Anne Rice “Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt”
Jul 15th, 2005 by cadmus
I am very excited about this book. I’m a huge fan of Anne Rice, and not just for the Vampire books. Actually, I think the first book of hers I read was The Mummy
Not too long after I became a Christian I started reading Memnoch the Devil
Update: I’ve been thinking about what I wrote here. I think I question Christianity now more than ever. In the past I was just voicing the canned defenses against actually believing in Christ. Now I’m constantly wrestling with trying to make sense of it all. Whatever. It’s late and I’m tired.
I love Anne Rice’s voice. The way she tells her stories is intoxicating. Once I was handed Interview with the Vampire
From PublishersWeekly.com – From Vampires to the boy Jesus we get this quote:
“…is an autobiography of Jesus at age 7. Rice told BookLine the subject turnabout is no stretch for her fans–her books about vampires and witches have always explored good and evil. For research, she sank her teeth into extensive biblical scholarship. “If I can make vampires so real that people would call me up at home and ask about them, can I make them feel the presence of Jesus Christ?” she asked.
[...]
WaterBrook will encourage key bookstores to host the author, sending them a letter to readers written by Rice. In the letter, the author, who has returned to the Catholic faith in which she was raised, explains her hope to make Jesus come alive through her story.
I will try my best to not have any preconceived notions about this book. Anne Rice is a great writer and I’m sure the it will be a good book. I am curious as to how she will portray Jesus. For me, the title says quite a bit.
Pat over at Deep POV: Confessions of a Christian Writer: Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt (Where I learned of the new book) has this great quote:
I’m willing to withhold judgment and read her book, but I wonder how many Christians feel that way?
I am reminded of what the senior pastor at my old church liked to say: “If God used a donkey to deliver His message, He can use me.” Or Anne Rice? She just might surprise some people!
I think some people will disregard the book simply because Anne Rice wrote it, even if distribution is Christian bookstores is secured. If Anne has returned to the Catholic faith as the letter states, then I think this book has many possibilities. Barnabas was broad-minded enough to accept Paul and vouch for him when the Apostles were wary of him. I think that’s a good example for us.
I’m just happy to see her back. She has a point about the vampires. If her writing makes vampires and witches so real for people, why not Christ? You say you believe many will disregard this book. Her fanbase is so loyal that maybe this will bring her fans who, like her, had wandered from their faith back to Catholocism/Christianity. It’ll be interresting to read this book. I, too, read her Vampire books many years ago and there are many chapters and events that I can still invision. She knows how to illustrate her words to seduce the reader.
…and, in my humble opinion, be glad you didn’t finish Memnoch. It was probably one of her worst.
I should have been more specific about who might disregard the book. I meant Christians. I’m sure it will sell more in the secular market than the Christian arena.
I’ll do anything to get it out there — to the Christians of which I am one, to my gay readers who are the Children of God, to my regular readers who may think they can’t care about this “character” who made the world. It’s a vocation; it’s an obsession. It’s an evangelism. And a line connects it to Interview with the Vampire which was a song about being without God, a song about the darkness in which you can somehow cling to beauty, fragile and inescapable beauty. And now i’ve come the full length of the journey, and want to stand with the one who made the stars. I’ll take the slings and arrows. It doesn’t matter. In Interview with the Vampire, “a terrible beauty was born.” In Christ the Lord, a magnificent beauty I hope and pray is born. Anne Rice, July 31,2005: Paradise West, California.
Wow, she is the most beautiful writer, everything is so poetic.
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I like the way she describes her book! Yep…heading for the preorder as soon as I get my paycheck! Like Mandy said, Everything is so poetic.
I’ll definitly read anything that has anne rice’s name on it, and i think it is true that alot of people who wouldn’t normally pick up this book, will read it.I’ll agree with Alexi that its great to see her back wirting…and what a treat for her to comment here!
I am no where as prolific or deep as your othe readers, I am however extremely excited to see that you have another book. I’ve
finished all the Vampire and Witches Chronicles and have patiently waiting another installment of her writings. Thanks for that.
I am an Anne Rice fan and look forward to reading this new book. I
agree that it might not sell too well with the Christians, but I
look forward to reading it. I am so glad that she’s giving her fans
something new, I feared she wouldn’t for a long time.
