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We’ll have to see!
I love how you always say stuff like that like you have no idea what’s going to actually happen 😂
'Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.'
😂😂😂
Man is born for the fight, to be forged and molded into a sharper, finer, stronger image of God
I haven’t read the latest section just yet, but here are my thoughts on the previous one. Got a few of them this time.
Julian and Leon. “Come,” he said in a low voice. “She knows you are here, and she is waiting.”
Julian shook his head, and Leon spoke. “No, Rolf.”
If you are still looking for ideas on how the two former soldiers can take a more gentle approach to this, I think I may have an idea:
In Acts 17, Paul goes to Athens, a city full of idolatry, and begins preaching the gospel. He is taken to the Areopagus and the Athens gather to hear what he has to say. He begins his speech this way:
So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. – Acts 17: 22 – 23
Paul begins this speech. He is polite to them, pointing out how religious they are, without saying anything that they could take as a confirmation that their idolatry is right. He then gets to tell them about the one God and gets to tell them that their idolatry and image-making are sinful, finishing it off with a call to repentance.
I wonder if your characters could take a similar approach. What if, in response to Rolf’s invite, Leon says something along the lines of ‘Rolf, I see that you and your family are very devoted to your goddess. Julian and I have paid our respects to her many times, and we thank you for your invitation and hospitality. However, we no longer worship your goddess as we have found someone greater. We must decline your offer.’ (He should still save the bit about being a champion for the gods till the family is ready to talk)
I think if I was one of the Kleins, this response, while I may still be offended, may trigger my curiosity more. (Why would these guys dare to turn their backs on the gods?)
Does the Empire have a similar Mythology to the Greeks/Romans? Do they have some ‘unknown God’? It might be a good idea to reread the whole passage as well. It could give you some more ideas for how Leon and Julian can handle spreading God’s word to the Kleins and the entire empire.
“Are you mad?” Rolf asked in an angry whisper. “You’ll bring a curse on us all!”
“I’m not mad,” Leon replied. “And no curse will befall you.”
Leon and Julian could point out that they have been following Jesus for 12 years, and while they have suffered for his sake, they have only been blessed and not cursed because of it. (Though maybe this is not an appropriate moment for that.)
“Many of us were stunned, for Adrian was never the sort who would have—or even could have—stood so strong. Several of us agreed that it had been the power of someone or something that gave him the strength to die so courageously. We sought out the truth, and we found it in the One True God. For several years, Julian and I stayed one step ahead of the men of the Empire, spreading God’s truth over all Ardenta. When Ardenta was freed, we enjoyed peace for a time, but then God called us to come back to the Empire and share His truth with our people.”
Just a comment on martyr stories. When trying to convince a sikh friend to become a Christian, and telling him a story about a martyr, he was not convinced in the least. Why? In response, he told me a story about sikh children who were stuffed in a wall for many years and then killed to convert them to Islam. Other religions can have martyrs as well.
I am not saying that there is a problem with Leon and Julian using Adrian’s story to convince the Kleins. God certainly uses martyrs to bring people to Him. I think that the added part of Adrian being someone who would have never given his life for anything before helps here. This is just something to think about.
“She did,” Julian said. “She believed him— over the One who had created her— and ate the fruit. Then she gave some to her husband. Because of this act, sin entered the world. God cast the man and woman out of the garden and no longer walked with them, for He is pure and holy, and cannot be in the presence of sin.”
Rolf opened his mouth but then stopped. Julian looked at him questioningly. Rolf thought a moment and then spoke. “I… I understand… I think. But it almost seems… cruel.”
“Not cruel, just,” his father correct. “It’s justice, Rolf.”
The way Bernd agrees with this so quickly makes me wonder more about the Empire’s rules and religion. These have likely shaped his view on what justice is. From what I’ve seen of the empire, they are cruel in their punishments and seem to have some concept of repentance and mercy (since they give their prisoners a chance to change their minds), even if it is twisted.
I wonder if the family tries to make any comparisons between their religion and what the former soldiers are telling them.
Leon and Julian talk about Adam and Eve’s sin, but they spend little time talking about how the Kleins are sinners. They go straight to Christ and how he died for our sins without addressing what those sins are. I think they should. This would help the Kleins understand their need for a Saviour.
Good section.
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
wow! Long reply. A little intimidating……
Interesting. I like these ideas. I think I shall certainly use some of them! I like that gentle yet firm approach. It’s a good idea.
Huh. I think this is one of the only times I bring up Adrain….. but I may be wrong. Oh I totally agree that other religions can have martyrs.
The way Bernd agrees with this so quickly makes me wonder more about the Empire’s rules and religion. These have likely shaped his view on what justice is. From what I’ve seen of the empire, they are cruel in their punishments and seem to have some concept of repentance and mercy (since they give their prisoners a chance to change their minds), even if it is twisted.
