Refreshing Sci Fi

James 1:2 (KJV) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

(Proverbs 1 also read)

Usually when anything having to do with Jesus is mentioned in science fiction it is a kind of a stereotype.  It is an insult.  It is some kind of condemnation of the followers of Jesus as narrowminded, bigoted, and so forth.  A book by John Ringo had a refreshing different approach. It had a pastor, who had up to that point been totally orthodox, giving the text for his sermon.  He quoted James 1:2 and talked about how this means not really temptation but tests meant as challenges to growth.

“Now, ‘temptations’ here are ‘peirasmois,’ which means ‘trials.’  The wise old bishop of Jerusalem here is not saying that we should want to be lured into sin, no.  He’s saying we should be happy to be tried.  He’s saying that there is something about the human condition that needs serious testing.  He’s telling us that we shouldn’t want life to be too easy, we should embrace life with joy precisely because it is difficult.
    “Now what on Earth is old James talking about?” p. 265

I found that coming to mind today as I was thinking about the things of God and worshiping.  In my mind it had to do with certain trials that I am facing, and made me think about the Biblical definition of love.  And that points out that love is long suffering.  That is the meaning of patience in I Corinthians 13.  It also goes on and talks about not acting unbecomingly.

So?  Life is full of challenges.  Life is full of bumps and curves.  Love is to be applied in the reality of life not just in the theory of living.

Ringo, John.  Beyond the Ranges.  Riverdale, NY:  Baen, 2024.