When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 2 Tim. 4:13
Anything other than the Scriptures are not perfect. They are written by men who only know Christ dimly. There will come a time when we will see Christ perfectly.Therefore the most perfect way is to read only the Scriptures...read them 50 times. Listen to the thoughts that come to your mind. Search the Scriptures and find the treasure.2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: Pro 2:1 ¶ My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth [cometh] knowledge and understanding. 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: [he is] a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. 9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; [yea], every good path. 10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil [man], from the man that speaketh froward things; The more you taste the sweetness of the Scriptures, the less dependent you are on other men. That is why the pharisees hated Jesus.God Bless In ChristJeff
_________________Jeff Marshalek
Just out of curiosity, does your friend go to church and listen to sermons downloads? What is the difference if I listen to a preacher, or I open up his book and read the things he wants to expound on? This question was brought up to me recently. I know that nothing but God and his Word is not perfect, but there is wisdom in the multitude of counselors. Back in Timothy and Pauls day, Pauls letters were not considered scripture, but Timothy and all the churches still read them. Riding for the King, Adam
_________________Adam Moore
Jordan,I don't doubt what the Lord spoke to your friend but the word was for Him. I'm prayerful that I will someday will be in that same place solely by the grace of God but am not yet there.Here's what John Wesley said about this "In 1727 I read Mr. Law's Christian Perfection and Serious Call, and more explicitly resolved to be all devoted to God, in body, soul, and spirit. In 1730 I began to be homo unius libri, to study (comparatively) no book but the Bible."Reading outside books and listening to sermons is not a substitute for reading the scriptures for ourselves but am quite certain you know that already.
_________________Ed Pugh
I posted a link to this article but it seems to have been ignored (?). It directly addresses this question and contains some sage considerations. Enjoy.Advice On Readingby Richard Baxter (1615-1691)"Make careful choice of the books which you read: let the holy scriptures ever have the pre-eminence, and, next to them, those solid, lively, heavenly treatises which best expound and apply the scriptures, and next, credible histories, especially of the Church . . . but take heed of false teachers who would corrupt your understandings."1. As there is a more excellent appearance of the Spirit of God in the holy scripture, than in any other book whatever, so it has more power and fitness to convey the Spirit, and make us spiritual, by imprinting itself upon our hearts. As there is more of God in it, so it will acquaint us more with God, and bring us nearer Him, and make the reader more reverent, serious and divine. Let scripture be first and most in your hearts and hands and other books be used as subservient to it. The endeavours of the devil and papists to keep it from you, doth shew that it is most necessary and desirable to you.2. The writings of divines are nothing else but a preaching of the gospel to the eye, as the voice preaches it to the ear. Vocal preaching has the pre-eminence in moving the affections, and being diversified according to the state of the congregation which attend it: this way the milk comes warmest from the breast. But books have the advantage in many other respects: you may read an able preacher when you have but a average one to hear. Every congregation cannot hear the most judicious or powerful preachers: but every single person may read the books of the most powerful and judicious; preachers may be silenced or banished, when books may be at hand: books may be kept at a smaller charge than preachers: we may choose books which treat of that, very subject which we desire to hear of; but we cannot choose what subject the preacher shall treat of. Books we may have at hand every day. and hour; when we can have sermons but seldom, and at set times. If sermons be forgotten, they are gone; but a book we may read over and over, till we remember it: and if we forget it, may again peruse it at our pleasure, or at our leisure. So that good books are a very great mercy to the world: the Holy Ghost chose the way of writing, to preserve His doctrine and laws to the 'Church, as knowing how easy and sure a way it is of keeping it safe to all generations, in comparison of mere verbal traditions.3. You have need of a judicious teacher at hand, to direct you what books to use or to refuse: for among good books there are some very good that are sound and lively; and some good, but mediocre, and weak and somewhat dull; and some are very good in part, but have mixtures of error, or else of incautious, injudicious expressions, fitter to puzzle than edify the weak.Baxter's Guide To The Value Of A BookWhile reading ask oneself:1. Could I spend this time no better?2. Are there better books that would edify me more?3. Are the lovers of such a book as this the greatest lovers of the Book of God and of a holy life?4. Does this book increase my love to the Word of God, kill my sin, and prepare me for the life to come?_________________
_________________Doug Fussell
jordanamo wrote
I like reading Art Katz, Watchman Nee, Oswald Chambers, et cetera, but is that wrong, since it's "extrabiblical" in some sense? I find them hugely inspiration, but am I replacing the Word with them?
