What Do You Smell Like? Living Our Faith by Lillie Ammann
June 4, 2009
Both Father Chip and Father Ed have talked a lot recently about how we live our faith outside the walls of the church building. For me, that means how I live my faith inside the walls of my tiny home office, where I work as a freelance writer and editor.
I don’t write for the Christian market, i.e., Christian bookstores. So I was surprised recently when a popular online reviewer published a list of the eight best Christian books she had read in 2008. Along with two books by C.S. Lewis and a novel by Frank Peretti, she listed my romantic mystery novel Dream or Destiny. A non-Christian reviewer wrote that the character’s faith came through in the story, but even a non-believer could enjoy the story. I pray that means that the heart of a non-Christian reader can be touched.
Several of the books I have edited and helped the authors publish are expressly Christian.
On the Wings of the Wind: A Journey to Faith by Patricia Eytcheson Taylor and the Reverend Dr. James C. Taylor tells of Pat’s experiences with the leading of the Holy Spirit. James, a retired Army chaplain, added his insights to Pat’s story.
Re-Deal: A Time-Travel Adventure is an action-packed adventure written by blind entertainer Richard Turner, who has a huge international fan following in the magic and gambling communities. He wrote Re-Deal as a ministry to reach people who would not otherwise read a Christian book but who will read this one because it’s a fun story with lots of card and karate action and it’s written by the man known as “the greatest card mechanic in the world.”
Currently, I’m editing Journal: Intimate Writings of a Relationship with God by Aundrea Hernandez, who accepted Jesus at age 12 then soon fell back into the world until she rededicated her life to Christ at age 27. She and her teenage daughter are both artists, and they have included original drawings and poetry as well as journal entries about their faith experiences.
As a result of a referral from Aundrea, I’ve also created a Web site for HaShem Artworks, though I normally design Web sites only for my author clients. Tracy Potts, the founder of HaShem Artworks, believes he was called by God to produce authentic Scriptural re-creations of the Two Stone Tablets of the Ten Commandments.
Trying to put my faith in practice in my work means I also turn down business that isn’t consistent with orthodox Christian belief and practice. I have been asked to edit a book featuring homosexual artwork, which I declined to do. Another book project I rejected presented a negative view of Christianity, and still another was filled with violence.
Several years ago, I edited novels for the publisher who had published my first novel. Part of my compensation was a small percentage of ownership in the company. The publisher decided to publish erotica, which in my view is a politically correct name for pornography. Although the erotica would be sold on a different Web site than my book, I pulled my book from sale and returned my stock certificates, giving up my share of the company, as I didn’t want any part of a company selling erotica.
Although my Web site and blog have information about my writing and editing services and about my books, the blog is primarily personal, not business, so I can write about faith. I usually post about three days a week, but I posted every day during Holy Week, posts similar to those on the All Saints Web site during the same time period. I get great response from Christians, but I also occasionally get comments and questions from non-Christians and have the opportunity to share my faith directly with people who are seeking.
At times people disagree with me. As long as the comments are respectful, I allow dissenting opinions and use those to extend the conversation. I have engaged in discussions with a pro-choice advocate and with a former Christian who is now an atheist. I didn’t convince either of them they were wrong, but my job is to present the faith and leave it to the Holy Spirit to act on their hearts. Both of these individuals said they were surprised at our conversations—they had never had a Christian carry on such a respectful and thoughtful discussion.
That reminds of Father Chip’s recent sermon about how we smell. Do we smell like BO—covered with sin and the stench of the world? Do we smell like bitter myrrh—repenting but then falling back into sin? Or do we smell like Damascus Rose incense—the sweet fragrance of the Lord? When people who don’t know the Lord are surprised that we Christians would respond in love and compassion, that doesn’t smell like Jesus.
We’ve all heard the saying You may be the only Jesus someone sees. May non-Christians and Christians alike see Jesus when they read the books, the Web sites, and the blogs I write or edit.
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