Isn't it funny how folks have selective hearing? I could tell my grandchildren, "Pick up your toys," and it isn't as well recieved as "Lets go swimming!" Sometimes, they simply pretend they didn't hear me.
To be honest, I find myself favoring what is more pleasing too, but not to the point where I am completely irresponsible, reckless, and distort the truth to have my own way. Folks when that happens it becomes a huge problem, because you are lieing to others as well yourself, and it could very easily reach the point where you start to believe your own lies.
Is this very spirit invading the church?
Revelation 3:14-22 "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God; I know thy works, that thou are neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of My mouth.
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:"
Sometimes being a witness to alledged Christians could be more of a challenge than to speak to a person who blantly mocks the Bible. Eventually a very heavy spirit of oppression begins to weigh you down. It's as if you're exhausted from shadow boxing, hitting something over and over and never penatrating. Soon you feel the dangers of burn out. Your joy is gone, and frustration has started to root itself. Perhaps thats why we read in Acts 13:51-52 "So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." NIV
I have found out the hard way, that to live the abundant life, rich in the full council God, we need to listen to Luke, Matthew and Mark. (Luke 9:5-6) "If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere." NIV
I am not about to compromise my faith or principles to be popular. I'm not a preacher, I'm a fiction writer who makes it real. My novel The Third Power, is different than most christian novels. It delves deep into a psycopaths mind. Violence is what it is, and can't be painted with a white brush. Someone once said "if the Bible were to be written as a graphic novel most Christian publishers would reject it.
To reach the lost, you go to the trenches, you write what they read, weaving in the Gospel message. To burn out, you shadow box with folks who believe portions of the Bible and deny the rest.
Matthew 10:8 came to mind.
ReplyDeleteHeal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
You go, Girl! I love the changes on the blog. ;)
Diane,
ReplyDeletethis really hit home with me. When I am faced with nominal Christians who are opposed to God's Word, I become very discouraged and sad.
I have felt so unsettled because we couldn't be unified in the Lord's ways. But God gives us a way out - we tried, now move on, instead of beating our heads against brick walls and hardened hearts. Thanks for writing about this.
Hi Diane. I justed stopped by your site and loved what this post had to say. I'm reading between the lines, but guessing you've had some criticism from Christians about your work. I'm in the middle of a barrage of nasty notes from a column I wrote for our local paper. I'm stunned at the intensity and hatred people can muster up about something that truly (in a Big Picture perspective) isn't that important...certainly not so much that they need to be rude and disparaging.
ReplyDeletePer your book: I'm going to read your work as soon as possible. There are so many mediocre Christian novels (writers) out there. Why would anyone choose that over an excellent secular writer? If you do excellent work as a Believer, you'll reach your target with the message they need to get...in a way they'll understand. Keep writing and we'll both shake the dust off!
Diane Markins
Thanks everyone! Virgina, Janet, and Diane I appreciate your comments. The biggest threat to a christian is allowing opposition to fester into bitterness. It’s like there is a back door that is left open, and in slide the memories of hurtful things that were said, and downright lies told against your character. It took me a while of wrestling with the mentality of people who are not at the same spiritual place. Walk away, shake the dust off, do not give them another thought.
ReplyDelete