I hope I do not date myself when I talk about how much I love libraries. They are wonderful, especially the old cathedral style libraries with high ceilings that smell like books, have large wooden tables, and are so quiet that a pencil dropped far away can be heard.
There is something about the wealth of information held within those magnificent walls, paired with the urgent sense that you should absorb every last bit of it, that is both overpowering and exciting at the same time. I yearn to walk into one such library, but on most days I will have to make do with bookstores that have a coffee shop inside and jazz music playing in the background.
My recent observation has been that bookstores are flooded with secular books. The religious section is emaciated. The classics get a wall of their own, but the center aisles are filled with self-help books, books on “leaning in” and “leaning out,” on taking your power back, on breaking away from religion altogether. Some of these books are quietly misleading. They steer the unquestioning mind, and minds already standing on the precipice, toward the edge and over.
I told my family and friends about this. My intention is to write a book encouraging people to write books. Sounds funny? Look, if I can have people reading and listening to my thoughts, why can every Christian not do the same? We should flood the book world and the podcast world with gratitude for Jesus, His glory, and His love for us. You might say there are already plenty of books on these topics, and you would be right, religious publishing is still a robust industry. But walk into any bookstore and the imbalance on the shelves tells its own story.
Many of these secular books could be quietly separating our beloved brothers and sisters from our Lord. We cannot let that happen. I am stirred up about this topic again today because a dear friend told me she has an idea for a podcast that will encourage young women to find the Lord, not by preaching but by being centered and grounded in our good Lord, having priorities that are godly, and developing decision making rooted in an identity found in God. Her idea was a positive, refreshing twist on “The View.” No negativity, just positive, godly encouragement, all flowing from being grounded in our Savior.
“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
-2 Timothy 2:2
She is not completely committed to the idea yet, though I hope I talked her into it today. I pray she follows through and meets with abundant success. And I pray that anyone who takes on this mission, contributing to flooding the world with information about Jesus, love for Him, and a life rooted in Him, would meet with success too. In the end, we are simply saying what we feel.
“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
-Jeremiah 1:7-9
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And whatever I command you, you shall speak.
Do not be afraid of their faces,
For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.”
If I can do it, you can do it better than me. Let us take over the world one book at a time, one blog at a time, one podcast at a time. It is our turn to disrupt Satan and his minions. Let us pray, and let us do it. Ready?
Dear God,
Thank You for giving us a voice that can glorify You. Please grant me the strength to continue praising You with every breath in my lungs. May my thoughts inspire others to share what they already know to be true in their hearts. I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.