Unity in Volatile Times

 

I've been thinking about unity a lot lately, or perhaps disunity is the more correct word. Christians have always had different opinions on some elements of doctrine and practice, hence the emergence of difference denominations. Though hopefully, we agree on core aspects of our faith, often expressed in words such as the Apostle's Creed. 

God also gave us all different spiritual gifts, talents, personalities, and passions to serve Him in different spheres of influence. I think most of us have some idea of what that looks like in a church context, or at least what it should look like. We are all parts of the one body (1 Corinthians 12), we're called to 'make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace' (Ephesians 4:3, NIV) and we're to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). But what does that look like as Christian writers?

I should warn you that this post has more questions than answers. I am genuinely trying to work this out myself and I'd be interested to see how you're navigating this space. So here's my problem.

A Volatile World

In the last six years, I feel like the world has been in more upheaval than it has been for decades, perhaps even since World War II. With that upheaval has come a lot of issues that have polarised people, including those in the Christian community. It seems we all have different views on the COVID crisis, vaccinations in general, the war in the Ukraine, unrest in the Middle East, world politics, the Voice referendum, free speech and a host of other issues. There's nothing wrong with having different opinions. Yet sometimes we act in ways that make an enemy of the person with a different view. I've found myself reacting negatively to some social media posts, and then in turn, harbouring negative feelings towards the person who circulated that post. I know this is not how Christ would want us to behave towards each other, but what is the solution when we feel so strongly about certain issues? 

Separate the Person from the Idea of Action

One way is to remember first that the person is of great value. Afterall, Christ died for them even if we disagree with them. Funny that! He desires that all come to a saving knowledge of Him. However, that doesn't mean we don't challenge their idea or offer alternative viewpoints. Try to remember that it's the idea or opinion we don't agree with, and keep that as the focus rather than personal attacks. And also remember that we are to speak the truth in love, which doesn't always happen as it should within the Christian community.

Look for Common Ground

It might seem that people have very different ideas from us, but if we dig deeper, we can often see that there is some common ground. For example, we could find three Christians who are all concerned about the erosion of family values and want to see families strengthened. Yet those three people might approach that issue in completely different ways. One will run a marriage enrichment course in their church because they believe that a strong marriage is the key to a strong family. Another will be concerned about a particular issue that they feel is undermining family values (e.g., some content in the school curriculum), so they will lobby government, write letters to the editor, get petitions going and so on to try to get change made to that curriculum. Someone else might feel that there aren't enough opportunities for families to come together, so they'll organise community events that are suitable for the whole family. All concerned about the family, but all tackling the issues differently.

So next time it seems like someone has a very different idea to you, try to dig deeper and see what's driving that idea. Ask some questions to try to get behind their reasoning. You might have more in common than you think.

What If You Can't Agree?

Sometimes different ideas are incompatible and you won't be able to find that common ground. That's okay. You have to be true to what you believe God has called you to do. Are you meant to challenge the other person or let it go? (I feel a song coming on!). Are you meant to write about it? If so, how will you do that in a respectful way? Are you teachable and open to the idea that your own ideas might need to be challenged and change as well?

Prayer and Humility

Above all, are we willing to seek God's perspective, humble ourselves and repent where necessary, and write the words God would have us write in these challenging times? As writers, we don't just represent God with our words, but with our lives. We can't divorce what we would put in a book from what we put on Facebook. It's all a witness, whether in a way worthy of Christ or not.

Some Questions

So here are some questions to think about, and I'd love to hear your responses.

• What does it look like to have unity, yet diversity, within Christian writing circles?
• What does it look like to represent Christ as Christian writers at a time when Christians disagree with each other on a lot of topics?
• How can we bring hope to a hurting world when we are hurting as well?

Let's always remember that Jesus is the 'author and perfector of our faith' (Hebrews 12:2, NASB). Whether we write specifically for the Christian market or not, let's remember that we reflect Him in everything we write.

Sources

Featured photo by John Hain on Pixabay. NIV = New International Version and NASB = New American Standard Bible. 

Author Bio

Nola Lorraine has a passion for faith and social justice issues, and loves weaving words that inspire others with courage and hope. Her books include the inspirational historical novel Scattered, the Christian devotional book Comfort Zone, and the Christian charity anthology Glimpses of Light which she co-edited with Jeanette O’Hagan. She also has more than 150 short publications, including fiction, poetry, devotions, true stories, magazine articles and academic papers. She loves sharing the words and stories God impresses on her heart, and prays that He will use them to bless others.

Celebrating the Prince of Peace

 

If you’ve been in church circles for a while, you would have heard Isaiah’s prophecy about the Christ child many times.

‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ (Isaiah 9:6)

The word translated as ‘peace’ in Isaiah 9:6 is ‘shalom’. Jewish people often use it as a greeting, but it has a broader meaning of ‘peace, completeness, welfare, well-being and prosperity’. A real blessing.

Yet many aren’t at peace this Christmas. The war is still going on in Ukraine and there are numerous hotspots around the world where violence and death are daily occurrences. Closer to home, we have just experienced our greatest terrorist attack on Australian soil, with the horrendous mass shootings during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach. Many also experience a lack of peace in their relationships with family, friends and colleagues; while others struggle with internal peace.

Has the Prince of Peace forgotten us? Is He powerless to stop the evil in the world and soothe our souls?

 A resounding, ‘No’! 

He has already won the battle over the powers of darkness and He is still active in our world. He still longs for us to experience His shalom.

Peace with God

First and foremost, Jesus came into the world to seek and save the lost. We were far away from God, but Jesus died in our place as a sacrifice for our sins. If we put our trust in Him, we have peace with God and a new life through Him now and in eternity.

 

Peace in the World

Not many of us are in a position to directly affect world politics or engage in peace talks with feuding nations. However, we have God’s promise that one day there will be peace. In the Good News translation of the Bible, the section from verses 1 to 9 of Isaiah 11 has the subheading ‘The Peaceful Kingdom’. Jesus ‘will rule His people with justice and integrity’, and one day even ‘wolves and sheep will live together in peace’ (verses 5-6).

 

Peace with Others

Jesus has also given us a blueprint for living in peace with others. Confess our sins to one another, seek forgiveness and reconciliation where possible, see others as valuable in the eyes of God and treat them accordingly, serve others’ interests rather than our own, and so much more. We often fail, and sometimes the other person won’t budge, but their reaction is between them and God. As Paul urges us in Romans 12:18: ‘If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone’.

 

Peace Within Ourselves

When we look at the challenges we’re facing or consider the troubles in the world around us, it’s not easy to feel at peace. But the good news is that we don’t have to face our anxieties or fears by ourselves. Jesus wants us to have peace and He has given His Holy Spirit to help us. 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27). 

It is not what the world views as peace. It is God’s peace—a peace that is beyond our human understanding (Philippians 4:7).

Final Thoughts

As writers, we have a unique opportunity to use our words to spread the message of peace and reconciliation that comes through our Lord Jesus Christ. You might like to pray through the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi, which reminds us that we are God's instruments; or offer God another prayer from your heart. May Jesus empower us with His Holy Spirit so we can partner with Him in bringing hope and healing to a hurting world. This Christmas, let's be channels of His peace as we celebrate the birth of our precious Saviour—the Prince of Peace.

 

 Sources

Main photo by Congerdesign on Pixabay. Author photo by Wayne Logan from Encouraging Photos.

Definition of  'shalom' from Lexical study on Bible Hub.

All scriptures taken from the New International Version of the Bible unless otherwise stated.

Author Bio

Nola Lorraine has a passion for faith and social justice issues, and loves weaving words that inspire others with courage and hope. Her books include the inspirational historical novel Scattered, the Christian devotional book Comfort Zone, and the Christian charity anthology Glimpses of Light which she co-edited with Jeanette O’Hagan. She also has more than 150 short publications, including fiction, poetry, devotions, true stories, magazine articles and academic papers. She loves sharing the words and stories God impresses on her heart, and prays that He will use them to bless others.

 

SUSTAINING YOUR CREATIVITY

 

STRATEGIC RESET

(REST)

Have you sometimes felt like your writing is simply just flowing out of you and then suddenly there is a blockage? Or worse: perhaps your mind has been overflowing with ideas; you have been brimming with enthusiasm and confidence, you have been on a roll, writing consistently every day, passionately intent with your craft, until one day, you don’t want to do anything even remotely creative? You can’t even lift your pen, or stylus, or turn on your computer or sit at the typewriter. Loss of your creative energy might be accompanied by anxiety, or a feeling of being overwhelmed, you may be physically and emotionally fatigued, this all might be indicative of creative or personal burnout.

Over the years in my role as a Chaplain and supporting workers in a variety of industries I have witnessed people who have been incredibly talented, gifted, and passionate in their service simply stop.

 Burnt out. 

This has been particularly so for people who have been serving in humanitarian, caring, ministry, compassionate helping roles (such as the demand on Missionaries serving in intense cross-cultural contexts) who sometimes have expectations that may be more than a person can reasonably deliver without personal consequences. For some this sadly resulted in them not being able to sustain their sense of call for the long haul. 

In supporting them and helping them recover I have learnt some valuable skills to help support longevity of service that may be helpful to sustain your creativity for the long term.

