Troublemaker
Writers are troublemakers. We cause chaos for our characters, taking things from bad to worse. My characters have enemies and conflicts. If they didn’t, readers would be bored. I stir up trouble for my characters for them to fight, sacrifice, re-establish order, and ultimately find redemption. I don’t torture my characters because I’m sadistic. I do so because I understand the power of a changed life—even a fictional one.
Readers bond with a character’s brokenness. Sin is our common denominator with the world. We all fall short of the glory of God, but He’s chosen to redeem us anyway. When we read about a character who changes into a better person, we inwardly connect to that striving because God calls us out of darkness and into the light.
When we’re on our journey and even walking in the light, we will have enemies. Jesus says in John 15:19, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
My pastor recently did a series call American Idols, where he spoke some hard truths and stepped on some toes. When I tried to encourage him, he admitted that he’s taken a beating with online criticism. My response was that the truth hurts. Truth can be hard to hear, and when we speak truth, we will make enemies. In fact, if you’re pro-God and anti-evil and don’t have any enemies then there’s a problem. You may be playing it too safe.
I have a notebook of my dad’s. Before he passed away, he’d written, Don’t be careful!!! Make the most of every day!! We look through temporary lenses, but we need to be looking for eternal impact.
One of my favorite lines from the Chronicles of Narnia was when Lucy was instructed to hop on Aslan, the lion’s back. She asked if it’s safe, and Aslan responds, “No, but it is good.”
Proverbs 1:32 says, “For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.” We’re not to be complacent and go along with the world. The world shouldn’t know what to do with us. We’re supposed to stand out like a city upon a hill, but we must not be foolish about how we go about it. We can’t effectively fight with a dull sword, so knowing and understanding God’s word and God’s will is crucial. We also must be discerning because a machete and a scalpel both cut, but only one cuts to heal.
You, too, are a troublemaker and a disruptor. The enemy knows we’re dangerous because we understand the power of a changed life. Let the conflict begin, because this is a life and death battle.