So today I happened to notice I received a review for the last book in my series the Apocalypse of Kings.

It was a one star review which did not bother me. Every book is not to everyone’s taste. This book was apparently no different. What was interesting to me was the first sentence of the one star review.

“I really enjoyed this series and was excited to read the conclusion.”

So to start out with such a positive sentence and then leave a one star review admittedly left me perplexed and intrigued. So this series is a four book series about the fall of Lucifer and his ultimate judgement. The series shows the fall of Lucifer and the angelic war behind the scenes of mankind’s history. So by book four I would think a reader would have discerned a few things or have followed me enough to know my stance on issues which is clearly stated on my website and always prefaced in my books.

The rest of the review is as follows.

“Throughout you used scripture as a style of conversation between different characters which I also appreciated. I fully understand this series is fiction but based on scripture so while creative licensing is needed, adding to the word was disappointing. You added to the scripture from Matthew & Luke, adding two men in bed and one disappearing in regards to the rapture. That is not what it says and more so it implies that homosexuality is not sinful in Gods eyes. If you were a secular writer of heavenly fiction then one could look past this as a worldly belief but you write Christian fiction and hope to inspire people to God and have blatantly perverted the word of God in this instance. It was disappointing and blasphemous. Either do better or remove yourself from the Christian genre so you may write you’re secular stories without leading people to believe a sin to be righteous. It is possible to write fantastic Christian fiction and not pervert the Word of God.”

In thinking how to respond to this reviewer I decided to wait several days to collect my thoughts, pray and see what God would say to me. This was one of those rare occasions where I felt the need to respond.

The following principles came to me during this time

Be ready to give an answer…1 Peter 3:15

Be gentle unto all men, apt to teach instructing those that oppose themselves out of the snare of the devil. (Sometimes people don’t realize how their actions align with the enemy) 2 Tim 2:24

The importance of demonstrating loving correction and internal reflection was paramount. 2: Tim 4:2 essentially this believer is rebuking me.

The last principle was found in Romans chapter fourteen.

Let’s examine what the novel says that upset the reader.

“Nevertheless many were fearful of the event and hid themselves thinking that aliens were abducting humankind; and many sought to escape what they perceived was celestial attack.

Enoch and Elijah watched as some soldiers within their sight disappeared and Enoch spoke aloud for all within earshot to hear. “For the prophecy of the Lord hast come to pass for there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”

Henel James tried to collect himself looking around in disbelief at what he was witnessing and attempted to continue streaming live what he was seeing to the world.”

P. 151 kindle version.

Allegation: “You added to the scripture from Matthew & Luke.”

It is important that we examine what the scripture actually says.

This quote from Enoch in the novel is a direct quote from Jesus as recorded in Luke 17:34 KJV

“I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

So did I add to the Word in this instance: absolutely not. This was a literal quote of the Lord as recorded in the book of Luke. I did not quote Matthew any more than I did not use every instance where other scriptures are repeated in the Bible. So I didn’t add to Matthew either. I quoted the scripture verbatim as recorded by Luke in the KJV.  This claim is simply false.  While I honestly don’t remember why I used this version over the other, I do know it was NOT to propagate the allegation made by the reviewer.

Does Jesus remotely imply that the two men in bed are homosexual? Not in the slightest. In fact, until this review it would have never occurred to me, that this is what Jesus would have meant as there is nothing to denote sexual relations within the scriptural text quoted or the broader text from the chapter.  It simply seeks to emphasize that as it was in the days of Noah, where people went about their lives then calamity came. So too, shall the coming of the son of man be: which is the same spirit in which the scripture is utilized. That people went about their daily lives and calamity (in this case the rapture) catches them. For the reader to assume this on me requires an incredible assumption of eisegesis and leap of logic, when neither the usage in its original scripture nor its use in the novel suggests nothing of the sort. No where do I elaborate on the scripture to imply that two homosexual men in bed together would see one rise into the rapture. The context of the book simply shows the widespread nature of the event taking place.

This reminds me of when some people talk about the relationship between Johnathon and David and their love towards one another. Some interpret this love in a homosexual relationship. I perceive a similar misunderstanding here. (i.e. the sexualization of what is not sexual.)

Now it can indeed be argued that this quoted scripture is NOT in reference to the rapture. However, this is a scripture that is used typically in a pre-tribulation context for those that hold that thinking and I have clearly indicated in the novel’s preface that the book has a pre-tribulation narrative.

Therefore, in light of the context of the novel where a rapture occurs, I would argue this text is appropriate from a creative license standpoint as it does not seek to undo its spirit: i.e. that the day of the Lord will come and find people going about their daily activities when calamity suddenly befalls them: which is the exact point the novel makes in its usage. The different locations mentioned in the scripture indicates the degree of this calamity.  The reviewer simply inputs her own impure thinking into the text. A bed while a place for sex is also a place to sleep. And for some reason she chose the first practice as opposed to the second. I can only give her the benefit of the doubt that our 21st century American culture has influenced her to come to his thinking and thus her concern.

Interestingly enough the deeper theological issue (pre-tribulation and this scripture used in that context) is not seemingly what the reader objects to but a possible implication that a man in bed with another man would be taken in the rapture; which is nowhere intimated in the novel’s text let alone the scripture from which it is quoted.

