The Importance of Literature for Christians

Literature plays a vital role in nearly every aspect of life. The importance of literature to the Christian worldview is immeasurable. Commonly defined as written works that have superior or artistic merit, literature has been a part of our world since creation. In the first book of the Bible we are introduced to the story of Creation. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth. The Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” God spoke the creation of the world into being. Palmer states “God begins His story by describing the creative power of words over chaos.” As Christians, we often turn to the Bible for strength and encouragement. The written Word of God gives us wisdom, peace, and understanding in an unpredictable and chaotic world. The reading of scripture is, or should be, the most important element in the life of every believer. However, reading for the Christian is not just limited to the Bible. The world of literature opens up new experiences for us. You can see and feel the trials and adversities of other people in similar situations. You can also travel across the world into a completely different time period and culture; literature gives way to expression of common feelings. Christian and non-Christian literature is informative and interesting. Literature is extremely influential and therefore a person should keep guard not to get caught up in a false reality. The Christian should be careful to keep their mind and heart attuned to the Holy Spirit; even when studying classic literature, one must always take the Christian approach to learnin...

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...everyone will agree with our perspective and we may always have to face adversity. However, we will always have the Word in the written and verbal form. We must remember that the cornerstone of all literature is the Word of God. God’s written word is our primary source of faith. It is through the Bible that we receive the Good News of salvation, Great Commission, and the call of Repentance. James tells us “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” The Word of God helps equip us with the necessary tools to be ambassadors for God. We will always have the story of the Creation, the Fall, the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord to guide us through our days until we are reunited with Him in Glory.