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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Why I Despise Memes & Quotes Against Religion

by Chautona Havig · 6 Comments

(and why I think God does, too!)

WHAT?

Why I Despise Memes & Quotes Against Religion

Image courtesy of Pinterest.

Bear with me.

I can’t be the only one who has seen Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or a blog with a meme or quote image like —>
that one.  It’s so pretty.  It sounds so spiritual and deep.  It sounds so anti-formulaic.  There’s just one problem.

It’s a lie.

That’s right.  I said it.  I went there.  I’ve kept my opinions mostly to myself for the past few years as this kind of comment has become more and more common, but I can’t anymore.  This plays right into Satan’s hands.  Seriously, I think he looks at these things and cackles while rubbing his fists together in fiendish delight.

Why?

Because it means we toss out what GOD says about religion.  Yeah.  God has something to say about it, and what He says isn’t that it’s bad.  He says it’s good.  Religion. Is. Good.  in God’s eyes.  Well, one kind is, anyway. HIS kind.  That’s right, God has a definition of religion.  That makes it (His definition of religion) good.  Period.

What is it?  James 1:27

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

GOD says there are three aspects to pure and undefiled religion.  There is a strong implication (and when taken with other Scriptures on the topics, command) that He expects these things of us simply by their mention in His Word.  Those aspects are:

  1. Visiting (caring for) the fatherless (orphans or those rejected by their fathers).
  2. Visiting (caring for) widows (I believe this extends to abandonment, temporary absences such as military wives, as well as “widows indeed”).
  3. Keeping oneself unstained by the world (not wallowing in its filth).

But what about works?  We’re saved by faith!  Religion is just faulty ‘works of righteousness’!  Yeah… the same book had something to say about that too.  Next chapter:

But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”

Our faith is not divorced from our actions. 

We demonstrate our faith (show fruit) by our actions (“works”).

I had someone say not too long ago, “I’m really glad you don’t have religion in your books.”  I almost cried.  Seriously.  It takes a LOT to move me to tears.  But honestly, what was meant as a genuine compliment was a slap in the face.  Why?  Because when I hear that, I hear that I have not created characters who try to demonstrate their faith through helping the less fortunate and by how they keep themselves “set apart for Jesus.”

Qualifier:

Image courtesy of Pinterest

Look, I know that’s not what all of these memes mean.  I  know what they sometimes intend to say.  And some, like this one, use careful phrasing (the use of can there is wise).  There’s just one problem.

It’s still a lie in how it can (see what I did there?) come across.  People often don’t read “can” and see it as a qualifier. Too often, it becomes just a word among many to emphasize the point that religion is bad.

It’s probably not what the original author intended.  I seriously doubt it is.  I think she was careful to use it to point out that religion isn’t inherently evil. People who think rejecting religion is spiritual use it that way. Instead, she’s calling us to put the emphasis back on Jesus.

It sounds so godly.  But what does it mean when you really think about it?  It means that what Jesus had to say about religion–that there is a pure and undefiled form He WANTS from us–isn’t good enough.

Sometimes I wonder if God is angry or just WEARY of how much we try to apologize for our faith.  Does He weep for our foolishness when we try to make His way palatable to the lost?  Does He want to grab that whip and drive out the “truthchangers” who try to make His Word politically correct?  Is He as “done” with Christianized “buzz words” as I am?

Or am I just all wet?

Probably.  I won’t pretend to have cornered the market of spiritual knowledge.  But this I know:

james-religion

Let’s stop apologizing for being religious!  Let’s just make sure that our religion is what GOD defines it as–that it’s an offering to a gracious and loving Lord.

*steps off soapbox, smashes with Izma’s hammer, scuttles back to her lair,  opens Scrivener, and gets back to work*

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Comments

  1. Kim Gregory says

    October 26, 2015 at 12:22 pm

    I agree! Religion is following a doctrine also. As Christians we follow the Word of God, the commands of God; we shape our lives according the the image of Christ.

    1 Jn 2:3-4 And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;

    It’s not just relationship, it’s obedience too – obedience to the Word of God is our doctrine as Christians.

    Mark 7:6-7 And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. 7 ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’

    That is the difference between true religion and religiosity – where the heart is.

    One of the reasons I really enjoyed reading Prairie and Highlands is that the people lived out the Word. They gave of themselves to others. They worked together to provide for themselves and like in the New Testament Church, no one went wanting for anything.

    Here’s your soap box back. I need the hammer to hang a picture, I’ll get it back to you later. Love you, Kim

    Reply
  2. Carolyn Parris says

    October 25, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    Your words are inspired. Thank you for writing the truth.

