Into the Fire

This week's posts have an edge to them. One might think I have something against Christian publishers. I don't. Without understanding their need to shield themselves within their so far successful industry, it is working for them overall even though they've excluded many readers and, for that reason, many writers.

This has never been about incorporating the usage of vulgar language, graphic sexual scenes, or a typical worldly approach to the Christian venue of fiction. Not at all. In my opinion novels written by Christians should be the most insightful, the richest, the deepest, the most imaginative, and the most entertaining of all of literature because of the vitality of the Holy Spirit. These serious criticisms of the Christian publishing industry arose from the repetitive offerings composing most of their fare and the seeming need to produce more of the same in spite of conference speakers and professional blogs, etc., which insist the opposite is true. 

I'm well aware of those Christians who aren't familiar with His voice, who go through life relying more on their "intuition" than the desires of the God who saved them. I'm also aware of those Christians who live a restricted and rigid formula void of the daring of inspired conduct and the fullness of grace. Somewhere in the middle of those Christians reside layers of other believers who endeavor to go deeper into this One who knows no end or beginning and can never be fully known by those He created because of His infinite being. In each of those classifications there are readers of stories, many of whom read exclusively in the Christian fiction market and many of whom desire to do so but fail to find the kind of books they're hoping for, either because they've sampled the obvious choices and come away disappointed or unimpressed or because they have no idea where to begin their search for meaningful literature within its ranks.

This isn't a blame game but rather an acknowledgment of weaknesses and vulnerabilities in a profitable business. Most businesses look for ways to expand, to reach more of the consumer market, to build their base. Christian publishing seems to be satisfied with its small but steady and profitable portion of the market even though very low percentages of their authors earn back advances thus reducing advances in recent times. Could it be their readership is shrinking? Could it be their non-fiction market carries them? I don't know.

As always, my opinions for this week . . .

Father, please help your people to pursue your will above our own in every area of our lives. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.