Hi Anne, I’m totally there with you when you describe your older work as finding beauty in the darkness.
I’ve just been re-reading The Vampire Lestat and the way you describe Nicholas’s violin-playing
is so similar to how I feel my creativity when I’m writing. I’m one of your gay fans and I think, to
some extent, we’ve been taught to know that darkness. You’ve been one of my greatest creative influences
for that reason and I can’t wait for Christ the Lord.
The dark books reached people who maybe couldn’t be reached any other way. They write to me about reading the books in Rehab, or in dark times in their lives; they respond to the moral urgency, the conscience of the books. I’m grateful. Nothing for me is half way; nothing is not without commitment. Christ the Lord will speak to others, others for whom the darker paths were too off putting. Christ the Lord is the Jesus of faith, but Jesus made “real” as we insist on characters being made real today in fiction — so that we can see the sweat on the brow, smell the dust of the road, grasp what it meant to be in the very middle of that character’s mind. Christ is for everyone — gay, straight, Jew, Christian, athiest, Buddhist, Hindu. We are the children of God. It’s so simple, sublimely simple, this commitment. Make the book; make them believe in Him; make Him real. Nothing can stop me from pursuing this, from seeing it through. It feels good to be that free, no matter how shap are the knives waiting to cut the book and me to pieces. Doesn’t matter. The readers will make up their own minds. Take care and love in Christ, Anne Rice.
Yes, speaking personally, I think the books found me at my darkest hour,
during my active alcoholism – so it’s funny you talk about rehab.
At the time I didn’t understand what it was about them that spoke to me,
and now I do. I’ve found a kind of faith in my recovery. But I still
think that darkness and beauty appeals to me. It’s where writing comes
from, isnt it? I don’t know if I’m making any sense but I can’t see
how it can be resolved with faith…
Anne, I appreciate you taking the time to leave your comments here. It’s so awesome that you take such time to interact with your fans.
For me personally, to have you visit my blog is an honor. It’s like having you visit my home. Thank you.
November won’t come quickly enough.
[…] She is so awesome. She’s participating in the conversation in the comment section. Here’s the link: Anne Rice: “Christ the Lord, Out of Egypt” Anne Rice Christian Jesus Books [Print] [link] [Trackback] […]
Hello you all, well I’m a Brazilian Anne Rice’s fan.
It’s the first time I visit this site and you’ve got to understand me when I say I don’t beleave that is really Anne Rice that leaves some messages in this blog, sorry if I’m being ignorant, I just need I proof that it’s really her.
And if you are really Anne please tell me when the mini series about the mayfair witches, please tell me cause it’s been a long time since I’ve had any news about it.
Thank you all and forgive if I’m wrong.
Anne has left comments on a number of internet sites. I think it’s her because of the way she talks
about her work.
Thank you all for your open and warm responses to my messages. I don’t know how to assure you that I am Anne Rice, other than to say so again. It’s been very illuminating and refreshing to me to participate in this discussion. I do have an Email to which you can direct questions if that feels more comfortable, but there is something about this format that seems especially intense. In past years, I’ve always been more guarded about my work and how I feel about it –even when the contrary seemed the case. With Christ the Lord, I will do anything that I can to get the book to readers, because that is part of the basic vocation. This story now supplants all stories for me. I feel we become de-sensitized to language about Christ; we become leery because so many Christians have lost credibility as people who love and embrace and want to serve. We have to tell the story of Christ over and over in new ways; we have to hear it again and again; if this novel makes Christ “real” to some one for five seconds, I am thankful. There are many complex things to add but that is the essential reason for my openness here. Take care and love, Anne Rice.
I just have to say God Bless you Anne for being such a witness and servant of the Lord. You are a blessing and an inspiration for other Christians.
Ms. Rice,
I apologise that this post is not directly related to the subject matter of this blog. However, as you are one of the foremost voices of New Orleans, I have been searching for your comments on the recent diaster that has befallen this beautiful city you have made all of us fall in love with.
I am, as I know you are, deeply concerned about the tremendous loss of life, and the loss of way of life as it is known in New Orleans. As you are probably aware, a request was made of the Bush administration in 2004 to improve the levee system protecting New Orleans. This request was denied, and the current levees failed as predicted with this nightmare storm.
