“It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between.”
This is a quote from C.S. Lewis in his introduction to On the Incarnation a very old book indeed, written in about AD 330 by Athanasius, the Bishop of Alexandria.
I read a lot. I like many types of books, old and new, but I often remember C.S. Lewis’ warning about only reading ideas from people who are living in and writing in my same time, culture and country when I am selecting my next title.
Lewis goes on to say, “Every age has its own outlook. It is specially good at seeing certain truths and specially liable to make certain mistakes. We all, therefore, need the books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our own period. And that means the old books.”
It surprises me to admit that C.S. Lewis wrote those remarks 80 years ago. Which, begins to make his own words and works seem like, “old books.”
Nevertheless, I encourage you to stretch your mind and heart this Christmas to read books like Athanasius’ On the Incarnation or the sermon The Incarnation and Birth of Christ by Charles Spurgeon. Or even just Chapter 5, “God Incarnate” of J.I. Packer’s Knowing God (a mere 51 years old).
The virgin birth of Jesus the Christ is a profound mystery. His divine and human nature is confounding and confusing. His perfect life and substitutionary death as the Son of God is essential to our faith and hope at Christmas and always. And Christians throughout the centuries have argued that these doctrines are worth striving to understand, to believe, and to deeply love and revere.
I believe it’s worth the work to read old books. It’s one way we can love the Lord with all our mind and strength!