The Value of Reading Books You Don't Agree With

There's only so much time for reading in any week or any year for that matter. I confess that I mainly read books in the Reformed tradition, not because it's the tradition I agree with (though I do) but because there are so many great books of Reformed theology and by Reformed theologians and so many that haven't read yet. If I aim to read 8-12 a year that is quite good going, depending on their length, in among the other things that take up my time in any normal week. It is my belief that it is best to mainly read books that teach Christian truth and I believe Reformed theology is the best expression of Christian truth we have, outside Scripture itself.

Yet I also believe there is value in reading Christian books from outside my own comfort zone. By this I would include evangelical books that are not Reformed as well as books outside the evangelical tradition.

Even though I believe such books will contain errors, sometimes more and sometime more serious errors, sometimes less, there is still value in occasionally reading books where you know in advance that you will disagree with the author. There are at least three good reasons for doing so.

1. The first reason to read books you don't or won't agree with is because they will help you define and defend what you believe better. They will force you to think through what you really believe and when you hit points in such books where you find yourself reacting against it, this will help you focus on where those points are and why you disagree.

2. Secondly, reading books from other theological positions will help you understand the teachings of those you disagree with by having those positions explained to you by their best exponents and not just by their critics. This will help you criticise positions you disagree with more fairly and in many cases more strongly when arguing against them.

3. Thirdly, reading books you don't agree with will help you to refine your own beliefs and bring them into closer conformity with the truth. Understanding other views better will often give you a better understanding of those you disagree with, without agreeing any more with them. Occasionally, you may even be more committed to your original views having seen "the best your opponents have to offer."

I would not advise new Christians to read a lot of books like this, but mature Christians could benefit in these three ways from reading maybe one or two books a year outside your own comfort zone.