It's Just A... Book
- Joe Hawkins
- Sep 10
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 12
The Excuse We All Hear
“It’s just a book.”
That’s the response people give when concerns are raised about the messages hidden in bestselling novels. But books are not just paper and ink — they are powerful conveyors of ideas. Stories have always been used to shape civilizations, from ancient myths to modern fantasy. Books disciple minds one chapter at a time, often with far greater impact than a two-hour movie or a short-lived TV series.
Throughout history, revolutions have been sparked by the written word, philosophies have spread through books, and entire generations have been influenced by the stories they devoured. Unlike a film or a song, books linger in the imagination, giving readers time to absorb, reflect, and internalize their themes. When the content is ungodly, the ideas planted can become seeds of compromise that grow over time. This is why Christians cannot shrug off literature as harmless; the ideas we read today may become the worldview we live by tomorrow.
The Bible reminds us that words have power: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Stories can either draw us closer to God’s truth or deceive us into embracing falsehood.
The Trojan Horse of Literature
Books invite us to use our imagination, to suspend disbelief, and to step into another world. But that very act of immersion makes us vulnerable. When sorcery, lust, or rebellion is packaged in compelling storytelling, readers lower their guard. The enemy knows that a powerful story doesn’t just entertain — it lodges ideas in the heart, shaping beliefs and behaviors long after the last page is turned.
Because books allow us to linger in a world for hours, days, or even weeks, the influence of their ideas is often deeper than other forms of entertainment. Readers can begin to adopt the values of the characters they admire, excusing sin when it comes wrapped in a sympathetic backstory or thrilling adventure. This subtle influence is why many harmful ideologies have entered culture first through literature — where they feel less threatening but become more persuasive over time. What begins as fiction often ends as philosophy, quietly altering how entire generations think about truth, morality, and even God.
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Real Examples from Popular Books
1. Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling)
This global phenomenon sold over 500 million copies and became a cultural touchstone for an entire generation. While many defend it as harmless fantasy, the series is saturated with detailed descriptions of spells, witchcraft, and the glorification of sorcery. Scripture is clear: “There shall not be found among you… one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens” (Deut. 18:10). Yet millions of children eagerly read spellbooks disguised as fiction, learning to admire witches and wizards as heroes. The danger lies not only in what is read but in what is normalized: the occult is no longer dark and forbidden, but magical and fun.
2. Fifty Shades of Grey (E.L. James)
What began as Twilight fan fiction exploded into a cultural sensation, selling over 150 million copies worldwide. These books glamorize sexual immorality, bondage, and domination, reducing intimacy to perversion. While marketed as “romance,” it conditions readers to see lust and exploitation as love. The Apostle Paul warns: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, you abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thess. 4:3). Yet this series discipled a generation to blur the lines between love and abuse, sparking real-world trends in pornography and broken relationships.
3. Twilight (Stephenie Meyer)
Though packaged as a teen romance, Twilight normalized unhealthy obsession, premarital relationships, and even vampirism as romantic. The main relationship idealized in the series glorifies toxic dependency and blurs the biblical picture of sacrificial love. Instead of pointing readers to God’s design for marriage, it painted controlling passion as true love.
4. The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
This blockbuster novel sold 80 million copies while presenting blasphemous claims about Jesus Christ, suggesting He was married to Mary Magdalene and that the Church covered it up. Though “fiction,” it left millions doubting the historical accuracy of Scripture. By mixing fact with fantasy, Brown sowed seeds of skepticism, echoing the serpent’s question in Genesis 3: “Did God really say…?”
5. Goosebumps (R.L. Stine)
Marketed as spooky fun for kids, this series has sold over 400 million copies worldwide. The books are filled with stories of haunted masks, demonic dolls, and supernatural curses. While they’re meant to entertain, they acclimate children to fear, horror, and occult themes at a young age. What once would have been seen as frightening is softened into “kid-friendly” thrills, normalizing darkness and making it part of childhood nostalgia.
6. Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Rick Riordan)
Hugely popular in classrooms and libraries, these novels immerse children in Greek mythology. While entertaining, they subtly reframe pagan gods and idols as approachable, quirky characters who guide and empower young heroes. Instead of leading children to the one true God, the books invite them to embrace pantheism and polytheism as fun adventures.
7. His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman)
This trilogy was written explicitly as a counter to C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia. Pullman openly stated his intent was to dismantle Christian faith in young readers. The series portrays God as a false, oppressive figure and celebrates rebellion against Him as virtuous. Marketed as fantasy, it is in reality an anti-gospel, discipling children to see Christianity as oppressive and deception as liberation.
8. A Wrinkle in Time (Madeleine L’Engle)
While beloved and often shelved as “Christian-friendly fantasy,” the book incorporates heavy doses of New Age spirituality, universalism, and mysticism. The novel’s vague, abstract spirituality often overshadows biblical truth, blending light and darkness in a way that can confuse young readers about the nature of God and salvation.
9. Captain Underpants (Dav Pilkey)
This wildly popular series may look silly and harmless, but its irreverent tone normalizes disrespect for authority and crude humor for kids. By presenting rebellion, toilet humor, and mocking adults as entertainment, it fosters a mindset of dishonor that directly contradicts biblical commands to honor parents and respect authority (Exodus 20:12, Romans 13:1).
10. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Jeff Kinney)
Another bestseller with enormous cultural reach, this series often centers on selfishness, lying, and manipulation. While comedic, it conditions young readers to laugh at sin rather than recognize its seriousness. Instead of modeling godly character or growth, it teaches kids that immaturity and dishonesty are relatable and amusing.
The Spiritual Consequences
Books are discipleship tools. They may seem like “just stories,” but they train us to:
Sympathize with sin: By cheering for characters who embody rebellion.
Reimagine truth: By presenting alternate realities that undermine God’s Word.
Redefine morality: By calling darkness light and light darkness (Isaiah 5:20).
Paul warns in Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men… rather than according to Christ.” Books may be fiction, but their philosophies are real — and they shape hearts and minds. That’s why ideas first introduced in literature often become cultural movements decades later. What begins as entertainment becomes a worldview, and what begins as fantasy can grow into a framework for how people see life, morality, and even God Himself.
The Call to Discernment
The next time you hear someone say, “It’s just a book,” remember that books disciple culture more deeply than almost any medium. From libraries to Kindles, the messages we consume matter. Christians must ask: Does this book glorify Christ or undermine Him? Does it fill my mind with purity (Phil. 4:8) or poison?
Books are never “just books.” They are blueprints for belief, and they either build up faith or erode it.
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