I think that it was fortuitous that you recently moved to California, as you are able to reach the media from a safe place, and if you choose, command the attention of the world onto the work that must be done to save the people of New Orleans from living as literal refugees, dispossessed, disenfranchised and most horrifying, disregarded, as recovery efforts are too little, too late.
New Orleans needs your voice, Anne! Let us hear from you! Let President Bush hear from you! Let the world now that you and we will not let New Orleans and New Orleanians die!
Sincerely,
Kelly Whitaker
I don’t know how to feel about Anne Rice writing about Christ. Please don’t get me wrong I believe that he existed. I however do not believe he is the King of King’s. I have been Wiccan for several years and I am peace and secure with my spiritually.
I have every book written by Anne Rice and I appreciate the fact that her books can take you to a place that does not exist to Man nor Woman. I will purchace the book for several reasons, I enjoy her books since I was a teenager and I am very interested in learning what she has to say about Christ.
By all means I am not against nor hate anyone for their beliefs. I just hope that people understand that bible contains writings handed down for centuries from man to man and that it’s missing several books written by Christ devoted followers.
A Devoted Fan,
Marisol
Marisol — my decision was to depict the Jesus of the four canonical gospels; but I did wide research, and paid very careful attention to the legends about the childhood of Jesus which were passed down for centuries; my intent was to “accomodate” as much of this rich material as I could while still working with the gospel frame work. Writers must deal with the subject matter they are given. They have less to say about this than they would like to admit. For me, Christ the Lord was the only truly great challenge. The Quest for the historical Jesus makes up different characters for the mysterious Nazarene every week. For me, it had to be the Christ of faith; the Christ of my church; and frankly, the Christ whom I found in history, going by the best documents that we possess. Thanks, Anne Rice.
I just stumbled across this blog (gotta love the Web) and am so thrilled that Ms Rice has written this new book. For me, the timing could not be better. I am a Catholic, married to a Hindu, and rediscovering my faith. I have been reading Elaine Pagels and Paul Johnson’s History of Christianity. Lately, I have been so taken with understading (or trying to) the historical Jesus and the evolution of the Church. There have been many wayward turns and wrong steps. But, remarkably, so much good and so much of God, I believe, is still there. The hands of men have not completely sullied the message of Christ. But, it akes some digging, some searching, and reflection to unearth the true message of tolerance, love, responsibility and faith. I am awaiting this book anxiously. Ms Rice has such a gift for weaving a believable and palpable world through her words (I truly love the Mayfair witches). I can’t wait to feel the world of Christ through her words.
God Bless all harmed by Katrina. I love New Orleans (spent my 10th wedding anniv there!) and I look forward to enjoying another coffee at Cafe du Monde, attending Mass at St. Louis Cathedral, and savoring a bread pussing at Commodore’s Palace.
Sorry to post again… Just curious… I am interested to find out how much of the writings of the gnostics and the Essenes influenced Ms Rice’s work in this book.
Kathy
I’m looking forward to this book. The Egyptian Coptic Church has lovingly preserved all the sites visited by the Holy Family while in Egypt.
It’s all very much about Son and Mother in Egypt.
Wishing Anne supreme good fortune with this new book.
There is a gap in the childhood years of Jesus. We know from scriptures that He was aware of His diety and His
relationship to His Father. I look forward to the your fresh perspective on our precious Savior. I am mother to
an Autistic child, who has such a highly developed spiritual connection to Christ it is uncanny!!
Someday I expect to see the Tapestry of Life from the front, in all it’s glory and know how we all fit together in the “bigger
picture”, our sorrows, pain and suffering as well as our joy and exhaltations.
Keep On keeping on…..
Ms. Rice,
As a young man, decades ago, I read your writing with much admiration. The subject was fascinating to the shadows of my soul. I appeal to your ever popular voice, after reading what you wrote in the Times about the place you hail from.
I write to implore you to use the fantastic talent of your words, to Awaken your readers to the deeper truths of Our time.
The story of the witch/vampire – polarizing, after a period of shift – to the story of Jesus, is a shift that I hear more & more in my life. As dual is our way.