There is a tension between our living and doing and service and sacrifice and our living in a state of rest and flourishing and sustained efficacy. This is highlighted when we consider scriptures such as Paul’s call to the Romans to be “living sacrifices” (Romans 12) and in 2 Timothy 2 to when he entreats Timothy to join him in suffering as a soldier, to compete diligently like an athlete, and to work hard like a farmer. Paul seems to be reinforcing the words of Jesus about “Dying to self” (John 12:23-25).

And yet in balance to this Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30 :

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

The message version puts it this way:

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

We are finite beings, so we need to place limits on how we expend our time and energies. Even Jesus, had time to reset; he walked away from the crowds that were thronging to him to be healed in order to spend time with his Father and be refreshed, revitalized, and recharged (Luke 5:15–16).

The point is that sometimes we overextend ourselves in battles that may not be ours. We might struggle through difficult writing projects that may not be our fight to bear. We may be running ahead of or writing beyond our training and ability. We may be trying to farm and write in fields outside of seasons that would bring flourishing for ourselves and those we minister with and for.

Writers are sometimes like athletes. Sometimes we are sprint runners, like when an article we are writing has a deadline. Sometimes we are marathon runners, like when we are working on deep-dive long term stories. In both athletic disciplines runners rest after a big event.   

In military contexts it is a recognised necessity that soldiers require a regular “reset" to prepare for future battles. They restore their readiness to serve through multi-faceted processes that include repairing and replacing equipment, retraining, and most crucially addressing their well-being as soldiers and care for their families. These processes ensure that military units can perform their duties effectively in their next active service. We would do well to consider some of the wisdom in resetting ourselves too.

To sustain our creativity for the long-haul we need to learn the art of the reset. We simply need to apply some mercy for ourselves. When we are hitting those creative blockages, losing our flow, getting frustrated, flustered and fearful of no productivity ‘resetting’ is essential. We need to allow ourselves to stop, rest and be refreshed in preparation for redeployment at our peak performance.

As writers, it is impossible to make art every single day. Sometimes you have moments of “I can’t do this anymore”. Don’t force yourself to be creative when you aren’t in the right headspace or heart space. Remember, you get tired, disinterested, and burnout for a reason — you need rest.  

What are you doing to reset yourself? 

Make a list of what it would mean for you to authentically take a rest and revive.  

Here are some ideas to  help you get started resetting yourself: 

Take some well-earned naps, get into some light exercise, make time for some quiet prayer, do something else that you love that you have been putting off, cook a hearty meal and enjoy it without rushing, spend some quality time with family and friends, take a vacation, take a walk in nature, or do whatever helps you feel at peace.

Take time to talk to someone you trust who will help you to reset yourself by helping you stay true to your reset plans and journeying with you in gentle accountability and encouragement.   

Ultimately, we need a constant reminder to come back to our essentials in Jesus: a rest for our souls, burdens that won’t break us, and learning His rhythms of Grace (Matthew 11:28-30).   

We want you here for the long run.

 I think Jesus does too.

Shalom.

Follow that Shepherd by Anusha Atukorala

I've been re-reading the Christmas narrative and studying it over the last few weeks. What a compelling story! Can you imagine the thrill in the heavenly realms as God and the angels prepared for the birth of the Son of God? Picture the stage being set. Lights out. A flickering lamp in a stable. The innkeeper’s wife scurries around with hot water and swaddling clothes. Joseph paces outside, along the cobbled path, his heart pounding. A donkey brays, loud and harsh in the still night air. Stars come out one by one; winds murmur in the trees. Mary writhes in agony, sweat pouring down her sweet face. And then … and then … we hear a wail, a baby’s cry. In an instant, God has entered our world.

Joseph gently wipes the sweat off Mary’s face. She smiles at him, then gazes at her infant, mesmerised. He is the most beautiful baby in the world. His name is Jesus. A short distance away, shepherds are keeping watch over their sheep. A bright light dazzles. Abel jumps out of his skin … almost. Noah’s mouth opens wide but no sound comes out. Adam’s hand clutches his long beard. He is staring wide-eyed at the scene unfolding before them. Angels—a mighty host of of them are singing in the heavenly realms. The shepherds move back in fear. But an angel speaks. “Don’t be afraid.” His voice is clear, low, melodious. “For I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all people. Unto you is born this day a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord”.

Wouldn’t you like to have been there?

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending an Elton John concert. It was a fabulous night and the music was full, rich and intoxicating. But an hour before the event, as we stood outside, waiting for the doors of the Entertainment Centre to be opened, three people ranted at us, placards in hand, belting out a gospel message. But oh! It annoyed me immensely and made my blood boil. I wanted to march up to them and ask them to shut up. I prayed for the listeners that they would find God in spite of what was being shared. It shocked me that Christians could sound as they did. A good message but mouthed in the worst possible manner. Enough to put a saint off!

