Jesus gave us a specific instruction reminding us that we are “in” the world but not to be “of” the world. In other words: this is your temporary home. Live in it, engage the people, show and tell them about me, be wary of its sinful attraction and don’t let it capture you with all the pretty trappings and the fun side of sin. Because we all know there’s a fun side to sin. If there wasn’t, why would anyone participate and why would it be so difficult to resist?
So, why do some Christians read secular fiction? I know exactly why I read it, but that can wait.
The primary reasons in Christian writing circles for reading secular fiction are to keep abreast of the general market and its trends, to be well read, to enjoy the writing skills of favorite secular authors, and to read those genres where there are little to be found in the CBA books, i.e. fantasy and sci-fi.
The most stated reasons for Christians who are readers (and writers) for their secular market tastes are the following:
Christian fiction is inferior.
Christian fiction is too preachy.
Christian fiction is too predictable.
Christian fiction is too “positive”, unrealistic—there’s always a happy ending and everything works out when you get saved.
Christian fiction never portrays the Christians as struggling with or being in sinful situations. They’re always the “good” characters.
The truth of the matter is this: All of the above can be true in Christian fiction, but those reasons have a mirror image or evil-twin reasons in general market fiction in that some of it is inferior, preachy as to whatever their agenda is, predictable to their cause and formula, too negative: nothing works out yet nothing changes to make things better, i.e. hopelessness reigns, and sin can be exalted either in the portrayals of the character lifestyles or in the no remorse/punishment for sinful behavior.
Now as one of the Brendas who visits here has stated, she reads secular fiction because she can’t find the specific genre (historical non-romance) much if at all in CBA books. She’s diligent in her searches and mostly comes up empty. As a believer, she would prefer to read Christian novels, but her tastes leave her few choices. So she writes in the genre she’d prefer to read.
I think it’s safe to say that some Christian readers who’ve abandoned Christian fiction for the secular market probably haven’t read much of what’s offered in present day Christian fiction. They’ve read a couple of authors and got turned off by them and don’t want to waste their reading time with any more of the same. Their assumptions that the rest of Christian literature is most likely the same as the limited examples they’ve experienced are enough to keep them from venturing into the market again.
As our other Brenda who visits here has pointed out, she’s known members of her church who didn’t realize there were Christian novels available even though they’re avid readers.
Just for speculation . . . Do you suppose there are some Christian readers (and writers) who’ve chosen secular fiction because it’s a “safe” way to dabble in what the world offers? They’ve become a little bored with the portrayal(s) of the spiritual life in stories, perhaps resenting a character who’s strong in his/her faith and able to withstand temptation in climactic situations. Perhaps the risqué factor allows them to experience a sinful lifestyle without doing them any harm—at least physically. Just a thought.
There’s talent in either market. Some Christian readers prefer “clean” fiction, some would say sanitized, and others prefer their novels more “real” or “raw” (not graphic) of which there are few in the romance and women’s fiction categories in CBA offerings.
God, your message comes in so many wonderful ways—even through your gifted storytellers. Help those of us who write give you ample words with which to work. May we honor you in all we write. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Into the Fire 
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