Jude wrote a compelling appeal in the Bible to Christians that stands the test of time and has significant application to us today.
I am penning these words to my fellow in-Christ siblings who write, in order to stir us up toward love and good deeds! (Heb. 10:24) Jude’s appeal not only has amazing application to every believer in Christ for all of life, but can be equally applied to our writings. Why? Because our stories stem from who we are in Christ and ought to be governed by how the Spirit-filled life is lived.
I hope and pray that we will listen, that we will respond to the Spirit, that a renewed generation of Christians will turn their hearts to pen stories with God!
Jude’s first appeal is convicting and glorious. “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith, which was once for all entrusted to the saints.” (Jude vs. 2-3)
Yet, why must we contend?
“Because certain men, whose condemnation was written about long ago, have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who exchange the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ, our only Sovereign and Lord.” (Jude vs. 4-5)
Just as it was in the days of Jude, I see men and women secretly slipping in among Christians and deceiving them in the arena of writing. These people – whether or not they profess to be Christians – have distorted the message of faith and left a godless standard of what is “good” in Christian fiction.
You see, the marked difference of Christian fiction is that the stories are penned from relationship and identity in Christ.
Stories like the works of J.K. Rowling, Suzanne Collins, and others weren’t written in Christ. The test is to compare the innards of the story with the standard of the Bible. You will not find God or His precepts in Harry Potter. Why? Because the author who wrote it did not care to have God in her story. By her very words, she denied the Sovereign Lord.
However, these written works, praised for their literary prose and professionalism, have put forth a standard of writing even among Christian circles. Christians have taken upon themselves this mantle – not only to read works that are evil, but to pen their own stories to fit the ideal displayed there.
Perhaps without even realizing it, the thoughts progress: this is what the world reads – this is how we reach them – this is what writing is like – this is what makes an award-winning author.
The deceit lies in the standard.
For the world, it appears to center on the fundamental and stylistic accolades. Plot, characters, emotion, premise, voice. However, what truly lies underneath is the devil’s standard of lies, deceit, and destruction. A strategy of spiritual warfare to gain access to your mind through the gift of imagination, distorting it, so that the godless agenda that leads to death might be further planted.
Listen to me! There is a spiritual war going on, and the enemy wants to take ground that he has no right to occupy. Christians are born of the Spirit of God, rescued from the dominion of darkness, and bought with the precious blood of Christ. We belong to God. (John 3:5,8; Colossians 1:13-14; Revelation 5:9; Romans 14:8.)
For Satan to gain any ground in your mind, you must give it to him.
Romans 6:13a says, “Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness.”
By reading a book that denies the Sovereign Lord through its words (whether that be foul language, misuse of His name, preaching false doctrine, sorcery, or any other wicked thing), we offer ourselves to be instruments of wickedness.
The mind is powerful. Who you are and the knowledge you have is combined into the marvel of your created mind. That is why Paul says in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
The mind is the way to your heart. What you think directs what you believe. Ever notice how, after reading a book they like, a person will talk about it, praise the author, buy more books in the same series or by the same author, collect the merch, and attach a sense of who they are to the characters?
Whoever is winning the battlefield of your mind is winning your heart.
Oh, dear friend, I desperately want Christ to win your heart! He is the only One who can save, satisfy, and secure it for eternity!
Am I saying you aren’t saved if you’ve read godless books? No. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ alone (Eph. 2:8).
What is it I am seeking to gain by warning you with such strong words? I am concerned that you should lose your victory in Christ and, therefore, lose the great rewards in heaven. The Heavenly Father delights to give good gifts (James 1:17, Matthew 7:11). It is His will that you should be invincible in spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-13).
Yet, what are we to do? Contend for the faith in writing!
“Offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and offer the parts of your body as instruments of righteousness” (Romans 6:13b).
If we, Christians who write, first offer ourselves to God – humbly, reverently, in truth – we can pen words that allow others to offer themselves as instruments of righteousness when they read those words!
When we read books that glorify God (make Him famous, honor His name and His word, promote His commands, recognize His deity, resist the devil, etc.) we are offering ourselves to God as instruments of righteousness. And, contrary to the devastating effect of the devil who, when offered a part of our bodies, rips it from our grasp and destroys it…God gently takes what is offered to guard it and use it for His glory, our good, and the benefit of others.
Writing and reading are an engagement of the mind, which hold the ability to affect our thought patterns, beliefs, and identity. It is more than entertainment; it is a battlefield. And, if founded in Christ’s victory, can be enjoyed without any detriment to mind, body, or soul.
Imagination is a God-given gift, reflecting His image, and it should be truthful and life-giving as it helps those who write and read to walk in the victory of Jesus Christ. Those are the kinds of books God’s people read and write!
I honestly believe some of these authors (like J.K Rowling) are deceived themselves. Having lived in the darkness and become captives of the ruler of the air (Eph. 2:1-2), being blinded by the devil so that they cannot behold the glorious Light that has come (2 Cor. 4:4), these people are to be pitied. Yet, their stories are not to be read or praised by Christians. We, who have beheld the Light (Jesus Christ), ought to do our best to help them see Him and turn from their wicked ways.
For this is God’s heart: “I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!” (Ezekiel 18:32)
Yet, this jubilant turn of heart and victorious life in Christ begins with each individual Christian on his or her knees, offering ourselves to God as His instruments of righteousness, so that the enemy will gain no ground in us. This is what is truly means to contend for the faith.
We need to fight our adversary and struggle with dangers and difficulties. So that, in the end, we (and those around us) hold on to faith of greater value than gold (1 Peter 1:7).
Do you see the spiritual battle? Will you fight the real enemy? If you are willing, there is victory in Christ.
See, fight, conquer!