Yet, I am hurt deeply by the utilization of stories about Jesus to deceive & subjegate, with faith in external power & violence.
The christians have finally circled the globe exterminating nearly every other long functioning society, using the name of Jesus. It is no wonder that one of the more resistant societies (of islam), is chaotically lashing out at the ignorant oppression of the supposed free world. As we all destroy it, in the name of a peaceful prophet.
I like a good story.
I love truth, when I can find it.
I hope writers with your gift of story telling will expand to reveal the truth of spirit that you find hidden in the stories of Jesus. Just as it has to tell the truth of New Orleans, and it’s spirit. Dark and Light.
My quest for faith has encountered the mysteries of Karma. Again this week.
I look foward to what you have written of Jesus. Just as I look foward to the shift of New Orleans.
May the Lamp shine brightly for you.
merc, your comment is to the point. We Christians have lost credibility as people who know how to love. We have to regain that credibility by focusing on Jesus’ message to love which could not be clearer coming out of the gospels. — It is a great tragedy that so many sensitive and caring people in America see Christians as “haters,” as people who want to oppress and shut out others. We are all the children of God, and I will never in my writing or in my life be pushed into hating, or excluding, or condemning anyone. Gay Christians, Gay Jews, straight Christians, straight Jews — we are all worshipers of the same God and He has told us again and again that He wants us to love and serve one another. “Open wide your fingers to your brother” in charity is a message that precedes Christ. To love, to really love, to admit the goodness of one’s enemies, that is a hard task and it is enough to keep me busy for the rest of my life. I’ll leave the hating and condemning and casting out to others. Thanks to all of you for your concern for New Orleans. Finally help is pouring in. Love in Christ, Anne Rice.
I have stumbled upon this site when I read Ms. Rice’s NYTimes article about New Orleans, I found
it a wonderful, well thought out cry for a city that offers much to our nation. Thank you, Ms.
Rice. I have read the blog above, and as a pastor of the Christian faith, I too am tired of
people who want to villify all Christians for the few who define it by the traditions of man
and his struggle to maintain power and control through religion. As I read this blog, I am
in total agreement with Ms. Rice, Christ was the Son of God who came to reveal the Love of
God to humanity and His desire to bring that love to others through us who truly desire to
serve God by being obedient to His commandment to “love one another as I have loved you”. If we
as Christians would return to the Message of Jesus, to love one another, then we truly would
see what true Christianity is and what it offers to the world. Though I have not read any of
Ms. Rice’s books prior to this new release, I am going to purchase it and read this one. By the
way, I am a pastor of a church in which our vision is: Love God and Love His people and serve
both. I feel driven by the Lord to shout out His message of love and look forward to reading
this book. Love in Christ, Pastor Ken
“We are all the children of God, and I will never in my writing or in my life be pushed into hating, or excluding, or condemning anyone. Gay Christians, Gay Jews, straight Christians, straight Jews — we are all worshipers of the same God…”
That is a lie. The only way to worship the One True God is in Spirit and in Truth. Satan keeps people in deception in the opposite manner through Flesh and in Lies. Without the Holy Spirit no one can even call Jesus Lord. No sodomite will enter into the kingdom of heaven. Therefore there can be no such thing as a “gay” Christian. You don’t have to believe me just read the bible (Rev. 21:8). Know this – that lake of fire is not going to be just for Satan and his minions. There will be the spirits of many people there as well and God is not going to put “his children” there but the “children of disobedience” will be put there.
This is the love of God: that we keep his commandments (Word) and they are not a burden. Jesus says: if you love me, obey my commandments. If we are not obedient to his word we are in rebellion. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry (1Sam 15:23).
1Thess. 5:22 says to abstain from all appearance of evil. In other words, if it even looks evil – get away from it…If you think that you can find the light of the world (Jesus) in anything related to perverted evil like vampires etc., you are in serious delusion. You are teaching the doctrine of devils. Any Christian who does not turn from false teaching is in disobedience (2John). Jesus came to save the world – but He will not receive anyone that does not have a broken spirit and a contrite heart. He will receive a homosexual, but that homosexual MUST be transformed by the renewing/metamorphosis of that homosexual mind. He must acknowledge and accept the fact that he is a sinner and as Jesus says: go and sin no more. We must all first come to the throne (acknowledge God) and put ourselves on the altar as a living sacrifice, repent and ask forgiveness AND CHANGE.
