Into the Fire

I have a tender heart that is easily bruised and broken. I can cry over a commercial, a card, a gift, a story, an animal, or when certain men cry, I wilt into tears. I cry over rejection, and I cry over praise. It stings for days if I’m the recipient of unkind words or misunderstood. I weep in prayer and often in worship.

So . . . it might seem incongruent to you when I admit to watching all the CSIs, Bones, Criminal Minds and the like. However, I never watch horror films. I’ve read a few of CBA’s current offerings that touch on horror by Ted Dekker, Travis Thrasher, Mike Dellosso, and Steven James even though they’re categorized in the thriller genre—which they are.

I’m not into sci-fi, vampires, werewolves, zombies, or fantasy figures and their landscapes.

I write contemporary fiction and rarely read historical fiction and even more rarely read non-fiction.

Who should determine what I prefer? No offense intended here because I’m trying to make an important point in the world of writing and reading. The answer to my question is quite succinctly: certainly not you. What I write or what I read becomes a matter for the Lord and me. He’s far more capable to issue a valid warning to me than you are. Yes, I can choose not to listen, not to heed His caution, but that still makes it between Him and me. The ultimate result of our exchange produced in my writing or reading is purposeful.

I write for adults who desire to read contemporary Christian fiction. I don’t write for those who enjoy Prairie Romance or the Amish/Mennonite categories of fiction. That’s not to say those genres don’t have a lot to offer their readers. What it does say is my audience is not geared to the majority of those readers’ tastes and preferences.

Too many readers desire to enforce their preferences and standards on other readers and writers. They send harsh emails or letters to authors and publishers without considering that any other opinions matter, ignoring or passing judgment on the authors’ relationship with Jesus Christ. I can’t tell you how wrong I think this is. One of the most beautiful aspects of walking with Jesus is the fact that it’s an individual relationship. He takes us along at our own pace, and the Spirit reveals the heart of every matter in our lives. It isn’t our job or our duty to point out what we perceive as the failures of an individual we don’t even know.

Does this mean we shouldn’t or “can’t” be offended by novels we read—or stop reading? No. You’re entitled to your opinion, but your opinion is not entitled to determine someone else’s opinion.

Once again this brings us back to reviews. I tell you why I love, like, or dislike a novel when I choose to review them. You don’t have to agree. You can tell me why you feel the opposite of how I feel, but don’t think your opinion is more valid than my own. It’s either “neither” or “both” are important. They’re no more than opinions based on personal preferences—we both merit an opinion.

Admit what you like and what you don’t. It’s okay if done respectfully. There are reasons we’re different, and God chooses how to use those differences for His glory, not our own.

Simply, in the Name of Jesus, Amen.