Why I Can't Finish Reading Certain Christian Novels

There are two main reasons I don’t finish a Christian novel: one, it’s too preachy (which also generally leads to a boring story); two, it contains bad theology. The latest one I ditched had both problems going on, but I dropped it primarily for number two.

These extremes will kill your relationship with God.

The bad theology in the novel in question involves one of the two extremes that come out of the faith-works doctrine. The first of the extremes is the belief that salvation is all you need in your life. As long as you have that and do your best to obey the Golden Rule, you’re golden.

On the opposite end of the spectrum comes from the apostle James’ admonition that “faith without works is dead.” Rather than taking that scripture on a moment-by-moment basis, people who take it to the extreme believe that good Christians should be constantly working for God. They believe what one of the characters in the aforementioned novel said: “God loves eager workers. It proves your faith.”

Both extremes are dangerous. Let’s look at them, one at a time.

Faith in Yeshua is enough.

A growing number of people who claim to be Christians believe that all they have to do is have faith that Yeshua is the Son of God and that He died for their sins… and then sit around and wait for God to make them holy.

I’m not talking about the issue the apostle Paul brings up in Romans (“Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” [6:1]). Rather, I’m talking about the doctrine that teaches that until and unless God makes a change, we are free to act as our nature provokes us to act. Got a cussing problem? Say the “F” word all day long; it’s okay. God’s working on something else in you, and if He wants you to stop saying that word, He’ll do a miracle that will obliterate it from your vocabulary.

Are you in the habit of gossiping? It might take until you’re eighty for God to do something about it, but just hang on! One day, you’ll no longer be tempted to stick your nose into other people’s business, and then you can praise God for the change He’s done in you!

In other words, followers of this doctrine ignore Paul’s admonition to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling [Philippians 2:12].”

The harder you work, the more God will like you.

I’m not even sure I need to expound on this extreme. More than one Christian denomination is founded on the works-make-holy principle. The leaders in those organizations are experienced travel agents, specializing in guilt trips.*

Some denominations require penance, or something similar, for the sins you admit to. Others simply tell you service after service that you’re not doing enough, praying enough, reading the Bible enough. They hold missionaries and others who have completely left the modern life in order to serve and/or spread the Gospel as ideal Christians. As the author of the novel in question did, they pick out verses such as Yeshua’s story about the widow’s two mites and tell you that if you don’t give away everything you have today, God will see you as less-than.

Televangelists throughout the decades have used this kind of manipulation to make enough money to own mansions, yachts, and summer homes in Paris.

Though I believe that we are to stretch our faith – and, yes, bank account – to grow as servants as our Lord, I cannot latch onto the works mentality as being a divinely-given doctrine. Why? Well, where’s the point at which you’ve done enough to please God?

Answer: There is none.

In other words, you can never do enough. It’s an eternal treadmill. As soon as you’ve sold all your possessions and given to the poor, then you must live on the streets and preach the Gospel to your fellow homeless. If you develop a disease, you must offer it up to the Lord to prove that you are as spiritually and emotionally strong as the apostle Paul.

Or you go from church to church, begging for funds to build an orphanage in a Third-World country. And when you’ve done that, you must take on additional jobs so that you can build a school, as well. Once the school is built, you take on the administration of the institution, at the same time scheduling talks with world leaders about the importance of godly homes for all children.

Understand, I am not criticizing those who have answered a bona fide call to build an orphanage or to work as a missionary. I am criticizing those who condemn people whom God has not called to live their lives in such a way, accusing them as being lazy, greedy, selfish. Accusing them as not being a “real” Christian.

The middle ground.

Most of us could probably do a little more, try a little harder, to show love to our neighbor. But does God require it in order to accept us? No.

How about this? Learn to walk moment by moment with the Lord, and let Him lead you into the good works He has for you to do. During those in-between times, do your duty to the best of your ability. Challenge yourself to go a little bit above and beyond. At least sometimes.

Remember most of all that there is nothing holy about guilt.

*I borrowed this phrasology from Dave Ramsey.