What to accept?

I begin this write by reviewing my actions this morning. A strong interest in things biblical, I read a lot. Some of it does not fit my understanding - my "belief." Some of it - most, perhaps - does. I have been reading What's So Great about Christianity (btw, that is a statement and not a question) by Dinesh D'Souza, a book I have had in my library since October 2009. D'Souza writes, to me, a different sort of understanding/acceptance of Christianity. This morning, I decided I did not agree enough with his presentation and decided to put the book in the trash. Imagine that! (I will give you a clue later, why.)

My next act, shortly afterward, was to purchase online a book, a Bible commentary, written by authors with whom I thought I could agree more. A lot of them are from the "church of my belief." Some are not. But, the background offered about the book, a 700 page one, gave me the impression I might agree with all of it. Now, would I? Probably not. Still, I think I should read it, so I bought it.

BTW, isn't it that all books are commentaries? I think so, either on what the writer writes or what he writes about what someone else wrote. whether it is called a commentary or not does not matter, methinks.

Having bought the book, and now awaiting its arrival, The Transforming Word, I began to think, "Now, I have spent close to $80.00 to buy a book that I might not agree with. Would I put it in the trash, as well?" This led me to remove the first book from the trash can for it to go back in my library. Surely, everything in my library is not what I agreed with, I thought.

So, I say this to say, within certain limits it is ok not to agree with everything one reads. It is not ok to reject within limits even the consideration of what folks write that might not agree with how I see it. Now, I know that is perhaps shaky ground if one wants to stay the same. It is not shaky ground if one wants to at least consider what others say and either accept it or reject it based on logical and informed understandings. I fear we do ourselves harm not to at least know what others say or propose. By knowing we can at least argue our point better. Right? I think so.

My first response to throw the book in the trash was way off the mark. What I can do, and will for the benefit of anyone later who might look at the books in my library, is make a note in the front of the book summarizing my observations on the writing. I do that a lot. Seems a good thing to do.

This is my thought on readings, acceptance and non-acceptance of what is out there. I think I have taken the correct approach. Who knows, I might even go back and finish D'Souza's book - someday. So you'll know, I still cannot accept that I came from a fish to be a Christian. Does that matter, as long as one is a Christian? Not sure that it does. (shhhh!)