Inside a Book Doctor with Dr. Steve Halliday

OC Talk Radio Show: If you are not a reader, you may be tempted
to hang up, turn off, or otherwise ignore this show when you hear
the title "Inside a Book Doctor." I encourage you not to because
we will look at some things that may confirm suspicions you have
about books, or at least I hope we will. Books are funny things.


Many years ago I started a church that grew in numbers year after
year. Many of our new members were converting to faith after
years, if not a lifetime, of rather casual attitudes toward God,
the Church, the Bible, and Jesus himself. Their conversions
seemed as authentic as could be, with newfound excitement to
learn about God’s word, develop lifestyles as believers, and
reform their views of the world and their families. It was
exciting.


But then something happened. Some of these people started showing
up to church with really weird views and even stranger questions.
An inordinate amount of interest in the Book of Revelation and
Daniel seemed to be a common thread. Where were they getting this
stuff? I was the only pastor they had ever had, provided the only
teaching they had sat under in a church context.


Some took this even further and started to become quite
judgmental of others who didn’t believe as they believed about
all kinds of things. Questions concerning the rapture and demon
possession arose. It was causing quite a stir. I was befuddled.
What was I doing wrong? It caused me no small amount of
insecurity and sleepless nights.


But it didn’t take extraordinary investigative skills to discover
that Christian Radio, TV, and Christian Bookstores were not my
friend as a pastor. With the sincerest of motives, many of these
new converts were simply looking to learn more about their faith
and tuning into things to enrich their Christian growth. Books
with pretty covers and enticing titles were bought from the local
Christian bookseller to supplement what they were getting from
their local church.


So this young pastor embarked upon a journey to teach discernment
to my congregation. Not everything with cover and the name of
Jesus is true. Not everyone with a microphone and title in front
of their name is worth listening to.


So how are we to know? How do Christian books get into print?
What’s the real story? Today we have one eminently qualified to
give us an insider's view.


Welcome, book doctor, Dr. Steve Halliday, to Church Hurts And.