The only “message that precedes Christ” is the message of John the Baptist (the spirit of Elijah) which will prepare the way of the Lord: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. Turn you heart to the Father of Jesus Christ – the Father of all spirits and away from the father of lies, the father of the Adamic race. We were all contaminated by words – lies – when Satan spoke to Eve. Jesus says that his words are spirit and they engender life. Likewise Satan’s words are spirit and they engender death.
Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. This is a (singular) narrow way. There is only one way, one life and one truth. There will be no variance in the body of Christ. One mind and one accord. Accept the one Truth and life or perish. If you are a Roman Catholic, or a Baptist or a Methodist – Repent! Jesus says call no man on earth your father – so how can a “priest” be called “Father”. Psalm 111:9 says:
“He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name”. Therefore anyone that calls a man “Holy Father” or “Reverend” Billy Graham is in rebellion to the God they claim to serve.
Jesus says don’t think that I come to the earth to bring peace – I come with a sword (Matt 10:34) – Read it! The true Gospel of Jesus Christ is a separator. The gospel is infallable. He is coming soon. New Orleans is a judgement. Renquist dead at this particular time is a judgement. A country that is bathed in the blood of 50 million innocent babies is going to be judged harshly. We have not seen anything yet…He is coming soon.
Tom
Comments such as those from Tom are only greater proof of the dire need for Mrs. Rice’s upcoming novel.
Mrs. Rice appears to be striving to undo the slander executed by maniacal tyrants in the name of Christianity. The story of Christ is older and greater than any of us know. Osiris, Dionysus, Buddha, and many more ancient deities share startling characteristics to that of Christ. Legend or reality, the crucified savior is quite possibly the oldest story known to man, and with good reason. When accurately presented, it has the power to unite and heal, which this world desperately needs to do.
My heart truly aches for those who have taken a faith to such a dark part of the human
Psyche. Despite popular practice in the modern world, religion is not a vehicle for condemning others into practicing a desired behavior. If you enjoy such a mindset, I would suggest finding a time machine and traveling back to the time of the crusades to see just how devastating such actions can be. (BTW, who in their right mind uses the word sodomite? Newsflash— medieval Europe is over)
Truth indeed does set us free. In fact, it is in truth that I was able to realize that any talk of “satan” should be immediately discarded, seeing how “satan” is nothing more than a cheap knock-off of the Greek god pan. This symbolical boogie-man was used to scare the public into assimilation. One can do themselves a giant favor by banishing this spiritually draining ideology and choosing to live for themselves and the good of mankind. You’d be surprised at just how much more beautiful life is when you believe in the best instead of focusing on the worst.
Any suggestion that the tragedy in New Orleans is a sign from the heavens as a precursor to some sort of judgment day is rubbish. This disaster is the result of an administrations futile and unjustified war, which drained funds that could have protected a beautiful American city from ruin. We too have a part in it. Global warming is a reality, and we as a nation and as a planet need to wake up and get Mother Nature’s memo: CUT IT OUT! I sincerely hope that this nightmare will make us wiser and stronger, and that those who perished will not have done so in vain.
The “Reverend” Billy Graham is one of the most humble and contrite persons I have ever seen (and met)!! He has for half a decade preached directly the word of God to the hurting world. His son Franklin, a man of action as well as words, is as I write, amassing an army of trucks with food, provisions, volunteers and God’s Word of Love in action to the devasted Americans of the Gulf coast. How many souls have been harvested and hearts changed becuase of this man?? Too many to count I imagine. I fixate on this (Billy Graham)in the above blog, because my own father’s life was forever changed at an altar call of a crusade in the mid 60’s, when he transformed by the blood of Christ. This enabled me to grow up with the Power and Love of God through His Son, Jesus, in my earthly father. And now I pass this on, Lord willing, to my own children.
Though Christians are transformed through Christ and we strive to be perfect in Him, we fail miserably… But when Jesus heard {this,} He said, “{It is} not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. [13] “But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT SACRIFICE,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mat 9:12-13 NASB)
Ever humbled and amazed by Christ’s Love, Tamra
Jesus always met people where they were. He said to love one another. That was his greatest teaching and his greatest admonition.
