Into the Fire

I’m going to give you a real “character” here, one I would call the Sean Penn of Christian writing types. You can find this person on the more “serious” writing blogs—only ones he/she respects. (It will be “he” from now on.)

Mostly he reads secular fiction because it’s better, according to him. He usually always categorizes Christian fiction as “evangelical” and thus criticizes it, accusing it of, among other things, “preaching to the choir”, deriding it for insisting on including the salvation message, and insults its writers for thinking they are participating in the “Great Commission”. Many times when pressed, the writer will admit he hasn’t read a CBA novel in years and all total has probably read less than ten.

He’s somewhat intellectual with an edge, a decided chip on his shoulder kind of guy with a cynical or cryptic retort when his issues with faith appearing in fiction are challenged with any depth, or when someone levels a careful criticism at anything he’s chosen to believe. He’s likable in spite of his threat of sarcasm, and he’s probably a really nice person, thoughtful with a tenderness he doesn’t want exposed.

As a writer, he’s sharp, definitely falls into the ill-defined “edgy” category, skilled and eloquent, wants his readers to see life as it “really is” for some folks, and won’t kowtow to any restrictions. In this way he figures he’s far more likely to reach the lost than any evangelical novel ever will, even though the interwoven spiritual aspects of the story appear vague and non-specific.

He has no desire to “fit in”, either in life or writing, assuming for him that means being defined by boundaries and choosing to adhere to any association with CBA material. He’s a writer and a Christian, and that’s enough.

He likes being on his self-contained “outside” and will only contribute to those internet places he deems worthy of his commentary, even though in reality he maintains a level of humility in his life. He’s talented in artistic endeavors but frustrated and dissatisfied with those same endeavors, sometimes sullen. And even though he is critical, he is most critical of himself, seeing his faults clearly but wanting to proclaim them at the same time, liking the self-imposed role of rebel with a cause—even and especially if no one else “gets” him.

Seen him around?

Father, we are all desperate for you, need you close, desire to be in your presence. Help us be attentive to you, Holy Spirit, as you lead us in the ways everlasting. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.