Read to Lead
Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren’s, How to Read a Book, is a practical time saving approach that helps readers “grow intellectually, morally, and spiritually.”[1] Growing through reading is the book’s key theme. Two motivations that answer the “why” we should read books are: if we start reading we are taught about the “world and about yourself” and if we stop reading, “we cease to grow, we begin to die.” [2] This book challenges me to improve my critical thinking skills and drives me to dig deeper to know God. I picked the following sections of the book to focus on because they connect me with three areas of my ministry cause, call, and challenge. I will examine “From Many Rules to One Habit and Practical vs. Theoretical Books as my areas of interest.[3]
First, my cause is the fulfillment of the Great Commission; by going, discipling, teaching, and baptizing the lost in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.[4] I believe reading the Bible, God’s book to us, provides the many rules, instructions, examples, and guidelines for living that we need to form healthy habits that lead to intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth. “Cumulative” is the word Adler and Van Doren use to describe the stages and levels that the reader must practice repeatedly before becoming successful in the habit of reading.[5] Learning how to ski is the analogy used to describe the How to Read a Book method. Like the skier who progresses from beginner, to intermediate, to advanced levels of difficulty, the reader also progresses from elementary, inspectional, analytical, and syntopical reading levels. I connect with this theme because putting on the whole armor of God can be just as clumsy and frustrating for the new believer as it is learning how to ski, or for the purposes of this post, learning how to read at the doctoral level. Success in reading or skiing comes from practice, repetition, and determination. Success in spiritual warfare also required practice, repetition, and determination, but it also involves a theoretical element, that is more than just a practical step-by-step process. The next section, Practical vs. Theoretical Books will examine the mystical aspects of reading theology.
Second, my ministry call is to prepare, train, and equip disciples on how to succeed when engaged in spiritual warfare. Adler and Van Doren present a real-world approach on how to read both practical and theoretical material. They say their book is a “practical” guidebook for the reader, but I was pleased to see that they did address the theoretical and supernatural aspects of reading philosophy and theology.[6] Since we live in a world bound by time, spiritual leaders must be prepared to read, lead, and succeed in the practical world while simultaneously being engaged in Biblical study, prayer, and supernatural warfare in the spiritual world. Practical versus theoretical reading concepts must be carefully distinguished to prevent error and confusion with the reader. Practical is described as something that works now or has an immediate effect while theoretical is visionary thought, or something to be seen or understood.[7] How to Read a Book, the authors say, is a “practical, not theoretical” guidebook that shows readers how to develop and refine their reading skills for effective and efficient growth.[8] “Read to be ready” is the motto for the US Navy.[9] Jackson, the Chief of Naval Operations Professional Reading Program, says in a book-review that he supports Adler and Van Doren’s reading techniques and practices because they challenge “sailors at all levels to read books of consequence.”[10]
Challenging others is my third connection with this book because I am driven to reveal Christ through an armor of God ministry. Is the idea of reading about and then engaging in spiritual warfare a theoretical or a practical process? Is it both? What do you think? This is where I break from Adler and Van Doren’s mostly practical approach to reading. Instead of reading in a “canonical” style, I believe that reading the Bible is much more than an official process or liturgical practice. [11] Instead, I am certain that the Bible, the living word of God, is not only to be read, studied, and reflected upon, but also to be spoken into our hearts, minds, and souls by the Holy Spirit. I suggest that reading can be both practical and theoretical. For example, when Paul tells Christians to “Put on the whole armor of God” I believe he fuses the practical and theoretical themes into a supernatural dimension that readers must digest and discern if they hope to survive and succeed in spiritual warfare.[12] I believe the practical and theoretical worlds merge, in a unique and timeless purpose that fulfills God’s sovereign plan and diving will for our lives. Consider this, “The problem of reading the Holy Book-if you have faith that it is the Word of God-is the most difficult problem in the whole field of reading.”[13] I commend the author’s, whether intentionally or not, for acknowledging the importance of “faith” as a reader role and responsibility when studying theology. In summary, this practical guidebook provides some higher level theoretical inferences and deductions that faith really matters when trying to read theology.
The purpose of this post was to provide a brief but comprehensive book review while also personally engaging the material through my ministry cause, call, and challenge. As a result, I conclude that How to Read a Book is a good read that I will use as a reference when working on my dissertation topic, problem, and research question. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Eph. 6:10).
[1] Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren. How to read a book: The classic guide to intelligent reading. (Simon and Schuster, 2014) 336.
[2] Ibid., 331, 336.
[3] Ibid., 53, 65.
[4] Matt. 28:19-20, ESV.
