Scribbling Saturday: New First Officer and the Crew of The Kestrel

So, in recent weeks I've talked about editing my first Flight of the Kestrel novel. It has been edited a few times already and improved a whole lot, but over the years I have improved a whole lot too. Whether it's enough to make me a decent science fiction novelist remains to be seen, but I have learned enough to look at this novel with fresh eyes and see the holes in it.

For example, let me set the scene with this excerpt:
As he left the meeting, Martin's head was reeling. Everything was happening so fast, and he was missing a First Officer. There were so many things to arrange. For example, if the other races were going to send extra crew, where were they going to put them? He was so absorbed, that he almost bumped into a figure coming the other way.
"Parks! They let you come!"
"Couldn't keep me down once I heard. How did you swing it?"
Martin grabbed him by the arm. "We'll talk later, right now there is so much to do." He paused in the process of dragging him along. "Am I glad you're here."
As they walked away, they made a mismatched couple. Martin was of average build, with brown hair, rather unremarkable. Nathaniel Parks was tall and wiry, and blond. But despite the difference in their appearance, they were very good friends.
- - - - - - - - - -
Joseph Martin is the captain of The Kestrel and he has just been sent on an urgent mission. The first thing Parks has to do is to assign quarters for all the extra crew from the other races, and since The Kestrel is a small ship with a crew of 11, 6 extra crew is going to be quite a squeeze. So his introduction to the rest of the crew is to upset them all. He tells Martin that he intends to have a quiet chat with each crew member to get to know them all, but here's the problem: When?

In the rest of the novel, I can't find a place to put these conversations without breaking the flow, and although they will be a good place for some 'show, don't tell' about these characters, I don't know what to say. It's driving me mad!

I don't know why I don't just delete the whole thing. Well, I do. It's because I'm a writer.

Thinking Thursday: Come Let Us Reason Together

The need for thinking Christians.

Isaiah spoke God's words to Israel: "Come now, let us reason together" (Isa.1:18), and those words still apply today. Although becoming a Christian requires faith, Christianity itself is logical and can be reasoned through. Just because you believe, it doesn't mean that you can stop thinking about what you believe and why. Just because you are saved, doesn't mean that you are not supposed to do or learn anything further.

After his resurrection, Jesus gave the great commission: "Go and make disciples of all nations." (Matt.28:19). He expects us all to tell people the good news of the gospel. How can you preach the gospel if you cannot explain it? How can you stand up for your faith unless you have studied it and know which scriptures apply in each case?

Many times I see examples of Christians living by superstition, or showing reactions which are not thought through. Knee-jerk reactions e.g. it's dangerous to have JWs in the house or to read cult literature; snap judgements based on minimal information e.g. the Harry Potter books are bad because they have magic, the Shadowmancer book is good because it has Christian imagery and was written by a vicar. All of these examples are basically not true, but have to be thought through in depth and in the light of scripture.

It is dangerous to have JWs in your house if you are a weak and uninformed Christian who may be confused or led astray by them. It is not dangerous as such, as they will not put an evil influence over your house just by being there. To quote Paul, "How can they hear without someone preaching to them?" (Rom.10:14). The secret is to get better informed about the issues they will raise and to know what the Bible says about them. Also take note of what the Bible says about treating people with love. Then invite them into your home, show them love, and gently help them to see the truth from the Bible.

I know of a Christian young woman who had not been to church for some time. In an attempt to reach out to her and her boyfriend, her former youth leader invited them to tea with her family. Then she and her husband found out that the boyfriend's mother was a pagan, and he had dabbled in it himself. The invitation was immediately withdrawn because they felt that their children would not be safe with him in the house. They were afraid of the influence of paganism coming into their home. What kind of witness is that? Family and friends now have to work to undo the damage.

The same applies to reading cult literature. It does not have an evil spirit, it will not affect you spiritually, unless you allow it to. If you are informed and know how to reason through the faith issues, reading cult literature will help you to understand them and be prepared to show them the errors of their faith. It will also challenge you to deal with their misuse of scripture and their challenges to your faith. I would not recommend it for most people, simply because there are better books to read and better things to do with your time. But used wisely, it can be a growing experience.

Harry Potter does have magic in it and is about wizards, but it is make-believe. Most children know that. Teach your children to reason things out and they can enjoy the book for its adventure and suspense and the lessons it teaches about loyalty and standing up for the truth. But only if they can understand it on that level.

