An Interview with Christian Author Edward F. Mrkvicka

[Shaun]

Here's an interview I recently did with Christian author Edward F. Mrkvicka, author of No Innocent Affair: Making Right the Wrong of Adultery (Tate Publishing, 2011)

Q: Welcome to Bible Geek Gone Wild, Ed. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?

I am a lifelong Christian, author, lay minister and counselor, and retired bank president. I am devoted to saving families from the ravages of adultery and the divorce that almost always follows. Most important, I am devoted to the innocent children who are damaged by the selfish acts of their parents who give in to temptation by being willfully disobedient to our loving God.

The only hope for betraying adulterers is the Word of God. That’s what I try and do with my books and counseling – ensure that as many as possible know what a true evil adultery is, and that they know it before-the-fact, as it is far easier to avoid the evil than to get back once the line has been crossed. And if the line has been crossed, getting right with God is our ONLY hope. Thankfully, we are blessed to have a God who tells in Luke 15:7, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

As for my writing itself, I started writing professionally in 1980. I’ve been solely a Christian writer for the last decade. The truth is, I’ve always been a Christian writer, but I was not able, until fairly recently, to turn my 50+ years ministry and experiences into the written word.

Q: Your earlier books were on finance and banking. What made you decide to begin writing books for the Christian market?

My financial writings were a result of my professional banking career. My intent was always to be able to write for the glory of God. At one point I was the youngest bank president and chairman of the board of a national bank in America. This allowed me to retire early and devote the remainder of my time here on earth to God’s Word. My ministry started at around the age of twenty when I entered the service. There were so many young men confused and frightened, and I was able to help them by sharing the good news of the Gospel. And my ministry was the center of my being even throughout my banking career. It was a one-on-one ministry. I prayed for decades to one day be able to reach more people, and my banking career allowed that to happen. That’s when I started writing Christian books.

Q: No Innocent Affair weighs in on a very difficult and heavy subject. Who is the intended audience for the book?

At the risk of appearing self-serving….everyone. As we all will be tested throughout our lives, it’s best to know the devices of the enemy – adultery being one of Satan’s great deceptions. He employs disobedient physical intimacies with one not our spouse, often masquerading the betrayal as “love,” and then uses the bait-and-switch of finding our new “soul mate” to destroy the real love of our life, our relationship with God.

And the book, by exploring Scripture on the subject, is a blueprint for making right that which we have made wrong. It takes work, and a sincere desire to be repentant, but it can be done, as with God all things are possible.

So we are all in camp 1 (those who have not committed adultery), or camp 2 (those who have). No Innocent Affair helps both. It will help avoid the temptation, or, if required, show us the way home.

Q: In your opinion, what factors have led to a society where adultery is the biggest contributor to the destruction of the American family?

Our society is in decline, and with all such declines, one of the associated manifestations is a lowering of standards to facilitate making acceptable that which is not acceptable. Then too, Satan knows that if he can destroy the American family, he can capture America, and adultery is a means to that end. It harms or destroys everyone it touches, especially innocent children of divorce, divorce (as noted) being the usually end-result of an adultery. The Bible tells us that a man who commits adultery destroys his own soul (Proverbs 6:32) – that alone should be a strong enough warning to stop the temptation, but as we sadly know, it’s not. Let me offer an addendum from 50+ years of experience as a lay minister/counselor. Almost to a person, every adulterer I’ve helped has said in the end “…it just wasn’t worth it.” The adultery they thought they couldn’t live without ultimately proves to be something they cannot live with.

Q: What’s the core message you hope to convey to readers in this book?

That adultery is not the “fun” event portrayed in many books, movies, sitcoms, and the like. It is a destructive monster that will destroy everything you hold dear. That’s the first thing – exposing adultery for what it is, because once we know the truth we will hopefully avoid the temptation. Equally important, if we do fall, there is a way back to our family and the family of our Heavenly Father. The Bible gives us step-by-step instructions that cannot fail. The truth is, most marriage counseling fails miserably. Why? Because secular counseling only addresses symptoms. True Christian counselors know this important fact – unless an adulterer gets right with God, he cannot save his marriage, family, or soul.

Q: Let me close with a final question I ask of all published authors. What advice would you give to first time / aspiring authors?

Write about what you’re passionate about. Technically great writers turn out mediocre books when they write just to write, while so-so authors can write masterpieces when they write books about a subject they care deeply about.

I have always enjoyed writing – even financial books, as I always felt I was helping people by providing information that would help them have a better life. But when I write Christian books and articles, the Lord is in charge, and that brings me joy and peace that no other writing genre offers. Of course, loving God as I do, I never have difficulty being passionate about His Word.

This interview is available in its original context at Bible Geek Gone Wild.

[Karen]

Shaun wrote: "Here's an interview I recently did with Christian author Edward F. Mrkvicka, author of No Innocent Affair: Making Right the Wrong of Adultery (Tate Publishing, 2011)

Q: Welcome to Bible Geek Gone ..."

Thanks for this.

[Shaun]

You're welcome Karen.

[Karen]

:)