Into the Fire

Christian fiction writers preach "No preaching". We've all heard – or said – "Nobody wants to be preached at (or to) while reading a story." "Show don't tell." There are many readers in the general market who write apoplectic one-star reviews on Amazon after "mistakenly" reading a Christian novel. At the mere mention of God or Jesus, all hell breaks loose from these people. With accusations of religious drivel ruining the story or wielding rants about being preached at/to, some secular readers want no part of "Christian Fiction".

Some authors who are Christians dance around the label and refuse to see themselves as writing "Christian Fiction". Others desire to attempt the "crossover" route, appealing to the lost instead of "preaching to the choir". Some writers insist the portrayal of Christian principles in stories will serve as a lead-in to seeking salvation or God in general.

The paradox comes in wanting to reach the lost but needing to share the gospel. A Christian can't forfeit who he is in his heart. "Principles" don't necessarily point to God. And the lost won't be interested in Jesus unless the Holy Spirit has been preparing their hearts to recognize the good news.

Christian authors vary in not only their abilities to effectively insert the gospel into stories but in how they manage to make a way for God to be included. Some do it better than others, are far less preachy and much more organic in their approach. However, no matter how well a story is written, if an unbeliever "happens" upon it with no openness in his heart to accept a plot or characters which include Christian elements, the novel will be unfinished, trashed, or at a minimum roust complaints.

Christian Fiction has many stigmas attached to it, some earned and some ridiculously false. Some magnificent writers have constructed meaningful, award winning prose with a Christian message.

As a Christian author, I must tell the story God has planted in my heart. If He wants a major role in that story, He shall have it. If He wants a more subtle presence in the story, He shall have that. I'll do my best to write what He wants me to write, but in the end it's no doubt going to be "Christian Fiction" because that's the world where I live.

God, you're it. Everything. All in all. The works. Thank you, Jesus. Holy Spirit, fill me up with everything I need. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.