On a long drive down I-5, my husband and I binged on podcasts to pass the time. (One can only count cows for so long.) One podcast in particular got me thinking.

Content Classification System

In his episode "On Ultra-processed Content," Cal Newport made an analogy between ultra-processed foods and ultra-processed media content. He used a new food classification system to create his own media content classification system for the purpose of framing his own healthy media consumption plan.

In summary, the plan looks like this.

Minimally-processed whole foods, such as produce, are analogous to text-based media, such as books and articles. These are slow reads, written in prose, with complete paragraphs and correct grammar. Writing that makes you think. "As with whole foods, consuming writing tends to make us feel better, and we rarely hear concerns about reading too much."

Moderately-processed food, such as white bread, dry pasta, and canned soups, is analogous to electronic mass media, such as radio, television, podcasts, and newsletters. "The content itself can be valuable, but often times it’s not, and the ease of its delivery requires vigilance to protect against over-consumption."

Ultra-processed foods, such as lab-processed junk food (breaking down cheap stock foods and recombining them to be hyper-palatable), is analogous to social media. "The users of social media platforms simulate something like the food scientist’s ability to break down corn and reconstitute it into a hyper-palatable edible food-like substances. What is a TikTok dance mash-up if not a digital Dorito?"

Scripture Content Classification System

A similar connection can be made between how scripture and theological texts are processed and consumed.

Let’s categorize the three types of theological "food" groups.

Minimally-processed theology. This includes whole chapters of the Bible and books written by theologians. They are slow to digest and rich in spiritual nutrition.

Moderately-processed theology. This category is made up of sermons and commentaries. A carefully studied and delivered sermon will take a difficult passage of scripture or doctrine and explain it in a way that is easier to understand. Consequently, the consumption is more pleasurable. In this way, we must be careful not to over-consume. Listening to sermon podcasts non-stop is probably not the best way to feed our souls.

Ultra-processed theology. This category includes social media memes, short devotional collections, and YouTube videos. The danger with these texts is that we can feel spiritually filled while our souls are starving for nutrients necessary for healthy spiritual living. With ultra-processed theology, we are taking in just what feels good, not what is good for our bodies, minds, and souls.

To be clear, I am not saying devotionals are bad, never read them. (I write them, so that would be rather conflicting!) I am saying that we should fill our spiritual plates in proportion to what is good for us: more Bible reading and less social media memes, even theologically correct ones.

Three Types of Reading

Another way to think of this is how Tim Challies suggests we read, in general.  He defines three types of reading:

Books to Read Slowly - Linger over them. Ponder. Write in the margins. Apply them to life.

Books to Read Quickly - Skim for nuggets. "These are the books that may have a good bit of value, but they are either not as good as some of the books you have already labored over or they fall into a category that is already plenty familiar to you."

Books to Read for Fun - Be entertained.

Like the spiritual plate analogy above, Challies recommends all three types of reading, but in proportion. "I have often found that people who struggle to read tend to mix these three categories or neglect the second. They assume that every book is worth the same amount of effort and then linger over books that aren’t worth lingering over. They often also fail to read for the simple pleasure of reading—to find books that require little of their minds and can be read for the sheer delight of reading."

In terms of scripture reading, there is room for all three types of reading.

Make Wise Choices

My encouragement is to be mindful of what you are reading and why. Just like your dinner plate, you are the one who controls how much to serve yourself.  Make wise choices.

Tell me what you’re reading and which category it falls into. Share in the Comments below so we can add something new to our TBR list.

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