What Readest Thou? by Ivar F. Witting

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 24, 1908

“What Readest Thou?”

By Ivar F. Witting

IVAR F. WITTING

This question is one of real importance just now. There is much more involved in it than we might be disposed to admit. It is a common saying, “Show me your company, and I will tell you what you are.” It may with equal truth be said, “Show me your library, and I will tell you where you stand.” Our reading may be taken, as a rule, as the great indicator of our moral, intellectual, and spiritual condition. Our books are our mental and spiritual food, the material upon which the inner man feeds. Hence the seriousness of the whole question.

In that great catalogue of evil practises found in 2 Timothy, chapters 3, 4, we find: “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

Was there ever a time when there was such an enormous deluge of novels and similar inferior literature flooding the world? We observe with deep concern a growing dislike for solid reading, especially among young Christians, though, alas! this condition is not confined to them. Newspapers, religious novels, sensational tales, love stories, all sorts of poisonous and trashy literature, are eagerly devoured, while volumes of weighty and precious truth lie uncut and neglected on the shelf. There are some of our own young folks who prefer the reading of the latest novel to the study of such precious books as “Ministry of Healing,” “Early Writings,” “Education,” “Desire of Ages.” How many of us, old or young, have read all these important books?

These conditions are an indication of a low spiritual condition savoring of Laodicea. Indeed, it is difficult to conceive how any one possessing a single spark of divine life can find pleasure in such defiling rubbish as one sees nowadays in the hands of many who occupy high ground in the Christian profession. The inspired apostle exhorts all Christians, as new-born babes, to desire the sincere milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby. How can we grow, if we neglect the Word of God, and devour newspapers and light, worthless books? How is it possible for any Christian to be in a healthy condition of soul who can barely find a few hasty moments to run his eye over a verse or two of Scripture, but can give hours to light and desultory reading? We may depend upon it, our reading proves beyond question what we are, and where we are. If our reading is light and frivolous, our condition is light and frivolous also.

It is also evidence of a low spiritual condition when we hear a professed Christian say, “How can I be always reading the Bible?” or, “What harm is there in reading a story-book?” All such questions give sad evidence of the fact that the soul has wandered far away from Christ. This is what makes it so very serious. Spiritual decay must have set in, and made alarming progress, ere a Christian could think of asking such questions. Hence there is little use in arguing about the right or the wrong of things. There is no ability to argue aright, no capacity to weigh evidence. “There is death in the pot.” What is really wanted is a thorough cleansing of the soul. You must “bring meal,” or, in other words, apply a divine remedy, to meet the diseased condition.

It is the Christian’s duty to call attention to this practical question. It is a matter of deepest concern. We can not doubt that the extremely low standard of perfection that we are satisfied with, is responsible for the reading of light and worthless literature. Because we have been admonished to “raise the standard of truth higher and still higher,” many consider that we have done very well; that we are so far ahead of the popular churches, that we can take things

a little easy. Let us wake up, and look this question in the face!

The moral effect of all light and sensational literature is most pernicious. How can a soul prosper on such food? How can there be any growth in the divine life, where there is no real love for the Bible, or for the grand books which our loving Father has so plentifully given to our people, throwing such a clear light on the precious contents of the Bible? Is it possible that a Christian can be in a healthy condition of soul who really prefers some light work to a volume designed for true spiritual edification? We are fully persuaded that all true-hearted, earnest Seventh-day Adventists, all who really love Jesus, who long to become like him, who love the present truth, who love his holy law, who have a burning desire to warn their friends and neighbors of the approaching end of all things, who long and yearn for the coming Saviour, and for our glorious home and country,—all such will be found diligently reading the Holy Scriptures, and thankfully availing themselves of any good, helpful books, periodicals, or pamphlets that may come within their reach.

We entreat all Seventh-day Adventists to shun and discountenance all light reading. It does positive damage to the soul, not openly, but in a treacherous, subtle way. It is the way Satan works. The soul is marred, and will never get back its original sweetness.

Let us each, when about to take up a book or a paper, ask the questions, “Would I like my Lord to come, and find this in my hand? Can I take this into the presence of God, and ask his blessing upon the reading of it? Can I read it to the glory of the name of Jesus?” If we can not answer, “Yes,” to these questions, then by the grace of God let us fling the paper or the book away, just as we would throw away a venomous serpent. Let us devote our spare moments to reading the blessed Word of God, or some spiritual volume written thereon. Then shall our souls be well nourished and strengthened, we shall grow in grace, and in the knowledge and love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and the fruits of righteousness shall abound in our practical life to the glory of God.

Bozeman, Mont.