I once had correspondence with a Christian lady who was unhappy about me criticising what she called a 'Christian book' - Shadowmancer. It was written by a vicar and contains Christian imagery, but it is far from Christian - as a careful reading will show. Also, further investigation into Taylor, the author, shows that he is increasingly involved in the New Age. I would not recommend it except as entertainment - again, for those with their eyes open, not to be misled.

Peter said, ''Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.'' (1 Pet.1:15). It is not enough to say, ''My hope is in Jesus.'' You need to be able to explain and reason through your own faith. Sermons and Bible studies in church are designed for this and there are many good books, magazine articles and tapes which can help you. But again you must be careful to be critically alert. ''So that you may be able to discern what is best.'' (Philip.1:10).

You cannot live in a vacuum; there are influences all around you. If you do not read, you are still influenced by sermons and the beliefs of those around you in church. You cannot rely on others to always give you correct doctrine. You must check it out for yourself. Even if it is right, you will learn and remember it better if you study it out. Be like the Bereans: ''for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.'' (Acts 17:11), Come, let us reason together.

Blinded by the Light 13 Scripture Twisting - The Solution

It is vital that we use sound principles in our attempts to understand the Bible.

• Look at each scripture, not only in the context of the immediate surrounding verses, but of the book from which it comes, and the teaching of the Bible as a whole. For example, James 2:14-26 appears to teach salvation by works. However, this does not fit with the rest of the New Testament, which clearly teaches "not by works, so that no-one can boast" (Eph.2:9). In the past it was suggested that James and Paul disagreed with one another, and that the book of James should not even be in the Bible! However, a closer reading of the passage shows that James is asking "Can such faith save him?" As shown earlier, James is saying that the works are produced by the kind of faith which saves.

• Consider whether this is a piece of advice for a specific situation or time, or whether it can be applied in a wider context and is still relevant today. For example, Paul's advice to slaves and masters (Eph.6:5-9, Col.3:22-4:1). Such teaching does not condone slavery, but was given by God as practical ways of dealing with the realities of the day.

• Consider the original audience for the scripture. Sometimes we have to view scripture through the culture of its time, for example the passage in 1 Cor.11:5-6 about women covering their hair and not shaving their heads. In the culture of the time, uncovered hair was a sign of loose morals in a woman, and a woman's head was shaved because she had either been publicly disgraced or was in rebellion against her husband. These things do not apply today in our culture, although the underlying ideas about modesty and marriage do.

We need to be familiar with scripture and the truths of the gospel which it teaches. This will enable us to be alert to teaching which is suspect, and to be able to check out anything which does not ring true.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Tim.2:15)

Previous posts in this series:

Introduction
Legalism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Magic Formulas: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Answers to Everything: The Truth,The Trap, The Solution
Scripture Twisting: The Truth, The Trap
Further posts to come in this series:
Superstition: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Elitism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
The Need to See: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Conclusion

Blinded by the Light 12 Scripture Twisting - The Trap

[Paul's] letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. (2 Peter 2:16-17 RSV)

The scriptures can be twisted in many ways. The cults do it deliberately in order to use the authority of the Bible to reinforce their claims. But even Christians can fall into the trap of misunderstanding or reading things into the scriptures that are not really there. Many errors have crept into the church in the past because of this. For example, it took Luther to make a stand before the teaching of grace was finally accepted, even though it seems plain to us today.

By ignoring context and picking up bits of scripture, it is possible to prove almost anything from the Bible. For example, “There is no God.” (Ps.14:1).

Here are just a few of the ways in which scripture can be twisted:

1. Ignoring context

This is especially dangerous in the practice of opening the Bible at random and lighting on a verse for guidance, but it can also appear to support teaching which is incorrect. For example:

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matt.18:21-22).

This verse has been used to prevent people from speaking out when they are being hurt or misused by other Christians, or even their leaders. They are accused of having an unforgiving spirit and made to feel guilty because they can't or won't forgive.

Looking at the context of this passage, the chapter begins with the disciples' question, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” and ends with the parable of the unforgiving servant. Because of his unforgiveness, the king “handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.” The final verse contains Jesus' warning, “So shall my heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother, from your heart.”

Peter is searching for a formula for how to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, but once again, as in so many places in scripture, Jesus points our that God's standards are beyond our reach. It is not a question of how many times we forgive, but the kind of forgiveness. He who cannot forgive from the heart will find himself handed over to the torturers.