As a writer, I too need to be careful about how I come across to my readers. Those defenders of the gospel drew people away from God rather than towards Him. Did they glorify God? Hardly. When I read Luke’s gospel last week, I found some helpful pointers for my writing journey (chapter 2:15-20) from what happened that Christmas night.

1. The shepherds were faithful to their calling, doing what they should be doing, so the angels knew where to locate them. What about me? Am I doing today what He asked of me? Am I in the right place so I can be found by Him?
2. They listened to the Angels’ message. Am I hearing God about my writing?
3. They obeyed. They took the angel’s word seriously. Have I obeyed Him this year in my writing journey? What about the year ahead? What does he require of me?
4. They spread the word. I found it interesting that the angels didn’t ask them to share the good news. All they were told to do was to go and find baby Jesus, the Saviour of the world. But when they did, they couldn’t stop themselves from sharing. It was an overflow of the joy of meeting Jesus. Have I met with Jesus lately? Am I consumed with the desire to use my writing and my life to share God’s truth in the genre He’s called me to write?
5. All who heard the shepherds were amazed. Have people been smitten by God through my writing? Have they discovered who He is because of what I write?
6. The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Is praise a big part of my life? Do I glorify God through my life and through my writing?
7. And then there was Mary. She pondered over all she heard and treasured it in her heart. How much do I ponder over the God’s truths? Do I treasure it? How often do I marvel over the Good News? Does it change my life?

The shepherds were unschooled men. But that didn’t prevent them sharing the Good News far and wide. We read in Luke’s gospel that they discovered the stable scene just as it was told them. And that is our starting point too. The faithfulness of God. He who calls us can be wholly trusted. This Christmas let’s follow the shepherds in how they responded to God’s call. And don’t forget we have a Good Shepherd who has laid down his life for us. Let us follow Him. He came that the world may be drawn back to God.

Warmest greetings to you all for a very Blessed Christmas!

Anusha Atukorala has two places she calls home, the beautiful island of Sri Lanka, and this very special land Down Under. She loves writing in any form, be it creative writing, composing songs and poetry, or simply emailing family and friends. She also enjoys reading, walking, singing, enjoying the beauty of God’s creation, making friends and sharing the love of Jesus. Her first book, 'Enjoying the Journey' is a collection of 75 little stories of God's reality in every day life. Do drop in at her website to say G’day. She’ll be very happy to see you. Dancing in the Rain

Strength and Dignity

Recently I’ve been preparing to speak to a women’s group about the woman of Proverbs 31, a woman who was clothed with strength and dignity. This passage made me think about common images of women today, with all our rights, demands, opportunities and modern ideals, which have many running around like mad women in a tizz with so much to do and never enough time. This is more often an image of the harried, stressed and busy - not a good look; at best tough and successful in worldly terms, but far from the image of strength and dignity.                                                                          

I believe there’s a danger for us, even as writers, to have such a tight schedule of writing, editing, promoting, selling, speaking, along with all the other commitments of our lives, that we can end up being seen by others as overwrought, frustrated and tired.

The difference between a woman of today and the Proverbs 31 woman; this woman who was so praised, and called blessed and a blessing by children and husband, had nothing to do with being rich, nor with a botoxed face and small waist. And it wasn’t that this ancient woman had little to do. She was incredibly productive, professional and acclaimed.

Still, she was not so busy from daylight to dawn that she had no time to stop and speak words of wisdom or kindness, and to pay loving attention to her family.  She seemed to go about her days, weeks and years, with poise, elegance, serenity and planned purpose.

This passage again brought home to me the valuable lessons that we can learn from the past, and especially from the stories and images from scripture.  It also brought to mind an old version of the 23^rd Psalm that I think says it all.

The Lord is my pace-setter, I shall not rush. He makes me to stop and rest for quiet intervals. He provides me with images of stillness which restore my serenity. He leads me in the way of efficiency through calmness of mind and his guidance is peace.                                                                                                                             Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day I will not fret, for His presence is here. His timelessness, his all-importance will keep me in balance.                                                                                                                        He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of activity by anointing my mind with his oils of tranquility, my cup of joyous energy overflows.   

 Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours and I shall walk in the pace of my Lord and dwell in His house forever.    

Toki Miyashina, Psalm 23 for Busy people

Not that the original isn’t also very beautiful, but what an appropriate message for us in the 21^st Century!  

Carol Preston 

www.carolpreston.com.au

www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston