Can you be more specific? How does telling a story make the author disingenuous?
We've been around this before. If he treats his characters as though they were autonomous when they are not, then I'd say he's deluded, failing to realize he is attributing characteristics to things which lack such. He's written a story and has lost touch with the fact that he's written a story.
Let's look at it another way.
He's written a story, and is seeking the fulfillment of personal relationship with his characters. This reminds me of when I played with my GI Joe dolls. I made up stories for them, set up the scenarios, I think my favorite was the moon walker. But I never became confused between my toys and my friends.
Let's look at it one more way.
He's written the story, and the story is us, and all our days, and all our choices, all our opinions, all our feelings, all is written, the story he wrote. And in this story, he presents himself, and he presents us, he tells us all about himself, and all about us. He tells us a story of a Creator God who commands against sin, and though the people sinned, yet he offers redemption to all who will come. He declares the world forgiven reconciled, and to those who will receive him, he will give new and eternal life. He tells us he is not only true, but is truth. But he's holding back a secret. It's not true. It's not really whosever, because after all, this is his story that he wrote, and these things are all preplanned.
When one of us characters responds, it's NOT because we are weary and seeking rest, it's because that's the way that page reads. Not that we want to unload a burden, rather, because we've been written that way. I'm really hoping you can see the difference between these things.
I think for me the most applicable analogy between your view and my view is the playing with toys compared to having relationships, and from everything I know about God, both in the Bible and in my life, He created me in order to have a real relationship with me.
And I know, this is where you start talking about what is real, and levels of reality, and things which we don't understand, no matter. The key point is when we are talking about reality we are speaking phenomenally, that is, according to our perceptions. It's what we are living, perceiving, experiencing.
It's within this "perception of reality" that we receive this message from God, come to me all who are weary, we urge you, be reconciled to God, the invitation is universal. Paul wrote that when and where each of us live is chosed by God to give us the conditions from which we would seek for God, Him being close to each of us.
I believe this is a truth, that God actually does position each of us with the intent that we would seek Him, and find Him, though He's not far. In your idea of a story written, where things that are given as true in the story are not actually true for the characters, who remain characters, God's dolls. GI Joes, each acting out their parts, some to be saved up later, some to be burned up, at the end of this part of the story. Though throughout the story, they are warned to not let that happen to them. But why? Well, every writer has their own ideas I suppose.
But I don't think that way. I believe God is true, as true can be true. I hope I've answered your question.
Much love!
