I have so much catching up to do with spiritual things, reading the Bible, Ellen White, our pioneers, and other good books, I no longer have time to read fiction. But I do have a house full of it though.
I have the Holy Spirits counsel upon all fiction and novel reading for those who are interested:
April 12, 1904 Read and Heed
The world is flooded with books that might better be consumed than circulated. Books upon Indian warfare and similar topics, published and circulated as a money-making scheme, might better never be read. The heart-sickening relation of crimes and atrocities has a
bewitching power over many youth, exciting in them the desire to bring themselves into notice by the most wicked deeds. There are many works more strictly historical whose influence is little better. The enormities, the cruelties, the licentious practices, portrayed in these writings, have acted as leaven in many minds, leading to the commission of similar acts. Books that delineate the satanic practises of human beings are giving publicity to evil works. The horrible details of crime and misery need not to be lived over again, and none who believe the truth for this time should act a part in perpetuating their memory. {YI, April 12, 1904 par. 1}
Love stories and frivolous, exciting tales constitute another class of books that is a curse to every reader. The author may attach a good moral, and all through his work may weave religious sentiments; yet in most cases Satan is but clothed in angel robes, the more effectually to deceive and allure. The mind is affected in a great degree by that upon which it feeds.
The readers of frivolous, exciting tales become unfitted for the duties lying before them. They live an unreal life, and have
no desire to search the Scriptures, to feed upon the heavenly manna. The mind is enfeebled, and loses its power to contemplate the great problems of duty and destiny. {YI, April 12, 1904 par. 2}
I have been instructed that the youth are exposed to the greatest peril from improper reading. Satan is constantly leading both the young and those of mature age to be charmed with worthless stories. Could a large share of the books published be consumed, a plague would be stayed that is doing a fearful work in weakening the mind and corrupting the heart. None are so confirmed in right principles as to be secure from temptation. All this trashy reading should be resolutely discarded.
Mrs. E. G. White. {YI, April 12, 1904 par. 3} "Even fiction which contains no suggestion of impurity, and which may be intended to teach excellent principles, is harmful. It encourages the habit of hasty and superficial reading, merely for the story. Thus it tends to destroy the power of connected and vigorous thought; it
unfits the soul to contemplate the great problems of duty and destiny." (Ellen G. White, Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 383)
Myths and Fairy Tales.--In the education of children and youth fairy tales, myths, and fictitious stories are now given a large place. Books of this character are used in schools, and they are to be found in many homes. How can Christian parents permit their children to use books so filled with falsehood? When the children ask the meaning of stories so contrary to the teaching of their parents, the answer is that the stories are not true; but this does not do away with the evil results of their use. The ideas presented in these books mislead the children. They impart false views of life and beget and foster a desire for the unreal. . . . {AH 413.3}
Never should books containing a perversion of truth be placed in the hands of children or youth. Let not our children, in the very process of obtaining an education, receive ideas that will prove to be seeds of sin.
414
{AH 413.4}
Although the prophet here is mostly addressing the youth, the purpose is to educate them in truth before the habit of fiction reading can be formed. Common sense also tells us the effect may be greatly magnified by the long-formed habits of adults. Sometimes we think our selves overly wise, that we can do some questionable things and it will not affect us because we "know the truth."
But in reality,many times we do not know why we think and act as we do, as no alarms will go off telling us we are in danger. The effects of novel reading, all theatrics, deviant music styles with drums, will lead the persons one small step at a time in the wrong direction. This is a striking example of why God in His love and desire to save us, gives pointed and plain warnings in the Bible and the SOP.
Satan has had 6000 years to study the human mind to develop deceptive ways to link it with his. There are a few of the ways.
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