Jesus also warned us about judging others. Practioners of personal legalism take a superior stance in their cruelty. There is no love in them. In that regard, they are more like the temptor than the Saviour.
Yes, I think Anne Rice’s voice is a fresh one. I like the way she writes about
spiritual issues and at the same times is so inclusive when it comes to sexuality.
I’m gay and I’ve felt love and spirituality and that’s something that can’t be argued with,
however many scriptures you quote.
Carol:
You say Jesus “warned” us about judging others yet you say “There is no love in them”. Just like most “Christians” when confronted with the truth, they resort to “who are you to judge”, yet they do the same thing that have judged against (Romans 2). Jesus says to first take the lumber yard out of your own eye so that you will then be able to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye (Matt 7). In other words, my disciples will be purged and sanctified so they will then be righteous vessels that will do greater works than even I. That is in your bible.
Carol, Read what you wrote. You talk about Jesus in the past tense. He is alive. You do not yet know him if you speak of him as if he is dead.
Tom,
Give the hate a break. You’re the kind of person that drives people away from organized religion.
Ms. Rice did something that you can never do. She went out a limb and is writing a book away from her genre because of Jesus. Because of what Jesus means in her life. Because she loves and not hates like you do.
For Jesus, there is no soul left behind. Not even one such as yours.
Carol
Jesus said so much about love; how can we keep turning away from it? Take Matthew 25. There he tells us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, take in the stranger, visit those who are in prison. He tells us that when we do these things for the least of his brethren, we are doing them for Him. Paul’s words on the supremacy of love need no quoting. Yet for some reason, there are always those who seek other passages in the bible to justify what seems to be their own anger or displeasure with others. Obviously Jesus didn’t want this to be easy for us; the bible is huge, magnificent, overwhelming and endlessly inspiring. But the message of love is irrepressible and undeniable. And love is enough for me. Many of our priests, our rabbis, our ministers, our “reverends,” have given everything to follow Christ. I’m glad we have them; I’m glad we have all good people who love each other and truly care about the welfare of one another. To love — that can take all we have, Anne Rice.
Carol:
You have also made a righteous judgement. I AM trying to drive folks away from organized religion. For the very most part, all organized religion is run by Satan. Remember, Jesus tells us that Satan is the God of this world (2Corinthians 4:4). Understand that the devil runs all of the systems down here (political, religion, education, entertainment etc) The word religion itself means to return to bondage. Organized religion of any kind will bind you. Jesus says that the kingdom of God cannot be seen on the horizontal but it is within (Luke 17:20-21)
Beware of churches. Read 2Corinthians 11. We are warned that there is another Jesus, another Spirit and another Gospel and if we are not guarded we will be deceived like Eve and go right along with it. In the same chapter we are told that Satan appears as an angel of light and that his ministers are transformed into ministers of righteousness.
God told Ezekiel to eat the whole roll. We cannot just pick and choose the parts of the bible that make us “feel” good. He says that it will be sweet in our mouths but when it gets down into our belly it will be sour. This is to say that when we truly ingest the Word, then we can see ourselves for what we really are on the inside it will make us sick. That’s why we must be transformed in our minds. The whole focus of this Gospel is to overcome the Satanic nature that operates in our minds. Jesus tells the 7 churches in Revelation – to him that overcomes – to him will I give…
God IS love. Love is not a feeling. Love is a presence (1John 4:8,16). Remember, God does not change (Malachi 3:6). The same God opened up the earth and Dathan and them were swallowed up (killing 25,000 or so people). Don’t be deceived into thinking that the same God of love is not also a God of wrath. That is what the true Christian is ultimately being saved from – God’s wrath (Romans 5:9). Read Luke 13 about the tower of Siloam. Jesus is telling us – don’t think that those dead people were worse sinners than anyone else. Just don’t let the tower fall on YOU. Repent or it WILL fall on you.
God is all powerful and all knowing. There is NO darkness in Him. Know this – He had the power to stop that hurricane from destroying New Orleans. New Orleans has been destroyed people!!! The same God of love allowed an entire city to be practically wiped off the face of the earth.
