"How a Christian writer should handle complaints" by Stephen M. Miller Bible blog of award-winning bestselling Christian author, Stephen M. Miller. for Thursday, 26 May 2016
"How a Christian writer should handle complaints" by Stephen M. Miller
TARGET. I get criticized from time to time about the work I do. Sometimes justly. Sometimes not. Either way, I have to figure out how to respond politely. That's often a tough chore. Sketch by N.C. Mallory, flickr, CC2.
I’M NOT SURE WHICH IS HARDER TO TAKE.
Valid criticism from a jerk.
Unfair criticism from a non-Christian.
I don’t like either.
I want to blow raspberries at both.
But I need to be kind and loving. Especially to the non-Christian. Too many non-Christians already have a warped and hostile opinion of Christians. I don’t need to contribute to that stereotype.
Here’s an example of the challenge I face.
I created a short video about Roman crucifixion for my YouTube Video Channel. I called it “What Romans said about crucifixion.”
It runs about five-and-a-half minutes. For the first minute, I reported what the Bible says about the crucifixion of Jesus. After that, I reported what Romans had to say about crucifixions they saw with their own eyes.
Pretty graphic stuff.
The video has been generally well received. It gets about 27 thumbs up for every thumbs down.
But it takes its hits.
…I’m not specifically interested in Jesus, but ancient history – accurate ancient history. Why is it that every time crucifixion is mentioned on the net does it have to become a religious issue is my point. A great deal of people aside from Jesus were crucified….My point is that this video suggests it’s going to say something about an ancient execution method, but instead turns out to be just another religious emotional appeal. One attempting to guilt people into accepting your superstitions and your values. Methinks it’s beneath an educated man.
How to respond. Methinks that’s the question.
Here’s what I said.
Jesus pretty much sets the context for crucifixion, what with being the most famous person in history ever crucified. I’m sorry you felt misled. There’s only so much you can put in a title. I tried to give a hint of what’s under the covers by the brief description of the video that I wrote. I apologize. I didn’t intend to mislead or guilt anyone into my way of thinking. I was trying to report history as best I can, given that we’re 2,000 years after the fact. Peace to you.
I struggle over what to say in situations like this.
It kinda makes me angry when people say they know my motive, and that my motive is to sell a sack of lies.
That’s the opposite of my motive.
Clear back in journalism school at Kent State I got my motive branded onto my brain. It happened on the very hillside where Ohio National Guardsmen shot and killed unarmed college students. That’s the hill where the School of Journalism is located.
The journalist’s motive: Seek the truth.
That’s what I did as a newspaper reporter.
That’s what I do as a Christian writer covering the Bible beat.
I want to know what the truth is. Whatever it is.
Sometimes it’s unsettling and it makes me reevaluate my notions.
But I’d rather be unsettled than a settler.
Blog subscribers who win books this week
- Maureen Morris
- Dallas Packer
Winners get the option of choosing my newest release: A Quick Guided Tour Through the Bible – among about half a dozen other titles.
By the way, I used to send individual emails to the winners. But I’m going to try letting the blog article speak for itself.
If you find yourself listed as a winner, send me an email and I’ll let you know what freebie books are available.
The deal’s good for a month, or for as long as I have giveaway books available.
The post How a Christian writer should handle complaints appeared first on Stephen M. Miller.
Recent Articles:
No comments:
Post a Comment