Into the Fire

 

Presented to various authors/writers/publishing industry professionals:

 

Whether or not you like or dislike the label, in three sentences or less define “Christian Fiction”.

 

*Some of the following definitions/responses (and opinions) were only edited to confine them to three sentences. Most of them were left as received.*

 

In no particular order:

 

Fiction that arises from the Christian worldview. I do not agree that any fiction a Christian writes is Christian fiction, as some say, because a Christian is capable of writing all manner of perversion or depravity. Christian fiction is fiction that deals with issues pertaining to Christians and/or Christianity.

 

Jeff Gerke (Author/Publisher)

 

Christian fiction should not only reflect the teachings of Christ and his great love for all mankind, but should imitate a Creator that refuses to settle for mediocrity and somehow fashions beauty from brokenness, light from dark, peace from conflict, and ultimately, life from death.

 

Lisa Samson (Author)

 

Christian Fiction are stories created to either edify the Body of Christ, glorify God, evangelize, or all. It is written for Christian readers, but can be mainstream. It is not pigeonholed to clean writing, Amish fiction, or works solely published by CBA.

 

Dee Stewart (Author/Reviewer/Publicist/Editor)

 

Christian fiction is written from a passionate conviction that Jesus Christ is Lord, Creator, and Savior by a Christ follower. Sometimes His name appears in the text and sometimes not, but the story is driven by themes of redemption, forgiveness, and unconditional love. And it is—should be—the most beautifully crafted fiction anywhere.

 

Patti Hill (Author)

 

For me, Christian Fiction is storytelling that presents readers with biblical principles. The storytelling should be authentic, carry emotional depth and challenge the reader where they are in their own life, or perhaps where they’ve come from. Ultimately, the book should glorify God and share His redemptive heart.

 

Kirk Kraft (Writer)

 

 

 

Stories told from a Christian world-view. The intent is either to reach the lost by conveying a Gospel message through the story, or to illuminate truth about God to believers.

 

Mark Harbeson (Writer)

 

If I had to give a definition I’d say it’s stories with spiritual depth emanating from a world view where Jesus Christ is Lord. Does that mean stories where people pray a few times but could still stand as stories if you took the prayers out aren’t? Yep, that’s what it means.

 

Jim Rubart (Author/Owner of Barefoot Marketing)

 

Christian Fiction, to me, is that which points to the hope of Christ, no matter the intensity of the dark hour of the character(s). This genre should have a redemptive value, as we are looking to help draw souls into the Kingdom or help deepen the relationship that already exists between the reader and our Lord.

 

Ronie Kendig (Author)

 

“Christian Fiction” is a generally accepted term used to label stories written with elements of Christian themes. For me, it is simply a novel in which the author had the freedom to tell that story from his or her worldview.   

 

Tim George (Author, Reviewer) 

 

Christian fiction is fiction written from a Christian world view, with a Christian readership in mind.

 

Athol Dickson (Author)

 

Christian fiction encompasses stories told with a Christian worldview. Not always rosy or happily-ever-after, yet ending with some measure of hope.

 

Brenda Anderson (Author)

 

Christian fiction consists of stories about redemption, God's grace and mercy. Characters, flawed and imperfect, strive to overcome obstacles, and in the process either find faith or strengthen and affirm the faith they already have. Readers who believe, likewise, are uplifted and encouraged, and readers who have yet to confess the salvation of Christ either meet the Master through the story, its character and theme, or draw closer to Him as a result of a satisfying and provocative faith-filled read.

 

Patricia Woodside (Author)

 

Fiction that is written with a Christian Worldview. Where one or more of the characters are Christian, living in the world around them, where a strong message doesn't always occur.

 

Winter Peck (Author)

 

Fiction published by a Christian publisher. 

 

Travis Thrasher (Author)

 

Christian fiction is fiction with hope. But not only that (because there are plenty of secular novels with hope) Christian fiction points toward the source of real hope.

 

C. J. Darlington (Author/Reviewer)

 

Christians and non-Christians alike can show the world truly and sinful man’s nature in all its ugliness. Both can also show the moral thread that runs through men and women, making some determined to fight for justice and others choosing to live by the rules of their own making. However, only Christians can include God in a story and have Him appear as He really is: the one thing that is the distinctive of Christian fiction is the one thing that only Christian fiction can do — tell the truth about God.

 

Rebecca Luella Miller (Author, Editor)

 

Christian fiction is a label designed for the niche market of evangelical Christian book buyers for the singular purpose of guaranteeing expectation of content. It is NOT an all-encompassing, council of Nicean, declaration of the parameters of an art-form designed to exclude and label novels which fall short of a certain standard to pagan propaganda suitable only for the process of rapid oxidation known more commonly as fire.

 

Dayle Arceneaux (Author)

 

To me it means writing a story from a Christian worldview. The characters either learn to or solve their problems from a Biblical perspective … all without preaching. 

 

Ane Mulligan (Author)

 

To my audience comprised of Christians, I label my novels "Christian fiction" or "Christian suspense/thrillers" because I know these readers will "get" what I'm talking about. To my audience of non-Christians, I label my novels "Suspense/Thrillers," and sometimes I add, "With a Christian Slant." That's because I don't want them to pass my books up, just because of the term "Christian”—so, I guess it depends who our audience is!

 

Creston Mapes (Author)

 

At its broadest, yet most precise point Christian fiction can be defined as fiction published by CBA publishers. At its narrowest, yet most imprecise point Christian fiction is whatever an individual reader sees as conforming (or not conforming) to their personal religious/political/moral beliefs.

 

Josh Olds (Reviewer/Writer)

 

Christian Fiction is fiction written by a Christian which contains Biblical symbolism or themes designed to uplift, enlighten, reinforce, or ultimately lead a reader to Christ.

 

Jessica Thomas (Author)

 

Christian fiction is niche market that caters primarily to evangelical Christians in search of "safe" reading – no sex, no foul language, no graphic violence. It's a great niche to fill, as far as it goes, but it's also a tremendously limited niche that often forces characters and stories into sugar-coated stereotypes that don't always allow authors to tackle the hard questions of real life.

 

K. M. Weiland (Author/Editor)

 

We don't have Christian photography, Christian sculpture, Christian woodworking; it seems odd to me to speak of "Christian fiction”; there is fiction of mediocrity and fiction of excellence, fiction that brings glory to God and fiction that does not, fiction that tells the truth about the world and fiction that shies away from that. If we write stories of excellence that bring glory to God, celebrate what he celebrates, tells the truth about the world, inspires people to ask the big questions that matter most, and doesn't create caricatures (either of good or of evil), I think we're on the right track, whatever we call it. 

 

. . . is fiction that tells the truth about the world—that means being just as honest in our portrayal of evil as we are in our portrayal of grace; that means showing that all people are lost (and can be found); religious people are not better than other people, hope is only found through the gifts of God.

 

Steven James (Author/Speaker)

 

Father, you know the hearts of all of your writers. You knit us together. You know what makes us tick. You know the stories you have for each one. You know the joy when each of us writes according to your design. I pray your blessing over each of these who work to define what it is you have for them to do on this earth. I pray you would increase their discernment, their faith, their conviction, their passion. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.