Cunningly devised fables

Popular fiction books include religious fiction.

Some are written so that they appear to tell spiritual truths.

Others also may have spiritual principles built into their stories.

Some writers use a few Bible verses to give the reader the impression that this is part of a divine plan, which their book reveals.

But these books are classified by librarians as religious fiction.

Yes, even non-Bible scholars can tell that these are works of fiction.

Sadly, some Bible believers do NOT know that what they're reading is religious fiction and NOT to be accepted as biblical truth.

They aren't able to figure out that these are novels: fictional accounts that may have a little truth in them but can't be trusted to give the whole counsel of the Lord. Acts 20:26-27; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

And this can be a problem.

If we spend the majority of our time reading, listening to, and watching fiction, that is, stories from the minds of people, how can we expect to have the mind of the Lord Jesus Christ? 1 Corinthians 2:16

How can we grow up into the full maturity of Jesus if the truth, His total Bible truth, isn't being communicated to us and from us to others? Ephesians 4:11-16, 21

None of us like to think that we're spiritual infants in knowledge, do we?

And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:1

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the actual words of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. Hebrews 5:12

Sometimes, we've stayed at a certain level of spirituality because we don't hunger and thirst for righteousness. Matthew 5:6

"Hey, I'm good. I go to church. I read the Bible. I give to the church."

This one is satisfied but are they sanctified for the Master's use, prepared to every good work? 2 Timothy 2:20-21

Maybe for some there isn't a desire to go beyond surface-level Christianity.

How can this be changed?

Suggestion:

Realize that what the first New Testament believers followed was NOT a collection of "cunningly devised fables" 2 Peter 1:16 created to deceive multitudes.

Their beliefs and lifestyles were based upon the foundation of the Bible's Scriptures of the prophets. Romans 16:26; 2 Peter 1:20-21

They also were eyewitnesses of the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:16

They passed on to others what they had seen and heard Acts 4:19-20 as Jesus instructed them to do. Matthew 28:18-20

They understood that the good news of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ was already in the Old Testament Scriptures of Moses, the prophets, Acts 26:22-23 and the psalms. Luke 24:44

Then, as the Holy Spirit revealed more of the New Testament way as Jesus said that He would, John 14:26; 16:13 this provided a fuller revelation. Ephesians 3:3-6; Hebrews 10:8-10

If we put the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ first in our lives, Luke 24:25-27, 44; John 5:39, 46; Colossians 1:18; 2 Peter 1:19-21 we'll be able to grow enough to discern good and evil Hebrews 5:14 and know when something is NOT truth, but fiction, even if it has a Christian angle.

Your thoughts?

R. Jason