood of certain types of conservative communities. If every back-jacket recommendation comes from someone in one particular denomination, be careful!
2. Just because it uses the Bible. Some people argue that a book is "biblical" because it contains lots of biblical quotes and references. Unfortunately, this does not prove that the content is biblical. Remember: cults also use and quote the bible extensively.
3. A "name" author recommends it. Every major Christian organization has a "name" person-someone famous-associated with it. Some think that just because such a person endorses the book, it has to be good. Remember that endorsements often happen because of obligation to the organization more than confidence in the book. Every book can find someone "of name" to sign off on it. Look for numerous varieties of proven names, instead.

The old saying goes: "You are what you eat." Not only is this true physically but also mentally and spiritually. What our minds ingest will have a huge impact on our souls and thus our daily, Christian lives. Filling them with prime-quality sustenance is a Christian imperative.