Into the Fire

Jesus Christ . . . is He or has He become just a sidenote to who you are and what you do?

I’ve read a lot of Christian fiction already this year, published by well known CBA publishers. In a few of the novels including the last two I read, the “gospel of Jesus Christ”, meaning establishing Him as the “way, truth, and life”, the only path to the One true God, has been noticeably absent. Though God in His mercy, wisdom, and forgiveness was present in some, the defining factor of making peace with God was implied, but clarity was not provided. In one of the books God Himself was not even hinted at except in one sentence which read something like this: “She prayed that . . .” Period. That was the one reference to an entity outside oneself.

The argument regularly roars around the blogosphere about labeling fiction “Christian”, what the contents and definitions of such literature should or does contain and/or entail, how some authors would prefer their novels to appear side by side secular literature of the same genre while other authors prefer theirs be allotted to the “inspirational” sections or the Christian bookstores.

Much of it is personal preference, association, and intent. In defense of what has been called “edgy” or “stark” or any number of other terminology to define and separate their writing from what a few have deemed “sappy”, as in romances in some cases, Christian authors have pointed out that proclaiming the gospel is not a must—often using the planting, watering, and harvesting theology and applying it to their writing. Other writers have not even attempted to apply theology or any other divine intent to their novels, simply acknowledging that their creativity and craftsmanship is evidence of God’s purpose in their writing.

It’s sensible to me to assume inserting the gospel into a story because it “should” be there is entirely the wrong reason. A story, be it a thriller or a romance, creates a snapshot or a rollicking “film” of a life situation. Whether it comes out comedic, dramatic, or ironic, it still speaks of life occurrences and issues. And in that realization comes a message of what life lived one way or another involves.

The “arguments” seem to take place when sides dispute what the label of “Christian” in fiction should necessitate. I’m not going to go another round in this department.

As a Christian, I’m only going to ask if you submit your writing to the Savior of your soul. Is His purpose for your writing your main concern? How you write to honor Him is between Him and you and not for me or any other individual outside of yourself to determine.

I only know Jesus Christ is the only One who laid down His life for this world full of individuals because God so loved the world . . . Personally, I like it when He’s expertly engaged in the story just like in real life. Because it doesn’t get any more real than Jesus.

“We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first.”
“No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once.” Oswald J. Smith

I’ve “heard” Christians on different blogs or in comments refer to portraying the gospel in stories as “crappy”, “sappy”, and in other negative terms. Yet I have read contemporary literature that typifies the reality of the gospel in compelling, gut-wrenching situations, characters, and dialogue.

Each story is unique, and the storyteller must exercise his own method of telling the tale. I guess I just hate to see Jesus eliminated from story or mentioned as something less than a sidenote.

The lingering and final argument insists that if the Christian label exists, the lost will not pick up or read the book anyway. However, the multi-million in sales of Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love, Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness, plus the collection of the Left Behind series would definitely dispute that assertion.

Lord God, you give the talent and the increase. You direct those lives submitted to you. You are generous, kind, loving, and open to all whose hearts are set upon you. Help us all to do your will, to proclaim your Son, to share you, Jesus, with all whose hearts have been drawn by the Holy Spirit to listen, to hear, to respond to the greatest love of all and the salvation of their souls. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

*Please remember to pray for Kristy Dykes.*