Naturally, Dr. Reynolds offers a unique and insightful perspective:
We are people of the Book. We cannot accept a post-literate culture
anymore than we leave pre-literate cultures alone. We must teach all God's
people to read. Media other than books cannot contain arguments. Media other
than books cannot transmit the kind of information on which modern science and
culture is based. If we allow evangelical young people to stop reading, we doom
them to follow the readers. On the other hand, if we keep reading in high
numbers and secularists stop, they may be trendy, but we will end up with all
the money and power. It is an old lesson.
Making a new translation with hip new ads is easier than teaching kids
to read. It is cheaper than supporting our local public school literacy
programs. It is simpler than opening reading classes, poorly attended at best,
for those students we can help escape post-literacy. But ask yourself this: what
is a more Christian activity than teaching a young man or woman to read God's
Word?