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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 163: A Chat with Naomi Craig about Ezekiel's Song
byChautona Havig

Before I began the interview with Naomi Craig about Ezekiel’s Song, I kind of went crazy and left it in to give you a chuckle. But Naomi and I chat about her upcoming release, why she chose to write about Ezekiel, and what areas she focused on. Listen in and hear her heart for the Word and for stimulating readers to love it and live it.

Oh, and that song I couldn’t remember? Well, I found it after a BUNCH of hunting on YouTube. Here you go!

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

Has Ezekiel Always Confused You? How about a Little Fictional Clarity?

There’s SO much to write about in Ezekiel, but after talking to Naomi Craig, I feel like I got a pretty good grasp of where she’s taking this book without feeling like I don’t need to read it now that we chatted, and that’s always great. Naomi shows service in the temple, how Ezekiel could have had a mentorish relationship under Jeremiah, and even what kind of woman his wife might have been.

Personally, I love the “Darcy-ish” meeting where he totally insults her and accuses her of being an idolatress. Let me tell you something. I cannot wait to read that! Seriously!

God had Ezekiel do a lot of weird things, and I always wondered how he managed some of it, but Naomi brings out possibilities by focusing on this wife that we don’t know much (anything) about. How cool is that?

Naomi also gave us a couple of glimpses into what’s coming next!

She’s #TeamBlue in the Keeping Christmas novella collections, writing about Herod’s palace and the wise men’s appearance looking for “the King of the Jews.”  And… from a scribe’s perspective!  How cool is that?

Also… next up is a book about a woman in Ephriam’s lineage who built three cities. A woman credited with the building of these cities!  I cannot wait! I love how Naomi focuses on how strong Biblical women were. So often we think of them as downtrodden and little more than cattle, but God shows how much He loves His daughters in the Word, and He definitely allows them to shine. We saw that in Naomi’s debut novel Rahab’s Courage.

Ezekiel’s Song by Naomi Craig

A prophet’s heart broken, a woman’s joy gone. What does Yahweh have planned for His people?

On the brink of Jerusalem’s demise, devoted priest, Ezekiel, sees the insincerity of Judah’s worship. Despite his efforts to call the people back to true worship of Yahweh, priests, artisans, valiant warriors, and royals are exiled to Babylon. When God gives him messages of continued judgment for the people in his homeland, his heart breaks. How can he minister to the people from so far away?

The presence of the Lord is tangible when Shiriel sings in the temple, and her voice prepares the hearts of many to worship. When she is exiled to Babylon, her faith is shaken. Does the Lord’s presence extend beyond Jerusalem and His holy temple?

Ezekiel is struck mute and paralyzed as he begins his prophetic ministry, and Shiriel devises a plan to get the Lord’s message back to the unfaithful people of Judah. Shiriel struggles with discontentment as serving the Lord looks nothing like she’d imagined. Can she provide for her family and carry out her husband’s ministry when her joy is gone, and her own dreams are placed on hold?

How will Yahweh save His people from themselves? Find out in Ezekiel’s Song!

Ezekiel’s Song is available at 30% off paperback and at a discount for Kindle, too through release week, so visit Naomi’s WEBSITE for more information.

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Harper Brevig has two skills—picking out snarky bookish t-shirts and alienating customers. 
Oh, and racking up bills out of thin air. Make that three skills. She loves the elderly and the very 
young—except the ones who destroy her beloved books. You could say she doesn’t have a very nice 
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save this bookstore?
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