[5] Adler & Van Doren, How to read, 17.
[6] Ibid., 65.
[7] Ibid., 65.
[8] Ibid.
[9] John E. Jackson “REFLECTIONS ON READING.” Naval War College Review 67, no. 1 (Winter2014 2014): 159. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed October 2, 2017).
[10] Ibid.
[11] Adler & Van Doren, How to read, 287.
[12] Eph. 6:11.
[13] Adler & Van Doren, How to read, 287.
About the Author
Mike
12 responses to “Read to Lead”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hey Mike- Good to hear from you and I hope your mission is going well! Thank you for your post. I found it interesting how you connected this book with your mission of making disciples of Jesus and putting on the armor of God. I also thought it was helpful that you brought up the skiing analogy. I’m curious how you think this book might help you in your research for this program. Blessings to you my brother! -Chris
Chris,
I think Adler’s techniques will help because to tell the truth, my techniques were pretty basic. He has challenged and stretched me to read with new expectations.
Stand firm,
M. Webb
Hi Mike!
13 footnotes? You are putting me to shame. And I am still trying to figure out how you got this done while doing your important work–well done my Brother. I am also impressed you found a way to quote the Chief of Naval Operations…
Jay
Mr. Montana, aka Stump,
I like to recognize our fellow services when I get a chance. Plus, I liked the Navy Chief’s way of motivating his sailors, “reading books of consequence” is sound advice. I think they have more time to read than I do; riding in a boat versus flying.
Stand firm,
M. Webb
Mike,
Another similarity I am seeing as a result of your post is that both reading and spiritual warfare require significant discipline. For reading, Adler outlines the four types and he highlights the challenges of reading syntopically, the fourth level of reading. For spiritual warfare, the disciplines are also significant: training your mind, preparing your heart, becoming sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I look forward to learning from you in this regard.
Mark,
I am thrilled that you are not “desensitized” to the spiritual warfare doctrine. We must challenge each other, and our Elite-8 Cohort to always “know thy enemy.”
Putting on your armor, Jesus Christ, in the precise manner and order that Paul instructs, is critical for effective defense, and the only way to mount an offensive where the Holy Spirit will “tear down strongholds.”
Stand firm,
M. Webb
Your focus on your purpose in life is constant and it provides a means by which you filter everything. That comes through even in your blog on a seemingly unrelated text. I find this level of focus and commitment both humbling and motivating.
Dan,
Thanks for your insights. I want to be that guy who the first thing you think about is, “Did I put on my full Armor of God today?”
We must challenge each other, check each other’s battle gear, celebrate with each other in our victories, and encourage each other in our defeats.
Stand firm,
M. Webb
Mike,
I love how everything you write dovetails back into your passion in life. In a book that could be dry at times and repetitive at others you delve deep and see the connections not everyone can see and I deeply appreciate that. Hope all is well see ya on the flip side.
Jason
Jason,
My passion is to see you and our Elite-8 multiply disciples that multiply disciples who are equipped and trained in the art of spiritual warfare. Not only to defend, but also inspired to march out into the world as LGP leaders; wielding the dual-purpose, offensive and defensive sword of the spirit.
Stand firm,
M. Webb
Your question, “Is the idea of reading about and then engaging in spiritual warfare a theoretical or a practical process?” made me immediately answer ‘Practical.’ Maybe you were being rhetorical but in my mind engaging in spiritual warfare is something we learn about and the armor of God is a practical, and of course spiritual, means for combat to be applied to spiritual warfare. I wonder if sometimes we think of spirituality as something intangible and so we assume it to be more unproven theory while the reality is we just don’t always have the ability to see what’s happening on the spiritual side of life (both from God and the evil one). I would be interested to hear your take on it Mike.
Anyway, I like how you applied the content to make it usable for you and I appreciate your use of syntopic reading with Jackson’s text.
Trisha,
I am glad you see both sides of the question about spiritual warfare. Do we really believe in the devil and his legions of fallen angels? Is it myth, part of a Biblical metaphor that is in error, an over reaction, or a lie?
Do you remember the facial expressions, voice inflections, and body language of the young man who presented about his tribe’s practice of ancestor communication and worship? He believed in the devil and evil forces!
We, the North American church, are becoming subtly desensitized to a real devil and his totally destructive threat to humanity. Instead, we see demonic forces as “intangible” and mere fiction from TV shows like the “Walking Dead.” We see vampires as hero’s and role models. The idea of having to battle something we paradoxically crave is becoming more unpopular to many of the “blinded” members of the body of Christ.
I am glad you are a fellow “Armor of God Bearer”.
Stand firm,
M. Webb