The history of book banning is a recurring phenomenon driven by political, religious, and moral motives, with examples ranging from ancient China to the present-day United States. Key historical moments include China's Emperor Shih Huang Ti burning texts in 259 B.C., the 1637 banning of Thomas Morton's New English Canaan in America, the Comstock Act of 1873 against "immoral" materials, Nazi Germany's book burning, and the apartheid era in South Africa. Recent trends show a significant increase in bans, with organized groups challenging books on topics of race, racism, LGBTQ+ issues, and sexuality, highlighting the ongoing struggle for control over ideas and narratives.The search result gave the reasoning: “to control public thought and enforce religious or political ideologies, suppressing dissenting views.”
My first thought is that the Word of God could easily, in some minds, fall into this category. While even many Christians do not realize it, the ways of God are “dissenting views” to the ways of the world. We are told:
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)The Bible also says:
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1–2)My next thought was that the ideas of banning books to change the way people think and act may have an effect, but only God can do a true mind-renewal. He can change how a person thinks, as well as change their entire life and behavior. This is not a DIY project. His Word says:
Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil. (Jeremiah 13:23)God says that only those who put their trust in Him have the full guarantee of being able to live this changed life He calls us to. I noticed these two verses today because they illustrate the contrast between our thinking and His:
The desire of the righteous ends only in good, the expectation of the wicked in wrath. One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. (Proverbs 11:23–24)God's way is opposite to ours. He even says that devising anti-God schemes may appear to ‘win’ for a time, but their end is not what is expected. Those who are generous may appear foolish to others but in the end, God takes care of their prosperity and contentment. On the other hand, the stingy of this world never stop wanting more and are never content. As far as banning books goes, that will not change human nature either.
However, urging readers toward wholesome material, even to reading the classics written by those who love and trust God could change the trajectory of their lives, but only if the Creator touches their heart and mind in mercy and grace, and does what we cannot do on our own.
PRAY: This is my prayer today, Jesus, that You will use this book banning for good, and also protect Your Word from being included as a book with “dissenting views.” It certainly goes against the way the world thinks, yet the goodness and love of God is revealed in it. What folly it would be to try and keep Him from all who are showing signs of a deep need for the One who can provide all that we need. I am encouraged by Your promise: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)
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