The Child’s Reading by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 4, 1910

The Child’s Reading

By C. M. S.

IN these times when the tendencies of education are so strong toward mythology and “light literature,” it is well to give heed to the admonitions of the Lord in reference to the proper food for the spiritual needs of the child. Even periodicals that pose as Christian are often found advising the reading of fiction by the young.

The Lord’s instruction to parents is this: “But teach them [that is, teach God’s law and the story of his dealings with his people] thy sons, and sons’ sons.” Deut. 4:9, 10. “And ye shall teach them [that is, God’s words] your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Is this narrowness? If so, it is the narrowness of infinite wisdom. There are some things that are better narrow than broad; as, for instance, a leak in a dike. It is the very essence of wisdom to be narrow toward evil; it is the sum of foolishness to be narrow toward God.

But he who fills his mind with the folly of this time or of ancient times is broadening toward the evil, and narrowing toward the good. God makes no provision, he sets apart for us no time, for the study of the foolish and frivolous things of the age in which we live.

One prominent religious journal recommends for the children a list of books of fiction which it plainly states is composed of books whose contents would be a senseless jumble to the adult mind. Whatever they appear to such a mind, that is what they are; and the one who places before his child a senseless jumble, instead of that which the Lord has directed, is guilty before God. He is not only starving the intellect of the child, but he is turning the intellect of that child away from the love of God and the love of the truth to the love of the unreal, the unsatisfying, the foolish.

Upon every parent rests a weighty responsibility in this matter. It is not the responsibility of seeing that these channels of folly are led into the home to flood the soul, and drown its longings for God and the good,—it is the responsibility of seeing to it that there is a strong barrier set up against any such invasion. The wise parent will give to his child that which is “meat in due season;” for “what is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.” C. M. S.