pilgrim people

One the very last things recorded in Paul's corpus (and quite possibly one of the last things Paul wrote before he died) is his request of Timothy to bring him books. In 2 Timothy, Paul's latest letter, the apostle concluded his correspondence to the young pastor by saying, "When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpas at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments" (2 Tim 4.13). When he wrote this (probably sometime between AD 64 and 68), he was incarcerated in a Roman prison and facing an imminent death. Yet, he reveals his humanness as well as his priorities by asking for a few things he considered essential: a cloak for the coming winter, books, and parchments, that is, parts of the Old Testament written on animal skins. As an apostle, Paul did not have archetypal knowledge; he still had to study. Even after a thirty-year ministry, he wants to understand the truth better. And so, he asks for books while he is in prison, wanting to make the best use of his time.  

The Calvinistic Baptist preacher of the nineteenth century, Charles Spurgeon, once made some interesting comments - at times insightful and a little humerous - about this verse from Paul's epistle, and applied to Christians (especially those called to preach):

"He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has been preaching at least for thirty years, and yet he wants books! He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a man to utter, yet he wants books! He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books! The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every preacher, 'Give thyself unto reading.' ...He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains, proves he has no brains of his own. Brethren, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible. We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterwards you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master's service. Paul cries, 'Bring the books' - join in the cry."

Of course, there are trillions of ways to spend our leisure to the glory of God besides reading books and praying. Enjoying a good meal, walk, soccer game, or time alone with your spouse just to name a few. Spurgeon himself loved a good cigar. But he has a point nonetheless. Budgeting some of our leisure time to study sound theological books pays huge dividends. It helps the Christian to mature.

When it comes to Christian men, many of us will put double-digit hours of freetime every week into our favorite hobby or waste them away in front of a screen. Why not commit some of the sand in life's ever-decreasing hourglass to reading worthy books that will increase our understanding of the truth and cause us to mature in the Christian life?

To that end, a monthly meeting of men from Christ URC to discuss selected Christian classics and important theological works will commence the first Saturday evening in October. This is designed to be a time of discussion and reflection, accompanied by proper refreshments (most likely, the smelly and strong kind). Locations will be announced at Christ URC.

Here is the list of readings: