Should Christians Read Secular Books?

Should Christians Read Secular Stuff? 
 
 
Last week a potential writing client emailed me to tell me I’m not the ghostwriter for her because she can tell from my newsletters that I read too many secular books. 
 
That is fair. She’d like to find someone who only reads the Bible, Christian books (the right ones), and just listens to the Holy Spirit. 
 
I do those things, but I also read secular books, because I believe all truth is God’s truth, and I (believe that I) am able to read with a biblical lense under the influence of the Holy Spirit. 
 
But it’s fair for her to disagree and to hire whoever she wants. It’s fair for her to say I’m being influenced by Satan. She has a right to her opinion. I’ll even consider it in prayer.
 
(The only thing that kinda hurt my feelings was when she said she could tell by my picture that I was like that. Ouch! I need to get a more spiritual looking headshot for my website!)
 
But here’s a quick defense for those of you who wonder if it’s okay to read about stuff besides the Bible. This stuff would include: 
 
Psychology
Physics
Math
Marketing
Business
Literary criticism 
Leadership
Farming 
Language 
Philosophy
Economics 
Novels (of course)
 
I name these only because these are the kinds of books I read in addition to the Bible and Christian books. 
 
What don’t I read? I’ll skip stuff that is impure sexually, but just about nothing else is off limits. I read lots of things I know I disagree with, because it helps me build a solid foundation of thought under what I do agree with. Or…it helps me see where I was wrong even. 
 
Here are 3 steps you can follow if you want to be careful: 
 

1. Seek Wisdom and Knowledge - Approach secular books with a desire to grow in understanding and discern truth. 
   • Proverbs 4:7 – “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
   • Romans 1:20: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”

 

2. Evaluate Content Through a Biblical Lens - Compare the book’s ideas to Scripture, affirming what aligns with truth and rejecting what contradicts it. 
   • 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 – “Test everything. Hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”

 

3. Guard Your Heart and Mind - Focus on what is pure and uplifting, avoiding content that corrupts or leads to sin. 
   • Philippians 4:8 – “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right…think about such things.”

 
Don’t consider this post a response to the potential client above; I don’t know her well enough to even know for sure what she meant. But I’m curious to know some of your thoughts on this. Do you read outside the Bible and Bible-based books? 
 
Why or why not? 
 
And how do you go about it? Any rules for yourself?