For example, why do the two men have to be homosexual? There are plenty of instances where two men would be in bed in the ancient world and even today that would have no sexual context. Prison and homeless shelters are examples; large ancient families would often have members of the same sex sleep in the same bed. For the reviewer to sexualize this verse or think that I am doing so when Jesus himself didn’t do so, says unfortunately far more about the reviewer.

Sadly this is an instance not of good exegesis but of eisegesis which means to lean into or drawn in.  Essentially one injects their own ideas into the text making it mean whatever the reader wants. With this view the author’s intended view does not matter. The review is “importing” or “drawing in” their own subjective interpretations into the text, unsupported by the text itself; instead of taking what the author of the text’s intended meaning is by following the text. This makes writing Christian fiction in my estimation far more challenging to write than other forms of fiction.

This is the error the reviewer claims I have made towards the text when ironically this is what she is doing towards both myself personally and the novel. Weird how that works huh?

Again, these types of comments are why it is challenging for Christian authors to write speculative fiction for a Christian audience.  It’s simply hard to not offend some member of the body of Christ. And why even greats like Frank Peretti and most recently Dallas Jenkins (creator of the Chosen) fall under attack from believers thinking they are defending the faith. When in reality they might actually be persecuting Jesus (Acts 9:4)

The reviewer’s comments then move from issues with the book to attacking the author of the book. Reread it

“If you were a secular writer of heavenly fiction then one could look past this as a worldly belief but you write Christian fiction and hope to inspire people to God and have blatantly perverted the word of God in this instance. It was disappointing and blasphemous. Either do better or remove yourself from the Christian genre so you may write you’re secular stories without leading people to believe a sin to be righteous.”

So the reviewer seemingly acknowledges that I proclaim to be a Christian. (Which I am) Yet further claims I’ve perverted the word of God, that I’ve committed blasphemy which is a very serious offense. (It’s the type of thing the OT priest tore his robe at.) And seems to infer that I am leading people astray in condoning sin. (Which again is ironic in light of the subject matter is about the eternal damnation of the devil and his followers.)

Now for clarity sake, and since words are being flung about seemingly without an understanding their meaning. Blasphemy is the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; i.e. profane talk.

So read my novel’s text both before and after the offending verse again. Was the text from the book truly blasphemous?  Was God talked about in a profane way?  Was the text quoted, done so in a sacrilegious manner? Did I commit the sin of being irreverent? Again keep in mind she’s referring to the phrase “two men in one bed.”  Do you honestly think after reading three of my books that I am attempting to secretly implant the idea that “a sin is …righteous?”  And as a alleged believer in Christ was this the best way to approach this concern to another believer? How should believers who might be a bit more in the public eye respond if at all?

So what shall we say then to these things?

I am reminded ultimately of Romans 14:5 “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”

Thankfully, my conscious stands clear before God as he is aware of my heart, and while I have had readers actually return to Christ because of my books. I must admit that I have yet to have a homosexual who has read my books (and I don’t know if any have.) thank me for thinking they will be excused because of the aforementioned quoted text in my novel.

I have written seven books of Christian fiction and three books of non-fiction; two that are devotional or church helps in nature. My beliefs are clearly stated on my website in full view of the world.

The Bible says that love thinks the best about people (1 Cor 13:5) it’s clear to me that this was not done in this case. 

And now this brings us to perhaps a lesson that perhaps that can be learned from this. The Bible teaches us we are to walk differently than the rest of the world. Just because the world does something a certain way or we have the freedom tom engage in similar behavior doesn’t mean we should. We are especially to be circumspect when believers are involved. I would remind my fellow believers who are NOT creators in the Christian space but who might consume their content to still practice the words of Christ and if you have something against your brother talk to him alone. Social media and public review forums do not shield us from obeying the word of God on how we deal with conflict. Matt 18:5. I’m not sure why we would think that somehow we can ignore this scripture just because the world /culture allows us to leave a review. Nevertheless, since this was done publicly it’s important that brotherly love continue and I hope a positive example be given.

I do believe that there are indeed times when one must publicly confront someone; as Paul did when he confronted Peter. “When I saw that they were not walking a straight path in line with the truth of the gospel,..”  For me that’s the litmus: when the impact has actually demonstrated injury to the gospel. It should be corrected. And while I commend the reviewer for being zealous (I am reminded of Rev 2:6) I have somewhat against thee because… in this case I believe the reviewer failed to discern the Lord’s body.  This is why the Word talks about being careful not to bring an accusation unless there are several witnesses. If the Word of God is going forward and people are being blessed and actually drawing closer to Him why did you not fear?  You can know a tree by its fruit.  

Ironically, I have decided for the foreseeable future not to write anymore Christian speculative fiction. Not because of reviews like this. But mostly because there are no stories compelling enough that the Lord has given me a release to write (correction: there is one sci-fi story I will one day complete. You can actually read it here. https://amzn.to/3v56FPa )

But my intent is to write fantasy going forward for a general audience. Ironically and sadly it’s easier to impart scriptural truths without the angst generated by believers who mean well. It’s simply easier to write to the non-believer.  It’s times like this that I get the wisdom of our Lord in talking to sinners.

Overall, I feel like I’ve taken the rare stance of responding to a negative review and hopefully laid out some thinking in a godly manner that I hope brings peace to future readers who might be persuaded by such a review. But also gives a reason that satisifies the heart and mind.

With love in Him!

Donovan

P.S. Feel free to comment!