Such forgivemess is beyond us, in truth. It is only when we realise our inadequacy that we can turn to the source of our righteousness for the strength to obey. Our only hope is in God's mercy. The emphasis is on integrity, purity of heart, rather than covering up.

It is also interesting to note that in Luke 17:3 we are told “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents forgive him.” Is this saying that our forgiveness should be conditional? Does God forgive those who do not repent? Let us at least say that releasing someone from our vengeance does not mean that we should trust them or associate with them again or associate with them again, certainly does not mean that we should keep quiet about sin.

2. Putting together separate scriptures which do not belong.

For example: 1 Cor.15:31 "I die daily" and Matt.16:24 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.'"

These verses are used on the subject of self-denial. They are used to say that we must do away with every thought for ourselves and shoulder the burdens of what God wants us to do. This can lead away from grace and back to works.

1 Cor.15:31 is in the context of a discussion on the resurrection, not self-denial. Having established the truth of the resurrection, Paul asks "why do we endanger ourselves every hour?", and he ends the chapter with the exhortation "stand firm. Let nothing move you." Paul is saying that because of his confidence in being raised from the dead he feels free to put his life at risk for the sake of the gospel.

In Matt.16:24 the cross we must take up is the cross of Christ.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it... Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt.16:25,26)

There is no service or sacrifice we can give that will merit us anything in seeking salvation. Self-denial, if you want to call it that, is denying that there is anything that we ourselves can do to merit eternal life, and looking to Christ.

Not only do these verses not teach what they are being used for, but they are not about the same subject.

Illustrating points 1 & 2 together is the amusing story of the lady who opened her Bible at random for guidance and came upon the verse "And Judas went out and hanged himself." (Matt.27:5). Finding this unhelpful she tried again, and found "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:37). Such are the dangers of ignoring context and putting together scriptures which do not belong!

3. Misquotation

Especially when we quote from memory, it is easy to be inaccurate. A classic misquotation is "Money is the root of all evil." The actual verse says "For the love of money..." (1 Tim.6:10). This is not as harmless as you might think. It would make quite a sermon on the value of poverty, particularly if the object was to persuade you to give up all your evil money to the speaker's church or pet cause!

4. Selective attention to scripture

Choosing the parts that fit our way of thinking without reference to the whole message. This is very similar to ignoring context, but on a wider scale. Whole theologies can be built on a range of scriptures which sound very plausible when you are listening to the sermon, but do not check out with the wider message of the books from which they come, or indeed with the Bible as a whole.

For example I once heard a well-respected Christian leader quote "All these people were still living by faith when they died" (Heb 11:13), and use to teach that if we do not test our faith every day we could find we were saved yesterday but not today. The verse continues "They did not receive the things promised, they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance." The writer to the Hebrews is saying that they trusted God, even though they had not seen their salvation. That is why they were still living by faith, not for fear of losing their salvation.

This is a technique known as proof-texting, which is forming an opinion in your own mind and then looking for a scripture to back up what you have already decided. This is very dangerous and cultic thinking. The correct approach is to come to scripture with an open mind, research all that it has to say on the subject, and then reason out what the message is, even if we do not like the answer.

Previous posts in this series:

Introduction
Legalism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Magic Formulas: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Answers to Everything: The Truth,The Trap, The Solution
Scripture Twisting: The Truth
Further posts to come in this series:
Scripture Twisting: The Trap, The Solution
Superstition: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Elitism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
The Need to See: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Conclusion

Blinded by the Light 11 Scripture Twisting - The Truth

As a Christian the Bible means a lot to me. It has been my companion for years. I have learned that its words are God's Word, its commands his will, its perspective on life the only true one. Of course, it has puzzled me with its enigmas and the depth of its insight. I am often frustrated by what I believe God is demanding of me through the words on its pages. it encourages me, but it breaks me. It thrills me and it frightens me.

“But one thing it does not do: it does not come to me in such a way that I can pick and choose what to hold as true or false. As a Christian I find myself under its authority.” (Scripture Twisting by James W. Sire, p.10)

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim.3:16-17)

Jesus told his followers to search the scriptures, and this is a key element in the life of a Christian. Within their pages is the word of God and the truths of the gospel. But the Bible is not like an instruction manual, with everything set out plainly in logical order. We must be careful in the way we interpret what we read.

Previous posts in this series:

Introduction
Legalism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Magic Formulas: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Answers to Everything: The Truth,The Trap, The Solution
Further posts to come in this series:
Scripture Twisting: The Trap, The Solution
Superstition: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Elitism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
The Need to See: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Conclusion