#AtoZChallenge: Theology

Songs can inform a person’s theology, or at least one’s view of God, a lot more than reading books or studying the Bible does. Reading or studying something is an act of the will, and each person accepts or rejects what they read based on their worldview and life experience. But songs, even worship songs, are things that seep into your subconscious without you really thinking about it. Because these subconscious ideas are what shape your worldviews, this makes worship songs extremely important - and potentially dangerous.

Wait, how can a song be dangerous? Look at it this way:

• You don’t always remember what the pastor says during his sermons, even if you take notes. Notes can also be lost, or be written in such an intelligible way that when you go back to them you have no clue what it was supposed to mean (been there, done that).
• You don’t usually remember the verses you read during devotions or bible study, unless you make a specific effort to memorise them. And come on, how often have you actually purposefully memorised a bible verse once you left Sunday School and didn’t get cool stickers or gifts in return?
• But you tend to remember the words to the worship song that caught your attention last week, even if it’s only the chorus or bridge that was repeated over and over until you were sick of it. They’re the things that get stuck in your head and won’t go away, no matter how you try. They’re even contagious! Someone goes, “hey, this song has been stuck in my head for weeks,” and then the next you know it, it’s stuck in your head too. 

If it is a chorus which reminds you about how great God is, or the miracles He has done, or how our prayer moves the hands of God, that’s great. It helps and uplifts and provides courage and faith in times of need. Actually the moving-the-hands-of-God thing always felt a little dodgy to me, as if just because I pray, God has to do something. When He doesn’t, really. He can choose not to. But what if the catchy song of the week was some generic “I love You” song that - though it has its place - doesn’t really teach you anything about God? Or what if *gasp* it’s been watered down so much and made into such a catchy phrase that it actually teaches you something wrong?

Which is why the songs you choose, or the songs you write, are incredibly important. They may be the only theology an average churchgoer remembers - or thinks of at all - during the week.

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About the book:

Jane Hays has been told all her life that it’s dangerous to be out in the forest past sundown. At fifteen, she’s quite sure that it’s all old wives’ tales... yet, why does her village bar the gates every night? Why do they even have gates? When she is caught in an unexpected rainstorm on her way home, Jane ignores all the warnings and seeks shelter in a cottage in the middle of the forest. Soon, she is caught up in a world of magic and beauty – and in the storm of the Fairy Queen’s wrath.

The Fairy Queen is out for blood. There have been intruders – human intruders – in her domain and she will stop at nothing to find them and kill them. After all, it is only fair. She is only seeking retribution for the death that humans leave in their wake.

But Jane isn’t all that she seems to be. And the events of the night aren’t as innocent as they appear.

A tale of magic, fairy creatures and family, Coexist is a novella for the young and the young-at-heart.

Get Coexist on Amazon or Smashwords. Check out Book Depository or Createspace for paperbacks!