In the summer of 1989 (29 years ago) I took a class at Lee College taught by Donna Summerlin, entitled "Aspects of Christian Literature". For this class we needed to turn in a journal at the end of the class. It will be interesting for me to post this journal on my blog. I wonder if any of my thoughts and ideas have changed over the last 29 years. I will break this down into chapters for each day I journaled. As you read, keep in mind that this is my personal journal that I turned in for class credit, but I journal very openly and honestly. It is me. My thoughts and feelings are emptied onto paper without qualm.
Wednesday, May 31, 1989
This was our second day of class, Aspects of Christian Literature, taught by Donna Summerlin. We meet Monday through Friday from 10-11:15 am for five weeks.
Yesterday we received our syllabus (check the spelling on that word - it's used a lot and I need to spell it right!) Donna reviewed the course objectives and lectured on the conflict of literature.
The first novel we will read for class is Til We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis. I have read the first chapter and realize I will have to really concentrate when I read. It deals with mythology, so the names of people and places are different.
I did not realize that literature meant fiction. I had heard we would read some of C.S. Lewis' works, but I was guessing he was a theologian, and the "articles" would be spiritual enrichment, non-fiction type. So now to find out who C.S. Lewis is, a name I've heard often, but never knew who he was/is.
Today we reviewed our notes from yesterday, and discussed the purpose of Christian literature and what it is. The question was raised, should we read literature that is not necessarily Christian. This is an area I'll have to open up to and allow God to show me His response. I do not wish to close my mind, nor do I wish to flirt with the world.
Since my fall and clinical depression over two years ago, I have ceased watching television completely, and dropped all subscriptions to non-Christian magazines. I listen to Christian radio stations. It isn't that I became a saint, but rather that I am on an all-out obsession with seeking and doing my Father's will. I want as little of satan's input as possible because he deceived me in a big time way, and I hate him and all that he represents. I don't want to touch anything that's been touched by him, influenced by him.
It all starts in the mind. Whatever controls the mind, controls the body. I must fill my mind with "things from above" to be totally equipped to resist satan. He is so sly. He is undermining the Christian community, and I think it is basically unaware. (Prof. Summerlin noted "very true" on my paper)
I went to Israel with the Lee group in March. The one lesson that stands out above all others is the choice to isolate or assimilate. Throughout Bible history whenever God's people assimilated, they created destruction for themselves. They settled for less than God's best. They paid the price of mixing in with the world. God calls for us to be holy, to be set apart, to be isolated so that His character can be seen in us, and we can be effective for Him.
This is a fine line to understand. I do not mean we are to be sheltered, for we are to be "in" the world, but not "of" the world. To be truly effective for Him, we must touch the world, the people. But we need to have the mind of Christ, the love of Christ, and the steadfastness of Christ. It's my guess most Christians spend hours watching TV, listening to non-Christian radio, and reading non-Christian literature and other printed material. Perhaps they spend a few minutes in God's Word, though I doubt most do. My question is, with that kind of input diet, how can Christ be represented? How can His influence be felt if we are in the same mold as the world? We must march to a different drumbeat.
Fearing I may be too narrow minded, I am asking God to keep me open to His truths, and keep me teachable. I want to experience all that He has for me. But I don't want to assimilate or compromise. When I started to pull away from television, the question I asked each time I sat down to watch was, "Would I be comfortable watching this program if Jesus were here beside me, or would I be embarrassed?" I usually became uncomfortable enough to turn the TV off, for I knew that Jesus truly was present. I approach my reading material the same way..."Could I read this aloud to Jesus and not be ashamed?" There are too many good books to read to waste my time on questionable material. I am here for one purpose - to glorify God. My inner person is the root of who I am, and I must discipline the inner me if I want the beauty of Jesus to be seen in me.
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