Writing for Change Blog
Today, I’d like to ask a question. “Do books change lives?” As you think back over the books that you’ve read in the course of your life, consider to what extent books change you. It’s a curious question I ask, as an author, because one of my goals is to write for change.
Recently, I was leading a program at our local library on Writing for Change and I asked the question, “Is there a book that changed your life?” Every person in the room told us about a book that changed them.
I hope that my books will equip and inspire others to make the world a better place, to work more for peace, justice and the Earth and to take time to enjoy each moment and to dance.
I remember writing my first book on peace. I wanted to challenge Christians to think more carefully about the message of Jesus and the early church. During my youth, my country was embroiled in the Vietnam War. Americans were conflicted between supporting the troops and speaking up against a war that just seemed very wrong. Because young men were being drafted into this war, it became subject for much scrutiny.
During this time, the Bible influenced me greatly. I learned about Jesus, accepted him as my personal savior, was baptized and joined the church. A I listened to war narratives, felt the fear of young men being drafted, I also learned about Jesus. Jesus very clearly taught the greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart and soul and mind and to love our neighbors as ourselves. I simply did not see a place for war in the teachings of Jesus.
The Jewish scripture predicted a coming Messiah. Many believed he would be a military leader. Jesus chose nonviolence, healing and love. He told his followers, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.” (Matthew 5: 38-39).
In that Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also taught, “Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called the Children of God.” (Matthew 38:9). And, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 38: 43-48)
The message of the Bible to me as a young Christian seemed very clear. The book influenced me also in that I answered a call to serve God and people in my life. I studied the Bible further in church and college and began to work for peace. I earned my teacher certification, hoping to teach peace. I became a mediator, wanting to make peace. I spoke up against war and promoted nonviolence.
Some people say the first book you write is autobiographical. When I wrote my first book, I decided to write about peace. I hoped that it might change people, to encourage them to work for peace, as well.
While the Bible taught me the path of nonviolence, others read the Bible and believe it teaches a path to war. The myriad interpretations of the Bible are astounding. I live in the United States of America, a country that was founded on the principle of separation of church and state.I But various interpretations of the Bible influences much of the politics in America today. It’s central to the political debate on many topics.
Currently, we are at war in the Middle East. Some Christians believe that the Bible predicts this as the final war, centered in Israel. Defending Israel, at all costs, even obliterating the neighboring Palestinians is justified for some in the name of God. And some think they are interpreting the Bible literally in this belief. I beg to differ.
That is why I wrote my first book, Revelation in the Cave. Albeit a work of fiction, I sought to address the interpretation of the book of Revelation that is often used to justify war. Did you know that more books have been written about the Book of Revelation than any other book?
My first book is complicated. I was learning to write. I may have buried the theme of peace too deeply in the story to change lives. An evangelical Christian friend who read the book said that evangelicals would not accept the story as valid for several reasons, including that the benevolent Muslim in the story seemed nicer than some of the Christians. I wanted to ask him, didn’t Jesus tell a story about the Good Samaritan, a person of a different religion and culture who was much more loving to his neighbors than the rabbi and supposed religious ones?
A local Christian bookstore that proudly displayed the fictional Left Behind series, which I challenged in my book, refused to shelf my book. Like John the Baptist, I felt like a voice crying in the wilderness, speaking of peace. I join others like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. who teach nonviolence.
I believe books can change lives. They’ve certainly changed mine. I continue to write for change. I continue to read books that change my life, motivate me to make the world a better place and do good.
I will be exploring this this topic in future blogs and podcasts. Will you join me? Leave a comment or email me at nancy.flinchbaugh@gmail.com if you’d like to share a guest blog or interview with me.