Prison Fellowship president Mark Earley has an excellent commentary about Charles Dickens in BreakPoint today. But the following paragraph is the one that really struck me:
Magnet makes a strong case that radical critics who have seen in Dickens a reflection of their own political views have missed a great deal of what he had to say. It just goes to show the trap that even the most intelligent and educated readers can fall into. It takes more than intelligence to be a good reader—it also takes discernment, humility, and a willingness to listen to other people, beginning with the author. Without those qualities, reading can be downright dangerous.
To read the entire commentary, go to: The Dangers of Reading
What readers “bring to the table” when they sit down to read one of my novels has a lot to do with what they will get out of it when they are finished. So it is for all of us. Even when we are reading God’s word.
Father-God, give me discernment, humility, and a willingness to listen to You and to other people. Amen.
