Pathetic

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Ah .. the good old days ... when men were men and women were men.

Does everything have to be a sarcastic joke to you dude.

[Praxeas]

I think for the most part,the problem is that a lot of Christians don't see the bigger picture. They don't see the trend in churches today that are self centered and not God centered

1Tim 6:3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings[a] of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.[b]
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain[c] we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

[TRIPLE E]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I think for the most part,the problem is that a lot of Christians don't see the bigger picture.

I have to say that I agree with you my friend!

[tv1a]

What's wrong with reading someone's response to God. Are not the books you are enthralled with someone else's response to their God?

I'm not certain I understand your criteria for "suitable" christian literature. I understand you are super spiritual and not many of today's authors are relevant to you, but that doesn't mean there aren't nuggets of truth in those pages...

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

For the most part the books you've named are books that are about the reader and his/her response. Try reading a book about God.

[josh]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

Try reading something by someone who has been dead for at least 200 years. For a start, try "Gospel Worship" by Jeremiah Burroughs. One of the 5 greatest books I've EVER read.

http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/li...ils.asp?ID=583

Dave, I so agree with your assessment and this first statement here.

I never read today's popular Christian writing. You have to wade through so much fluff to find anything good.

But, then, we are living in the microwave generation....

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I guess I'm just not very deep, because I don't even understand the difference you're trying to clue me in on. I see very little difference between God and God's Word, and any expounding on either one is of interest to me.

I consider books about living a godly life to be ultimately about God, since they address how I can please God.

I'm not disagreeing with your overall point that many so-called Christian books capitalize on the humanistic, selfish craze, but I don't think you've correctly categorized the books on the list, since "humanistic" and "lacking depth" aren't quite the same thing.

Reading a book about what someone else thinks about God and Who He is isn't any more beneficial than reading a book about someone else's opinion of how I should live for God. Ultimately getting to know God on a personal and deep level will happen on my knees, not between the pages of a book. The choices I make in living for God are mine. Other folks' opinions are only valid so long as the resonate with the convictions I already hold, and reinforce the relationship I already have. New things usually come directly from Him, or from someone He has placed in my life as an authority figure.

Books don't affect me that strongly. I take the positive and discard the negative, and I don't place a lot of trust in any one author, but rather read distantly and critically, applying the things that I feel reflect God's Word.

I guess that's why I'm not in a great upheaval about books that aren't deep enough. Many authors are just writing their own sincere takes on God and how to serve Him, and truth be told, if I were to write my own best opinion on those subjects, they would probably fall short, be abysmally shallow, and leave many people thinking that I'm not very deep. (Which I'm not.) I like simplicity, and don't have a lot of use for things that take a lot of my time and thought processes, since I'm already pretty busy. If I can read a snippet of something that will set my feet in the right direction for the day, that's a good thing.

Reading material is just as subjective as music...what is deep to one person is shallow to another, because what touches me may not touch you, what resonates deep within me, may not even cause a ripple on the surface of your heart. I have picked up books that others recommended and found them sorely lacking; I have picked up obscure books by equally obscure authors and found something inside that truly helped me in my walk with God.

Furthermore, I'm not sure that anyone can really teach another person Who God is. I think we all have to find that out for ourselves, although surely it is intriguing to read what others think on the matter. It's much easier to teach day to day practicalities, but things of a spiritual nature usually need to be experienced.

This reminds me of the recent musical snobbery I have seen in some churches, where music has to be "about" God, and if it is about Christians or Christian experiences or thanking God for what He has done for us, it is somehow less profound and meaningful. I totally disagree. Thanking God for what He has already done is just as important as praising Him for what He is capable of doing in the future. Praising Him for guiding my life is just as important as telling Him that I need Him to guide me.

Knowing Who God is doesn't mean a thing, if you don't take that knowledge and in turn serve Him because of Who He is. Learning about how to serve God in a way that pleases Him is just as important, and in some ways, the same thing as knowing Who He is.

The thing I think that most of today's Christian lit. consists of is discussing what Christianity can do for you and not what you can do for God. As I said before, it's all about Him and His glory. We know so little about Him, his attributes, and his passions (For his own glory). The majority of what is written today is about what we can get and not about what we can give Him and what He deserves. We lost our awe. Huge difference in emphasis.

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by tv1a

What's wrong with reading someone's response to God. Are not the books you are enthralled with someone else's response to their God?

I'm not certain I understand your criteria for "suitable" christian literature. I understand you are super spiritual and not many of today's authors are relevant to you, but that doesn't mean there aren't nuggets of truth in those pages...

Super spiritual? Guess you don't know me but it's just the opposite. It is true not many of today's authors are relevant to me or to Scripture. I'm tired of having to dig for nuggets and throw the rest away. With the men I read you throw away very little.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Where is Zondervan's essential Bible companion on the list?
I want a copy of The annals of the Roman Empire by TACTICUS.

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

Give me your big list.

Wow! As I own 3-4000 books where do I start!

Let me give you some authors and categories and maybe answer any questions.

Most anything by the English, Scottish, American and Dutch puritans. Tough reading until one gets used to them. The greatest collection of non-inspired writing in existence.

Writers like J. Gresham Machen, John Murray, Abraham Kuyper, C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, Dorothy Sayers, St. Augustine, John Calvin, Frances Turretin, Jonathan Edwards B. B. Warfield, Cornelius Van Til, Martyn Lloyd Jones, John Gerstner, C. H. Spurgeon, Francis Schaeffer, R. J. Rushdoony, and Greg Bahnsen . These are just a few and it doesn't mean I agree with everything they wrote.

Of todays writers; John MacArthur, R. C. Sproul, John Piper, David Wells, John Frame, J. I. Packer come to mind.

My top ten(actually eleven) books of all time are;
"Gospel Worship" by Jeremiah Burroughs
"Grace" by Christopher Love
"Altogether Lovely" by Jonathan Edwards
"Institutes of Christian Religion" by John Calvin
"The Christian's Reasonable Service" by Wilhelmus a' Brakel
"Desiring God" by John Piper
"The Almost Christian Discovered" by Matthew Mead
"Holiness" by R. C. Sproul
"Ashamed By the Gospel" and "Reckless Faith" by John MacArthur
"Heaven Opened" by Richard Alleine

Out of the 10 only 3 authors are alive.

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

but I also see a movement that is seeking a more intimate and deeper relationship with God ... a central theme in many of the books listed.

Try subjective and mystical.......