How Do We Pick?

What does it mean when we say that we, at Keepers of the Faith, proof read the books that we carry, except for certain reference books? Does it simply mean that we read what we stock? Yes, but it means much more than that. It means that we try to avoid carrying any books that are not truly wholesome or consistent with God’s Word. It means that we do not carry a book merely because it is advertised as "Christian", no matter how famous the author. It means that we buy, read, and throw away hundreds of books rather than face God for distributing something that we should not. If we shall one day give God an account of each idle word we speak, what of what we sell?

We do not claim to be the final authority in any arena. Certainly parents may have their own ideas about suitable reading materials for their children, and they need not be in sock step ours. Our goal is simply to furnish parents with a starting point by carrying those books that we think meet our criteria, allowing parents to know at least what they will not find in the books we sell.

Children do not have the discernment of adults, and, being impressionable, they tend to be affected by nearly everything they read as if it were truth. Authors, on the other hand, often like to credibility for their pet preferences and beliefs into the actions of characters in a seemingly wholesome story line. The young reader, being swept up into an exciting story, will begin identifying with whatever they read without recognizing that they are literally developing attitudes as they read—even attitudes which their parents are diligently attempting to train them not have.

Many surprising attitudes are planted silently in the minds of children while they read. Error often becomes part of a child’s belief system by such osmosis in spite of parental instruction. Ideas absorbed instinctively by one’s emotions will be difficult to displace by reason. Parents who have labored to rear godly children have often been surprised and devastated by unexpected attitudes displayed by their children. Many of these attitudes were often developed through reading.

Many books appear on the surface to be wholesome, but, as the saying goes, "You cannot judge a book by its cover." We were always concerned about what our children read as they grew up, so we try to go beyond the cover. We do not claim to be perfect, but here are some things that we look for:

Does the author depict ordinary parents as insignificant in comparison with people of a higher status or with more well known achievements? Would the reader get the feeling that it is important to achieve something more significant in life than to walk in the shoes of godly, yet "ordinary" or otherwise mundane, parents? Are other roles depicted as more important than that of a parent?

Are children presented as capable of making their own decisions, almost as if they had equal decision-making ability with adults? Do we find child characters making decisions about what their parents should know and whether they should even be told about a situation in which the child should make a decision? In other words, does the story undermine the leadership of the parent?

Does the tone of the book give credence to the idea that problems between a parent and a child arise because the parent does not understand the child, rather than because children are often too blinded by their selfishness to understand the situation?

Does the story line propagate the idea that a really good parent "finds a way" to align himself with the child’s wishes, thus, undermining the credibility of those parents who have the courage to use the word "no"?

Does the story have one of those gallant, parent-supplanting outsiders who becomes the child’s champion, because he, rather than the parents, knows just how the child feels and how to win the child’s friendship? Will the reader be inclined to wish that he/she had such a champion who would always bring their wishes to an agreeable outcome.

Does the story contain incidents that leave a child thinking that what parents do not find out about is not a problem? Do things that parents should know about get routinely handled by the child, leaving an impression on the reader that this is normal, and he/she should do likewise.

Does the flavor of the story and its characters leave a child thinking that he has a right to "pursue his talents", rather than a responsibility to have character in the situation in which he finds himself? Will the reader get the impression to employ diligence in all, or to employ diligence in the pursuance of glory or gain?

Does the story give the child the wrong idea about what to expect from life? Does it have one of those fairy-tale endings in which the leopard does change his spots? Does the hero take risks and make unwise decisions only to be "saved by the bell" or by a "stroke of luck"? Will the reader be led to expect life to treat him/her likewise?

Do passages or characters disparage the idea of a woman being a woman? If the reader identifies with such characters, will she feel less inclined to accept the role in life that God has given her? Many a "Christian" book portrays females doing "spiritual" things while pursuing the roles of boys and men.

Does the story contain unnecessary crudeness, violence, deception, torture, lying, hate, trickery, etc.? These are all being pumped into "Christian" reading material in order to make it more sensational, exciting and saleable. However, does it instill the spirit of peace or augment a Christlike attitude in a child’s heart.

Does the story glamorize competition? Is the story going to instill the drive to win, to be the best, to be number one, as opposed to teaching the joys of being a servant? Though we seldom think about it, the two are really diametrically opposed.

Is the story an adventure story which creates lust for the excitement and the daring? Will the reader be inspired to be exciting and daring? Will the reader be impressed that such a life should be much prized above that of becoming an "ordinary" parent? Will the story encourage the reader to daydream being daring and courageous in imaginary things when he/she could be being diligent in real things?

Are there animals with human characteristics? Are animals given an equal status with humans? Are they depicted as smarter than humans? How will such subtle, "New Age" ideas impact the reader. The majority of meat-eating college students today feel that it is wrong to harm an animal, but do not know if the Holocaust was wrong. Literature is powerful!

Is the story a fairy tale, fantasy tale or science fiction? Do they captivate the reader’s mind and Whisk him/her off to imaginary worlds designed to escape reality and truly functional thought? Do they contain witches and occult beings? Do they contain animals and other morphidite beings that confuse the minds of young readers, especially about God and spiritual things? Do these lifelike beings exhibit powers that rival or even exceed the miracles of God performed by Jesus?

Is it a romance story? Is the heroine swept off her feet with a tall, dark, and handsome prince, thereby making an ordinary God-fearing man seem dull by comparison? Will the book cause the reader to daydream about what her "sweetheart" will be like rather than equipping herself to be a serious Christian helpmeet to him to whom God gives her?

If the book says that it is a biography is it? Or is it a fictional story into which some historic names have been inserted and attached to characters who are really fictional and never acted or conversed as do the characters in the book. Will the reader be confused about history and think that the real figures in history said and did those things contrived by the author to make the story interesting?

If the book is historical fiction, can the reader understand what is history and what is fiction? Does the story, for instance, have some fictional teen-ager counseling and advising a real historical figure about real decisions and events? Will it give a young reader false ideas about history and a false, heady attitude about his/her self as he/she identifies with such fictional characters?

Are the children in the story respectful of, and obedient to, their parents, especially behind their parents’ backs, or does the story give subtle impressions that "kids should go ahead and be kids," and "what Mom and Dad don’t know won’t hurt them." It may not, but it will eventually hurt the children.

Does the story contain a pattern of children not being disciplined by parents for wrongdoing? Will the reader get the idea that such wrongdoing simply "isn’t a big deal?" Will the reader get the idea that consequences and restitution are not to be expected as a part of life?

Does the story encourage sin? No children are perfect. A story that contains a few misdemeanors which are handled promptly and properly by the parents may even be helpful in showing a reader some sin in his/her life. However, stories that elaborate on mischief, and which may even give a reader ideas of which he/she may not have thought, are not constructive.

How is the Word of God handled. Is it trusted and used by characters identified as Christian? Do they find their answers and wisdom in it, or do they use their own judgment or seek answers elsewhere?

What about prayer? If the book claims to be Christian, do the characters pray? Do they pray for spiritual things or carnal things? In other words, do they serve God, or expect Him to serve them?

These thoughts comprise some of the basic guidelines that we use to sort through the literature that we consider for our family book shelves and our inventory shelves. As a parent, you might want to consider at least some of them. Following is a few thoughts about reading fiction.