    Reply
  3. Emma says

    October 24, 2015 at 9:40 pm

    Very well-put. I am sending this one to my Kindle so I can read it to my husband (that’s part of what we do on our 1-hour ride to church–I read to him!). I really appreciate the way you portray religion in your books, by showing it in action. I have been very encouraged and challenged by some of them. By the way, I loaned the copy of Prairie that you sent me to a friend at church today. She was excited to read it; she used to love fantasy before she was a Christian, but hadn’t come across any Christian fantasy. I’ll sure be interested to hear how she likes it.

    Reply
  4. Lucinda says

    October 23, 2015 at 11:01 am

    ……any comment I make on this will do NOTHING to improve what you have stated in plain, raw-sometimes painful- truth. Thanks for that.

    Reply
  5. Beth says

    October 23, 2015 at 8:36 am

    Very well said and explained. I think we do ourselves and the Lord a disservice when we try to excuse our faith and our “religion”. Another quote being misused that chaps my hide – “raw and authentic” as an excuse for continuing to live in our worldly ways. If I’m real, raw, and authentic, I don’t have to change who “I” am – right? (WRONG!) Also hopping off my soap box. May I please borrow the hammer? You make me smile with the way you closed that. : )

    Reply
  6. TN Lizzie says

    October 23, 2015 at 8:34 am

    http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/religion

    You are right on, and rather insightful! Satan has nothing of his own to work with. So he takes God’s best and counterfeits it. The Christian religion begins with a relationship with Christ. When we enter into a relationship with the Creator of the universe, our day-to-day living should be different. <3 Well written, my friend!

    Lord, if I were accused of being a Christian, may there be enough evidence found to convict me.

    Reply

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Episode 283: A Chat with Debut Author Denise L. Barela
byChautona Havig

Having the chance to chat with a dear friend about her book is always a treat.  So when Denise L. Barela chatted to me about her mystery, Silencing the Siren, I knew we’d have a lot of fun. Boy, did we. From the first ideas on this mystery through the new series she’s considering, and where she wants to take her writing in the future, Denise has a lot to share.  Listen in to learn about her writing and how you can listen to her book free!

note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Why an Almost Love At First Sight Mystery Actually Works!

Denise L. Barela’s debut novel is the seventh in the Ever After Mysteries. These fairy-tale retellings set in the twenties (and now the forties!) feature fun mashups of those beloved tales with some kind of mystery. Denise chose “The Little Mermaid” and went to town combining 1920s New York City and Coney Island with that fairy tale and a freak show attraction that causes all kinds of trouble in various ways.

One thing I liked is how the “love at first sight” aspect of the original story played out in Denise’s. She focused on Annabel’s character and, being so different from the superficiality he lived with, it drew him in.  No, it’s not a romance, but this mystery does have romance in it, and Denise made that tough trope work.

The research Denise did involved widely differing topics–from novelty gifts (doorbells, folks!), to car technology advancements, to just how hard it was to find a map of New York City for the era!

Of course, that sparked a discussion on research for her other book and how she discovered rewritten history ruining her plans for it.  Enter rewrites. Sigh.

Finally, we discussed the sorts of books she wants to write, her conversation with Jaime Jo Wright, and where she plans to take things after she does one more mystery-themed series.  Clue is coming like you’ve never seen it.

Silencing the Siren by Denise L. Barela

Andrew Grayson thought he had everything… until he met her.

The indulged son of wealthy parents, Andrew has always gotten whatever he wanted almost before he knew he wanted it—clothes, gadgets… even a car! What more could a young man desire?

Enter Annabel Thompson. Freakshow mermaid extraordinaire… in a wheelchair!

Of course, her beauty attracts him. How could it not? Add to that a kind heart, and Andrew can’t help but fall for her.

Annabel’s connection with the freakshow repels his parents and their society friends. They want him to sever all ties with her and his new friends. Oh, and marry the “right” girl with the “right connections.” But he won’t do it. He’ll defy them and marry his little mermaid.

When Annabel turns up missing, declared dead, things don’t add up, Andrew begins asking some difficult questions, the most important being, “What happened to the little mermaid of the Coney Island freak show?”

Find out in this next book in the Ever After Mysteries, combining beloved fairy tales and mysteries. Silencing the Siren offers a retelling of “The Little Mermaid” that will keep you gripped to the edge of your seat as you watch the story unfold.

Learn more about Denise L. Barela on her WEBSITE and follow her on GoodReads and BookBub.  You can listen to Silencing the Siren free on her YouTube Channel.

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