God could have stopped it – BUT HE DID NOT.
Judgement cannot be stopped.
Some will say I speak hate. Some will say that I have no love.
How is it possible that people don’t even realize that Jesus and his followers were KILLED for preaching the Gospel of redemption?
What did that was the power of darkness…Read your bible!
At the end of the age, the true Christian will be ostracized and beaten in churches and called “the Devil” by “religious” people. Just like it was when Jesus walked the earth – so will it be at the end of the age. The true Christian will not fit into the global plan of “peace, diversity and tolerance” – because this world is evil and the true Christian will speak agains it. All “religions” will join together (with the government) to accept and embrace all faiths, denominations and people no matter what they believe. Christ wants an individual. He wants someone to sup with, to stand in the gap for the lost.
You think I hate a homosexual when I say to them that what you are doing, more so, what you ARE – your nature – is wrong – repent and change. If you do not do the same then you do not love that person. You are allowing that person to go staight to the pit of hell. You shall know the Truth and only the Truth will make you free. There is only one Truth. Most people will not bow to Him because people are by nature rebelious and hate God and His sovereign authority. They don’t want ANYONE telling them what to do including and especially God.
If you do not believe that He is going to end this age then you do not beleive in Jesus Christ the Word of God.
What God despises more than anything – yes even God HATES some things (Romans 9:13 and Revelation 2:6,15) – is idolatry. If you or I do not worship God above all else, in totality, then we are idolators. If you or I do not worship Jesus Christ as Lord then you or I by default worship Satan.
Keep yourselves from idols (1 John 5:21)
Who are you following – Jesus Christ or Anne Rice or yourself? If you follow either of the latter two then you follow Satan.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35
Oh, how talk of Christ stirs the passions within! Anne, may God bless you for what you’re trying to do because your message couldn’t be more “on point”. There has been far too much hatred and judgment and – most of all – FEAR among those who claim to know the love of Christ. How can they know anything of Christ’s love when their lives are utterly consumed with “righteous” hatred for others who – like themselves – are poor sinners in need of forgiveness? We ALL fall short of the glory of God, and our life journey is one of discovering the ultimate meaning in our lives. God loved us so much he sent His own Son – so that we might know just exactly who He is – what He’s like – and how He wants us to live. And it didn’t stop there. Christ loved us so much that He actually died in our place – took on our sins and suffered the punishment ALL of us deserve. He removed the sting of death from our lives.
The moment that truth becomes real, lives change. People change. And it is God’s perfect love – not the knee-jerk harsh judgment of those who WILL be judged themselves – that transforms those lives. As Christians, let us never forget that our mission – our ONLY mission – is to reflect His compassion and love in our actions and our words.
CAROL YOU CANNOT JUST QUOTE ONE VERSE OF SCRIPTURE TO HELP YOU PROVE YOUR POINT…IT IS ALL OR NOTHING….IF YOU WANT TO EMBRACE CHRIST’S LOVE THEN YOU MUST HATE WHAT GOD HATES; AND GOD HATES SIN….ALL MANNER OF IT WHETHER IT BE DISGUISED AS LOVE OR NOT….PAINTING CHRIST’S LOVE AS TOLERANCE FOR ALL MANNER OF LIVING DESPITE WHAT HE SAYS IN HIS WORD IS A DIRECTIVE STRAIGHT FROM HELL ITSELF TO LEAD PEOPLE AWAY FROM THE TRUTH…….YOUCALL TOM A HATER…YOU ARE RIGHT…HE IS A HATER OF EVERY TRICK THE DEVIL WILL TRY TO PULL IN THESE END TIMES TO KEEP SOULS OUT OF HEAVEN…IM A HATER TOO!!!!!
Yes, Nikki. I couldn’t agree with you more when you say “it is all or nothing.”
Jesus is love — 24/7 throughout eternity. Pretty amazing, huh?
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35
Jesus couldn’t be any clearer. It is Love that defines us as His disciples, sinners though certainly are. We’re as dysfunctional as the apostles. But as long as we love one another as He said, we are trying to be like Him.
Doesn’t if that isn’t good enough for you. God bless you in your search.
