by John N. Hamblin
I Timothy 4:3 “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
We find ourselves living in a day and hour that sadly tears down “BEWARE” signs and slyly throws down “WELCOME” mats in front of the bound volumes that will take Christians and even churches 1,000 miles from the “Faith of our Fathers.” In I Timothy 4:13 the older Paul tells the younger Timothy, “give attendance to reading!” Before he puts down the pen of inspiration, Paul puts up the divine borders of this truth, “To exhortation, to doctrine.” These barriers keep those “broad-minded” clergy from saying that the Apostle of the Church was signing on to their rebellion in reading anybody or anything (Psalm 1:1). The word “attendance” in the Greek language means: Frequently or often.  It is used four different times in the Bible (I Kings 10:5, II Chronicles 9:4, I Timothy 4:13 and Hebrews 7:13). Never is it used without perimeters or precautions attached to it.
Please read slowly and carefully the next sentence. The Apostle Paul never pointed preachers or people to the religious dumpster and said, “Go ahead and eat out of here!” I have often said, “Here is my recommended reading list: for church growth, Acts; for Contemporary Theology, Jude; for Ministry Philosophy, I & II Timothy; and for refreshment, Psalms.
Dr. R. G. Lee said, “The reason that I don’t read some books is because I don’t want to swim through 500 yards of sewage to get a teaspoonful of truth.” An old Bible student now in Heaven once said, “The world is full of books; no small portion of which is either worthless or decidedly hurtful in their tendency.” And Dr. Curtis Hutson said, “Who you will become one year from now, will largely be determined by the books you read and the people you meet.”
In our 35 years in the ministry I’ve watched as more preachers than I an even count have left Fundamentalism because of a rotten book, which caused them to backslide from their own personal office. I’ve also seen good church members leave a thriving church, simply because a bad author was referred to them. Never forget that while rat poison comes in bottles, often spiritual rat poison is carried by books.
Friend, we need to discover which books are listed on the non-recommended reading list of Brother Paul! There are three types of bound volumes that make it to the Apostle Paul’s non-authorized reading list.
I. A Book With A Different Message.
A type of volume that makes the non-recommended reading list of the Apostle Paul is a book with a different message (Romans 16:17) It doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to understand that anything that comes from the pen or a publishing house that promotes false doctrine or gives a pass to those that propagate erroneous teaching should have a stamp put on them which reads, “AVOID THEM!” An excellent place to begin contending for the faith, preacher, is on your study bookshelves. Dump, delete, and discard all those who add to salvation and all those who subtract from sanctification, from your desk, kindle, and even your home coffee table.
I have sadly seen first-hand as young preachers in and out of Bible colleges, have been told to read after 100% apostates, and in less than 12 months those same young preachers mock public invitations, model the world (by their attire and attitude) and minimize the fundamentals of the faith. That spiritual shipwreck started when some preacher, often very well known, pointed them to books that shouldn’t even be used as a coffee coaster, let alone counted as reputable. Personally, I believe, those men that write books or even recommend books that take others from the “ancient landmarks” will face this screaming sin at the judgment seat of Christ (II John 8).
 On the non-recommended reading list of the Apostle Paul is a book with a different message!
II. A Book With A Different Mentor.
A type of volume that makes the non-recommended reading list of the Apostle Paul is a book with a different mentor. (Philippians 3:17) The problem with the wrong advisor is best seen by this astronomical axiom: The stream is always polluted when the headwaters are poisoned. (I Corinthians 15:33) Bob Jones Sr. taught a Tom Malone Sr., a J. Wilbur Chapman trained a Billy Sunday, and a Rick Warren tutored a…well, I think you understand! Bad books make bad buddies.
As I am penning this article from my study desk, I can see on the book spines of those bound volumes on my book shelves names such as John R. Rice, Oliver B. Greene, Lee Roberson, Bob Jones, Sr. and Tom Malone, Sr. By allowing these men of God to teach me, I never have to fear winding up off the boulevard of the Bible and running foolishly down the expressway of error. If I wouldn’t be seen publicly sitting in a service allowing a non – or pseudo – fundamentalist to influence me, why would I allow God to see me privately, sitting in my study allowing them to influence and instruct me?
On the non-recommend reading list of the Apostle Paul is a book with a different mentor!
III. A Book With A Different Methodology.
A type of volume that makes the non-recommended reading list of the Apostle Paul is a book with a different methodology (I Thessalonians 5:221). This present nonsense of bypassing the antique store and going to the novelty shop to find out how to have church is high treason to the Bible, “old time” religion and above all it’s the wickedest treachery to all three members of the Trinity! If it doesn’t matter how we do the work of God, why didn’t Elijah try to get fire from Heaven like the fake prophets of Baal (I Kings 18)? METHODOLOGY MATTERS!
My biggest concern about certain books of the “How To” nature, even those written by some of our so called “fundamental” brethren, is that when it comes to what goes on down at the church house, Bible ministry never resembles business marketing! Just because some technique is new at the Apple store on the “I”-whatever, doesn’t mean that it should be the centerpiece of the platform with the pulpit shoved in a closet somewhere. We need to stop reading the Athenians “HOW TO DO CHURCH” manuals (Acts 17:21). A. W. Tozer, whose grave I recently visited in Akron OH while preaching a conference said, “Heresy of method, may be as deadly as heresy of message.”
On the non-recommended reading list of The Apostle Paul is a book with a different methodology!
So in conclusion, there really can be no dispute in regards to whether or not the Apostle Paul would have a list of books that would make his “non-recommended” tally. Since he is the “pattern” for all believers, it would do well for each of us to stay with proven truth rather than trendy pontificating (I Timothy 1:16). Don’t be guilty of having a fundamental heart, but also a rank, revolting reading lit that the Apostle Paul would surely reject!
by John N. Hamblin
I agree. Do not listen to the Spirit of God within you. He is not capable of guiding you into all truth. Just trust that the great men of the past were following the Spirit and allow them to be your Holy Spirit, guiding you into all truth.
He literally said don’t read men accept men that think like me. What a shame that the IFB has put “great men” in place of the Holy Spirit and they don’t even know it.
To start with the Bible and prayer, with full faith in the Holy Spirit to guide you and open your eyes, is never a bad idea. To measure everything else against it is vital. Soon, you will see who are the false preachers, the wolves in sheep’s clothing. How do you listen to the Holy Spirit? By studying Scripture, that’s all. That is the full extent of God’s revelation to mankind in this life. Any book written by anybody else is just a sharing of what that person understands and, true to human nature, it can be wrong. Therefore, it needs to measured to Scripture, along the lines suggested by this writer, I agree. Very often to “listen to the Spirit of God within you” is nothing more than listening to your own inner thoughts and feelings. Do not be proud, study Scripture. Meditate in His law day and night. I say again, the Holy Spirit guides you through Scripture, He does not deal in warm and fuzzy feelings. Sola Scriptura!