The Judas Syndrome

The Judas Syndrome is my first and only book to date specifically targeted to the Christian faith community. It’s also the first book that a publisher reached out to me to write. Familiar with some of my work, they thought I might be able to muse eloquently about why folks – even professed believers –  still do some pretty awful things.

I was happy to expound on why all the various personality types do the things they do. And I was more eager to talk about what it really means to believe and experience a life transformed. For a long time I’ve been bothered by the devotion some professed believers display toward what I call the “magic words” that they not only love to share but also insist that others need to profess on their lips evidence that they’ve truly been “saved.” But as a person whose faith has progressively deepened over the years, and as a someone who who’s both experienced and long witnessed (as a therapist) genuine faith’s transformative power, I came to a greater appreciation of the adage: “talk is cheap.”

Moving the lips and saying the words requires little. Acting in accord with the command given believers is hard. And what comes smoothly to the lips pales in comparison to actions born of a converted heart. That’s why St. Francis urged his followers to “spread the Gospel always,” but only when absoluely necessary, “use words.” It’s as true today as it was in the beginning of “The Way,” believers are known by the quality of the love they demonstrate.

A Necessary Re-Write

I don’t consider The Judas Syndrome a bad book at all. In fact, I’m truly edified that so many have written me to say that pondering its messages changed their life for the better. But it isn’t, and has never been, exactly the book I wanted to write. (That’s almost always the case when you’re dealing with non-fiction publishers!) And it’s quite likely that even the upcoming re-write of the book won’t represent my final say on matters. (So, I might have to write more than one book!)

Now that I’ve secured all rights to the material, I’ll re-issue (either under the same or a different title) the book, hopefully better emphasizing what I always meant to be the main point: one witnesses the saving power of genuine faith in the manner in which true believers operate. No need for words or preaching. One’s actions do all that. And they’re infectious, too. Intrinsically attractive. Other hearts properly touched naturally move toward conversion.

Look for The Judas Syndrome page on the blog to undergo a transformation over the next few months. I’ll be posting musings on it as I retool the book, and you’ll be able to comment, too.