Fight for Your Life July 9, 2012
There’s a chapter in one of my books on pastoralministry entitled “Brothers, Fight for Your Life.” Know what it’s about? Nottemptation or spiritual warfare. Nor about personal priorities, spiritualdisciplines, or time management. Conflict resolution? Nope. Exercise? No. Joy?Not really. Each of these is important, but none is the focus of this chapter.“Brothers, Fight for Your Life” is a chapter about reading. Fight for yourlife… by wielding a book. To read is to live, at least as this author seesit.
I agree with him. Pastors must be readers. Afterall, our life and ministry is largely preoccupied with words: studying words,speaking words, writing words. Even more to the point, pastors are called toacquaint people with God. We are purveyors of truth, and the bulk of what we dotakes its shape from the fact that God revealed Himself in a book. That’s animportant statement. In fact, it’s so important—and so often ignored!—I think Ishould repeat it. The bulk of what pastors do takes its shape from the factthat God revealed Himself in a book. Pastors who demur with “I’m just notmuch of a reader” have not adequately reckoned with the ramifications of thepresent form of God’s fullest self-revelation—namely, words. Not images,songs, feelings, or objects. For the present, God’s fullest self-revelation isfound in a book.
There’s a very important application for non-pastorshere, too. The Bible is God’s revelation to all people, not just to pastors.Words are important for everyone. All Christians (not just pastors) need to read!Consider once again the fact that God has revealed Himself to us in a book.Don’t let yourself off the hook here! Your time is a gift, as is your mind.Don’t waste them on excessive TV and movies. Read!
Are you reading? If not, will you consider this achallenge to change your habits and read? I’ve collected some of the best,current cross-centered titles I could find and made them available on a tablein the lobby. Grab one. If you need a discount, ask. In fact, I personally willgive you whatever you want from the table, as long as you promise toread it.
Why such urgency? Because you’re fighting for yourlife.