Literal GUIDE Publishers

We’ve shared many writing tips with you because we want your work to be rich, robust, and beautifully crafted.

But remember: none of our tips are compulsory.
If something doesn’t resonate with you, simply ignore it.
We have no influence on your score, and our suggestions do not determine how the judges will grade your work.

Here is another powerful example of how some pastors unintentionally (or deliberately) discourage reading and critical thinking:

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How Pastors Deter Reading: A Story of Tunde

Tunde started reading books on finance, personal growth, and personal responsibility.
Slowly, his mindset began to shift.
He stopped blaming demons for what were clearly avoidable mistakes.

As he read more, he discovered the truth about his unemployment:

It wasn’t caused by “spiritual obstruction.”

It was the reality of Nigeria’s shrinking private sector, which produces far fewer jobs than the number of graduates.

Many available roles required skills he didn’t have—data analysis, spreadsheets, marketing abilities, even driving skills.

He had a degree in Political Science but no employable skill set.

He realised that spending one month “on the mountain” praying for breakthrough was an unproductive detour.
If he wanted to be employable, he needed skills, not spiritual theatrics.
He could learn something valuable, or even start a business and create opportunities for others.

The turning point came when he refused the pastor’s instruction to sow a “prophetic seed” to secure a job.
The pastor frowned and said:

> “You’re becoming too intelligent for your own good.”

But Tunde eventually got a job—not through prophecy, but through preparation.
Through skill.
Through knowledge.

The truth is simple:
Some pastors fear intelligent members because intelligence reduces their profit.

Reading liberates.
An informed mind is harder to manipulate.