I read many other christian authors and love them, many of the ones mentioned here. I sometimes have two or three going at once, plus what I find online. I feel that I glean understanding from these men and women that took them a lifetime to learn. I also feel it gives me balance because each has their unique revelation. David Wilkerson, to stay alert; Art Katz, the apostolic; Watchman Nee, the body, soul and spirit and the cross; Madam Guyon, death to self; etc. etc. etc. I have found that if a person reads only one author or listens to just one preacher they get off balance into only that teachers revelation.[color=6600CC]themselves, being not baptized of him.[/color][color=6600CC]1Cr 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.[/color][color=6600CC]1Cr 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.[/color]I feel it is seeking wise counsel. I don't have access to these authors personally, but they took the time to make them available through the printed page. Praise the Lord.I did have a time when God told me not to read anything but the Bible for one year. I did that and it was a rich blessing. Having said that, I believe there is no law here, but each should do individually as God instructs.
_________________KLC
hi, I have never read Art Katz but you wont go wrong reading Oswald Chambers or Watchman Knee. These are proven men of God.There are 2 problems though in reading books other than the bible.1 is authority. When a person rebukes the devil , Jesus, the blood, and the Word are 3 weapons you might want to use.The other problem is reliability.Even proven ministries are flawed.So I dont know if this helps.one other thing.Sometimes statement seem so pious but are so wrong.I often wondered how peter felt when when Jesus called him the devil.Our pious statements only impress those around us.Have you asked Jesus about this? Remember Jesus IS the Word.This is not a right or wrong issue, in this sense, what is right for me may not necessarily be right for you.Also beware of the competition spirit. You will encounter bretheren in your walk that use "oneupmanship" against you because of "speriority" issues in threir own lives.Not that your brother is doing this but it is very very common.We need to respect each others walk and understand it is rare to find another person at exactly the same place in their walk as we are.I hope there is a "nugget" in this for you .I love you,David
Firstly, I'll cite Oswald Chambers:
Major John Skidmore, the Leagues secretary in Manchester, shared a no-holds-barred relationship with Oswald Chambers. There was nothing they couldnt tell each othera rare gift for two men in the sometimes repressive atmosphere of the day and the holiness movement itself.When Skidmore found himself in a mental cul de sac, emptied by his role of continually giving the truth out to others, he shared his dilemma with Chambers.What do you read? Oswald asked.Only the Bible and books directly associated with it, Skidmore told him.Thats the trouble, Chambers replied. You have allowed part of your brain to stagnate for want of use.Within a few minutes, Oswald had scribbled out a list of more than fifty booksphilosophical, psychological, and theological, dealing with every phase of current thought. In a follow-up letter to Skidmore, Oswald said: My strong advice to you is to soak, soak, soak in philosophy and psychology, until you know more of these subjects than ever you need consciously to think. It is ignorance of these subjects on the part of ministers and workers that has brought our evangelical theology to such a sorry plight.[u]When people refer to a man as a man of one book, meaning the Bible, he is generally found to be a man of multitudinous books, which simply isolates the one Book to its proper grandeur. The man who reads only the Bible does not, as a rule, know it or human life.[/u][b]Abandoned to God. Marshall Morgan and Scott.[/b]
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; [u]as certain also of your own poets have said,[/u] For we are also his offspring. [b]Acts 17:28[/b]
_________________Aaron Ireland
When people refer to a man as a man of one book, meaning the Bible, he is generally found to be a man of multitudinous books, which simply isolates the one Book to its proper grandeur. The man who reads only the Bible does not, as a rule, know it or human life.
