Thought for Today
Nehemiah 8:8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
Jeremiah 36:8 And Baruch son of Neriah did all that the prophet Jeremiah ordered him about reading from the scroll the words of the LORD in the LORD's house.
Acts 8:27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
1 Timothy 4:13 Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching.
Philosophers, theologians and futurists have long argued about what constitutes the greatest invention in human history. Not surprisingly, there is little or no agreement. Sometimes they attempt to narrow their field of debate and to focus on a particular century or age. Again, little or no agreement.
My vote for the greatest invention in human history would be cast for the invention of language. Sociologist and other scientists can argue ad infinitum about whether or not other animals have developed and used languages; however, there can be no doubt that human language is more complex and more comprehensive than any other means of communication currently employed by other animals. One can make a strong argument for tools, but my vote will always be for language.
Americans ‘of an age’ remember taking courses in English during our school years. Greta and I took English courses from first grade through our sophomore year of college. Generally, after once learning how to read, each semester alternated between grammar and literature. Our grandchildren took courses called Language Arts. From my perspective, there was no perceivable difference between Language Arts and English. The only language they studied in Language Arts was the English language. Other languages were studied in classes on French, Spanish, Latin, etc.
If we adopt the more generate title Language Arts, I would vote that learning how to read and write are the greatest inventions in human history. The written word allows us to preserve knowledge and transmit that knowledge across generations. From a personal perspective, I must also admit that I love to read. The act of reading is, for me, the most calming, fascinating aspect of Language Arts. I am a reader. Are you? Do you enjoy reading?
Since Greta always reads these Thoughts I share, I hesitate to even mention how many books I have in my personal library. I will admit that every bookshelf we own is overstuffed. Many of our closets have shelves full of books. Many of the tables in our home have books on them. I prefer the printed written word over ebooks; however, I do have a book app on my tablet. I long ago learned that my tablet is easier to carry when I travel than are books.
When you read, what do you prefer to read? As a minister, I almost feel obligated to say that my favorite genre is theology. More generically, do you prefer fiction or non-fiction? Within each category, what is your favorite genre? My library is almost evenly divided between fiction and non-fiction. The non-fiction is generally theological in nature; however, I also have books on sociological themes, histories and biographies.
Most of my recreational reading is fictional. Within that genre, I especially enjoy historical fiction. Of course, I have favorite authors. Some are local to New England; some are more western. Some of them deal with modern times; some with historical times.
I often reflect on how poor my life would be had my parents not read to me, had not raised me to be a reader. Had I not developed a love of reading, I would never have read the Bible. Were I not a reader, I would not have a collection of various translations of the Bible. My life and my faith have been greatly enhanced by reading my Bible, by reading John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. Without that love of reading, I would never have read the works and words of William Barkley, of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, of all the writers of commentaries in my library.
Language, reading and writing, all the Language Arts in our life-armory represent for me the greatest of the gifts God has given to God’s children. Language allows us to know our Creator God and to communicate our lives to our Creator God. Language allows us to thank God for all of Creation.
Read, pray and love, trust God,
Pastor Ray