Ruthe's Theological World-view

Have you observed that authors tend to give their main character at least, their own world-view and concepts of theology. It creeps in even when we think we are not doing it.

I got to thinking; I know I was deliberately giving my heroine aspects of my own relationship with God, but what theological World-view-points does Ruthe live by in my first novel? Which ones crept in without me noticing it?

Since I have not been in the midst of writing it for a few years, (I'm working on a sequel) I think I can be more objective now, and can analyze just what world-view my heroine has inherited from me. I have made some intriguing discoveries.

We'll look at some passages, and I'll explain the premises made, and answer some questions of consequence.

(On another page I'll add my overview of what I understand is yet to come in God's agenda for the human race. This may help you decide whether you want to read my book or not. I know now that these things could sway me in such a decision).

Clearly, the most obvious beliefs Ruthe is convinced of and lives by, are that there is a God, an all-wise, all-powerful Creator-God, who cared enough to give up His only born-on-earth Son for the sins of the whole world. Each individual who reaches the age of accountability, (that is, one old enough to grasp the difference between good and evil, and be responsible for personal decisions), MUST repent and be converted to faith in Christ to become a Christian.

Now this conversion is not complicated. While it is simple, many people who think it is difficult get all mixed up and tied in knots over it. In my novel, Ruthe's Secret Roses, Ruthe, a young high school grad who is commuting to her job in the city as a telephone operator, meets various people, and soon finds herself in conversations where she recommends coming to her Best Friend for salvation and this new life that will provide grace to deal with their problems.

At the very beginning, as she rushes to the city on her grad night to see Pearl O'Brien who is dying, Ruthe flashes back to recent weeks when she charged into a discotheque and brought out a younger teen who had been attacked. While parked on a quiet street, Ruthe guides Muriel to repent and pray a prayer accepting Jesus as her Saviour and Lord.

When Ruthe drops by their upper class home a few days later, to pick up the sweater she loaned Muriel, she meets her mother, and in a matter of minutes is helping her to meet and receive Jesus personally too.

That same grad night, while Ruthe wants to comfort Muriel and her mother, she dashes off with Muriel and her younger brother to go find their older sister Cathy before their mother dies. Before the end of that evening, Cathy is also convinced that she needs this kind of intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus that her sister and mother have.

This is all very important and thrilling to Ruthe!

You'll find that she meets many other new city friends, and takes them through some very basic simple truths they must believe and then pray to begin their own personal, spiritual, moment-by-moment Friendship with Jesus.

In case you're exclaiming, "What nerve!" or wondering how you could share your faith with others and lead them in these steps, you would do well to read this novel, Ruthe's Secret Roses. Just reading over and over how she handles each situation, appropriately to that person, should give you a little seminar in doing this. (Any fears you experience come from lack of trying, and from the enemy who doesn't want you to do it at all!)

One lesson Ruthe learns as she thinks about a number of those experiences at one time, is that if the element of repentance is missing, the new convert has trouble progressing into the garden phase of the relationship. That wonderful time of feeling like you are really walking and talking through your life with a new and perfect Friend.

So yes, Ruthe is learning and growing from her own experiences. She does not pretend even to know everything or have all the answers. She's just burning with zeal to share what she does know and understand thus far.

Another key theological concept she tries to transfer to her new friends, is that the Christian life is like this intimate friendship, and it is nurtured by spending time alone with the Lord, telling Him every thought and decision, and asking for wisdom and guidance. This is very precious to her!

Some Christians are quite self-confident and feel that God only cares about the major decisions of their lives, or when a family member gets hopelessly sick - that's when they start begging God to step in and help them. Those people, I've found, usually do not approve of the above lifestyle of asking God, or Jesus, to help with every little decision or attitude problem I sense in my heart or spirit. If you are one of those, you will most likely not approve of Ruthe in the novel.

But if you are open to seeing how this theological view is lived out in a practical way, you might want to read and see how Ruthe copes, and uses it in her lifestyle.

Ruthe also gets into conversations with people who have other world-views, and they want her to answer some profound questions. Since she hasn't had formal seminary training at all, she relies on the things she's learned from listening to sermons and reading her Bible and some other books.

There is a conversation she has with Granny O'Brien, the wizen, and bitter old woman who is up in a bed on the second floor of a mansion, spying on her family. Granny has a question about the cause of suffering and pain on earth;

In a different situation, Ruthe is explaining to Lisa, a prostitute, how to have faith. As Lisa struggles to try her suggestion, Ruthe has a helpful insight about repentance.

For sure Ruthe has to apply her theology in the strangest situations. There is another time, when Ruthe is in an intense conversation with a motorcycle gang. Their concept of hell is one big party around a bonfire. Not the way Jesus described in in Revelation, the last book of the Bible. Without a chance to prepare, Ruthe teaches them what she believes about Heaven and Hell

There is really a lot more. I had some sense of the layers of plots and sub-plots when I wrote the book, but it is now as I study it from a reader's point of view, that I see even more there.

~GRIN~ I think - you are going to have to read it for yourself before we can get into any further discussions.

Just click this book cover, or this link, Ruthe�s Secret Roses (at Booklocker.com) to order this novel. It has 72 chapters so you will have a worthy read ahead. As you vicariously experience her life, you will also learn how to pray effective panic prayers!

Are questions and answers about the bigger issues of life, God, and how we can know Him important to you? If so, you would find Ruthe's Secret Roses right up where you are. I think you ought to read it. Just supposing it might have clues for your ultimate spiritual future; would you want to miss out on that?

I am satisfied that I've found the truth - or rather, God's truth has found me. His truth about Himself, and how I am to relate to Him has healed me of wounds from others, and has liberated me to enjoy a measure of peace and joy and contentment that defy description. At least it is very hard to convey it fully.

But as I've said before, often it is far easier to understand these things if we can see someone living out the very nutshell principle of them. That's what my novel offers you. Watch Ruthe, and see how her faith plays out in her life. Then make your decisions.

God is always a Gentleman, by the way. He tells you your options, and lets you decided.

The softcover novel is available from most online bookstores, and you can even ask your local bookstore to order it for you (from Spring Arbor - a division of Ingrams), but your fastest deal is directly from my publisher, Booklocker.com. They promise to have the book on the way to a customer within 48 hours, delivered to your door by UPS.

It costs $19.95 US (mind you, it's 467 pages; that's what determines the price), plus about 4.95 for shipping. If outside of the USA, allow for the exchange rate and a little higher shipping.

The e-book editions cost much less, but you will need to read that on your computer, or else print out the whole 467 pages from the PDF format on your home printer. See this order page for e-books.

Let me urge you to click this book cover, or this link, Ruthe's Secret Roses (at Booklocker.com) to order this novel. It has 72 chapters so you will have a worthy read ahead. As you vicarously experience her life, you will also learn how to have your own personal Friendship with Jesus!

The e-book editions cost less, but you will need to read it on your computer, or else print out the whole 467 pages from the PDF format on your home printer. See this order page for e-books.

If you would like to talk to me or have questions to ask, use this form to ask me.