Here’s something else to think about – a saying we’ve all heard at one time or another. Hate the sin – love the sinner. I can’t say it enough. The transforming power of God’s love is the ONLY thing that will put to death the sin that lives in us all. That’s why it’s called Amazing Grace. If anyone here can honestly say they are without sin – go ahead and cast the first stone. Demonize those you hate and glorify yourself. And then think about how many times He forgave you. But never forget. God hates the sin in you too – but He will never hate YOU.
Allow me to ask; have you ever lied? Have you ever stolen anything, even a pen from work? Have you ever said something about someone else that you shouldn’t have? Of course, 99.99 percent of us have. So that makes us lying, stealing, backbiting gossips. Why do we rank and file behaviors one above another. Jesus died for all sinners. 1 John 1:9, “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The question you must ask is are you a sinner. Knowing that the answer is yes, then Jesus died on the cross for you too. Now, say
what you will, but He took the ultimate sacrifice for our eternal freedom. He came for the adultress and the lesbian; He came for the lying, stealing, gossip who has wronged their neighbor. We all have our sins; we all have our struggles; if it was a matter of being able to stay pure before a Holy God on our own, then Jesus died in vain. We can’t do it alone, we must accept Jesus as our Redeemer and Friend and God. For those who chose not to; then may He who will judge, have mercy upon your souls.
Amen, Pastor Ken and Carol! THIS is the rich and loving community we find in Christ.
Ms. Rice
I was wondering if you would share with us your journey that brought you to the conclusion of writing this book. As I said before, I am a pastor and there are so many people who live in such despair and lack of hope in their lives. They find themselves in such places of darkness. You mentioned in some of the posts above how it is your hope that anyone who has found themselves in such places would be inspired by not only your books but by the hope and love you have rediscovered for yourself. If I am asking something that would violate your personal privacy, please forgive me, however I would love to share your story with those who first are the ones who would cast stones at you and your work without even experiencing it first and secondly to share with all who will listen that there is a Lord and Savior that loves them and cares deeply about their lives. Thanks for your consideration, Pastor Ken
To Anne Rice: I greatly respect your literary achievements and find you to be an illuminating and divinely inspired writer…..however, I was wondering if during your extensive research for “Christ the Lord Out of Egypt”, if you came across a book titled “The Templar Revelation” by Lynn Picknett and Clive Prince…..it is subtitled “Secret Guardians of the True Identity of Christ”…..This is a mindblower and probably not digestible by the vast majority of people, (too intellectually and pychologically taxing because of the male/female horasis message of Isis/Osiris and the continuing lines of equal female/male energies through the Magdalene and John the Baptist)……perhaps the world isn’t really ready for the whole truth but must be fed the Disneyland version so that the last 2000 years of patriarchal oppression can continue….I know you’re probably savvy to this but maybe you’ve chosen to at least teach the message of love (which is “the christ”, the light) even if you have to use a metaphor that people can handle at this point in evolution…..obviously the message is more important than the messenger but it is a travesty that the goddess energy(female) of this planet has been in hiding for so long now when what is really needed is an equal blending of the patriarchal and matriarchal energies into a whole which is the message of the true Essene(gnostic) christianity. This same message however, came from the ancient Egyptians through the Isis/Osiris story……Alot of the teachings of Jesus Christ were actually taken word for word from the teachings of Isis…..oh well, I guess Americans will always prefer the fast food version of spirituality as served up by Emperor Constantine’s highly edited version of the original Essene scriptures, designed solely to control the masses and invoke fear of the feminine……..There have been ALOT of Christs(simply meaning “enlightened one”), both male and female and there will be alot more before the entire planet reaches enlightenment and truly understands the “message of the Christ”, which is transcendance and oneness with God through WHOLENESS…….which cannot happen as long as we propigate the half which is the patriarch(male God) and ignore the other half which is the goddess(female energy). The religious institutions have followed this policy for 2000 years and that is why there were so many atrocities committed in the name of Christianity…..I am sure that you are fully aware of all of this and are simply trying to get the message of the light out to the masses….in this way you too are acting as a “Christ” (and a female one at that)…..I just hope at some point in the future the propaganda of the patriarchal religious institutions can be overcome and the true “Christian” message in its original intended form (gnostic version) can come to light…..no matter who the messenger is.