Should I Stop Reading My Favorite Author?

Dear friend,

Your question was a very direct one. You inquired about certain authors who have blessed you immensely in the past and now seem to have embraced forms of Critical Race Theory and other ideologies generally associated with a more liberal trajectory. Therefore, you pondered, should I continue to read their material or should I proceed to find more reliable authors?

I have addressed this question some years ago over various controversies regarding the then Bishop of Durham, N.T. Wright. At the time, he was an extraordinarily well-known figure publishing prolifically on matters related to Second Temple Judaism, the Apostle Paul, and Jesus. Further, he added tremendous insights into modern scholarship. Back in 2014, I wrote the following about Tom Wright:

“…when one poses the question of whether we should eliminate such an author from our library because he is wrong on an issue, no matter how important the issue may be, he is betraying the charitable nature of the Christian vision. Of course, he may choose to avoid Wright, and other authors who also had some questionable theological presuppositions (like C.S. Lewis), but his theological vision will be narrow, and his ability to articulate a vision of the world will stop at the wardrobe.”

I am content with my assessment six years ago. But let me add a caveat. Authors specialize in certain fields. For instance, Tim Keller is an eloquent apologetic commentator. He has a remarkable grasp of the philosophical underpinnings of the secularists. His experience ministering to the skeptic has proven beneficial and I find his book “The Reason for God” to be a phenomenal contribution to modern discussions and a helpful tool in conversing with the unbeliever. At the same, I am also very aware that the tribe that follows Keller comes with a certain social venom that I find unattractive and on issues pertaining to sociology and sexuality, I find certain of their trends to be wholly unhelpful. There is much to be said about the disciples of a man. Disciples generally follow a trajectory to its happy or unhappy end.

Of course, engage as broadly as possible, but because one author opined helpfully on one subject does not mean he will on all the others. There is no secret, but we all have that internal sense that detects when something smells odd or does not seem to comport with our biblical tradition or general school of thought.

In sum, don’t dismiss those helpful authors who blessed you, but don’t feel any obligation to stay with them to the end. I suspect you will be a better thinker as a result.