I first read her Redeeming Love more than a year ago and just recently picked up "And the Shofar Blew." Rivers is a former romance novelist-turned-born-again-Christian novelist. Add to that the fact that I'm not a romance novel fan at all and it's a wonder that I like Francine Rivers Mrs. I'm not a huge fan of Christian fiction (sorry!) because I think much of it is not well written. as a reminder to stay humble, listen to God and to those that really care about their spiritual walk. Those who praise him are in reality a stumbling block to him as they allow him to continue in pride. He is blinded to his sin and ignores those that care for him and try to warn him for his own sake, preferring the praise and admiration of those who will soon get bored and move on to someone else. In this book the pastor has many superficial admirers that continue to praise him and his works even when his sin is hurting others and should be obvious to him. Pride and ambition can creep into any Christian's life and ministry and this book is a timely warning especially for those in leadership who might lead others astray.
He begins to treat family and friends with contempt thinking that they don't understand him or aren't "gifted" in the same way. The change happens over a long period so is less obvious to acquaintances but very obvious to those close to him.
He justifies this on the basis that if it is growing it must be a sign of God's blessing and so he continues to move forward gradually using more and more of his own strength and less and less of God's. I don't read a lot of Christian fiction but I loved this book as it speaks of a reality that few people talk about.Ī young, enthusiastic and dynamic pastor is given too much power and has too little accountability in a growing church.
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