So, as will be drawn out more, the justice system in the Empire is really twisted and just about always brutal. While Rolf feels like God casting them out for something he deems menial looks cruel, his father quickly sees that it’s justice.
Mercy, on the other hand, is not so prevalent in their beliefs. They’ll show mercy should it benefit them…. or if it plays into some twisted game their enjoying.
Leon and Julian talk about Adam and Eve’s sin, but they spend little time talking about how the Kleins are sinners. They go straight to Christ and how he died for our sins without addressing what those sins are. I think they should. This would help the Kleins understand their need for a Saviour.
Duly noted. Though they would have course gone deeper into this, and Leon and Julian were just trying to get the bare facts out. But yeah, I can add some more on that.
Man is born for the fight, to be forged and molded into a sharper, finer, stronger image of God
Mercy, on the other hand, is not so prevalent in their beliefs. They’ll show mercy should it benefit them…. or if it plays into some twisted game their enjoying.
Ah. I remember for Aaron, it was so that he would use his skills to turn people to the gods of the empire. What was it for Joseph and his friends?
Duly noted. Though they would have course gone deeper into this, and Leon and Julian were just trying to get the bare facts out. But yeah, I can add some more on that.
Showing people they are sinners in need of repentance is essential to the Gospel. Thank you!
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
A cruelly twisted game. They wanted to brake Ardenta. They cut them off from their land for no good reason but to break their spirits. To see Joseph and the others give would be more rewarding than killing them. The people of the Empire have a lot of interesting beliefs about death and dying with honor and such, and seeing the way Adrian, Aaron, and a few others died has proven to them that there is a sort of victory in this death, no matter how dishonorable it seems.
Does that make sense?
Showing people they are sinners in need of repentance is essential to the Gospel. Thank you!
But I did!
Man is born for the fight, to be forged and molded into a sharper, finer, stronger image of God
Does that make sense?
Yes, that does.
But I did!
I guess so. Sorry, I was reading Ray Comfort’s book The Way of The Master and he puts a very large emphasis on convincing people that they are sinners. I’m not entirely sure his ways are right (he does make it sound as if it is up to us whether or not a person is saved, even though it is only God who can open the heart of an unbeliever). But, yes, you do have it there.
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
Hmm, I don’t like the sound of “convincing” people of God or sin or any other such thing.
But I do agree that our sin is a big factor.
I can add a little bit more in there though.
Man is born for the fight, to be forged and molded into a sharper, finer, stronger image of God
@hybridlore @linus-smallprint @koshka @keilah-h @elishavet-pidyon @liberty
Okay, little UPDATE y’all.
We had a death in the family. (don’t worry, not someone I even met before. He was on my dad’s side of the family and they’re all messed up.) Anyhow, due to craziness and the fact that my dad is the only sane person on that side of the family, he’s now the executor of the Will. We’ll be heading out to Idaho and will be gone for two weeks. (Or more, depending on how long this takes to hash out.) I’m leaving the laptop behind, so I won’t be posting anything during that time, though I may check on stuff with the phone now and then. So, I’ll try to wake up early enough to post one more section before we leave, but then it should be radio silence from me as far as new sections.
Thank you everyone who has been reading and replying to this topic, and please don’t go away because I promise to pick it up as soon as I get back. 😉
Have a lovely evening Y’all, and goodbye if I don’t end up posting tomorrow.
God bless!
Man is born for the fight, to be forged and molded into a sharper, finer, stronger image of God
Oh no, I’m sorry! I’ll be praying for y’all as you travel and try to get things worked out.
We’ll miss you! 😢
'Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.'
Thank you!
Man is born for the fight, to be forged and molded into a sharper, finer, stronger image of God
Thank you for letting us know. I hope this goes well. Will be praying for you and your family as well as for wisdom for your dad.
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
Okay, caught up to the section where the Klein become Christians.
“When do you wish to meet Roland?” Rolf asked.
At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Before anyone could speak it crashed open. “Rolf! Where are you, Rolf? You were supposed to go hunting with me yesterday! Where were you?”
“That would be Roland,” Bernd muttered.
Great timing!
Roland happens to have the same name as my Dad, so it’s kind of funny to me. He doesn’t seem to act much like my dad though.
Another good section!
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
@ellette-giselle ok then! sorry about that death in the family, even if you didn’t know him. And thanks for letting us know.
Also yeah, I feel you about your dad being the only sane one in his family. My dad is the same way. His family’s kind of a mess sometimes.
"When in doubt, eat cheese crackers."-me to my charries who don't even know about cheese crackers
thank you both for the sympathy and prayers!!
Great timing!
thank you!! I was proud of that one. 😂
oh dear! I hope you end up liking Roland then. 😅
I promise it was completely coincidental.
this time.Man is born for the fight, to be forged and molded into a sharper, finer, stronger image of God
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