Into the Fire

This is a real throwback to a Poll I took in 2003 from a diverse group of authors/writers about their definitions of Christian Fiction.

Question/Poll

Presented to various authors/writers/publishing industry professionals:

Whether or not you like or dislike the label, define “Christian Fiction”.

In no particular order:

[Generic Description: Christian Fiction: stories written by authors who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. They are written either for like-minded readers or to entice others into the fold. They proclaim God’s truths through the plot or the actions and beliefs of their characters, either subtly or overtly.] 

Robert Liparulo (Author)

If the motifs and ideas an author works through in his novel derive from Christian theology, that's Christian fiction in my book — along with novels that write honestly about the Christian community and the experience of faith. Given this definition, a lot of things the label is never applied to actually qualify, and a few things it's often applied to don't. 

Mark Bertrand (Author)

Fiction that points to God's truths.

Gina Holmes (Author)

I think about this category in two ways: For me, capitalized "Christian Fiction" is an industry, a genre of storytelling that intentionally uses values held by Christians as a context for the story's themes. I more loosely define "Christian fiction" (lowercase) as any story that illuminates for any reader, whether the author intended to or not, the same Christian values. 

Erin Healy (Author/Editor)

Christian Fiction is a recently recognized genre comprised of stories written by Christians, primarily for other Christians (though some would claim that their goal is essentially evangelist). Its purpose seems to be to provide religiously safe stories for those of the same mindset, and it tends to be insular and stilted in its thinking and application of real life scenarios. The influence of "Worldview Fiction," on the other hand, would likely be farther-reaching and hit the mark for "serious literature" more readily, a mark all Christian writers should strive to achieve.

Chila Woychik (Author/Publisher)

Christian fiction is a genre that includes Christian themes and a worldview that is consistent with Judeo-Christian beliefs. Any story that shows the redemptive work of Christ whether subtle or blatant fits Christian fiction as a descriptor. A clean story is not a good enough reason to label a book Christian fiction.

Michelle Sutton (Author)

My definition is not the industry definition but it's how I define it. Christian fiction is a story told from a Christian worldview and the faith thread can either be subtle or overt, just like we see in the parables of the New Testament.

Susan Meissner (Author)

To me, "Christian fiction" is fiction that merely addresses or includes some aspect of the Christian life/walk. On the one end it is not necessarily synonymous with clean fiction and on the other end it doesn't have to include a salvation message. It can be written for both believers and/or unbelievers to encourage, exhort, equip, or evangelize.

Mike Dellosso (Author)

For me, Christian fiction is fiction for Christians. It reveals Christian ideals–fruits of the spirit, characters fighting to live or live fully against all odds, stories of maturing, of sacrificial love, or of the reality of evil to contrast and set the light in stark relief. It's both escapist and instructive and exists to bring God glory.

Mick Silva (Author/Editor)

Christian Fiction… is a fiction market where readers go to find stories that include stories with a Christian worldview or motif.

Tosca Lee (Author)

Christian fiction for me, whether with an overt faith message, symbolic, or subtle between-the-lines writing, causes me to examine my life against biblical principles to see how I might live differently. It is hard for me to define Christian fiction and put it in a box because I have read books that never mention God but whose characters’ moral code stems from a biblical foundation (even though the author may never have intended such a comparison). It is fiction where the characters and their belief system are so deeply woven together that you read the book and don’t think of the two things separately—which is very hard to achieve.

K. Jackson (Author)

Christian fiction can be filtered through many different genres, characters, and settings. It might never mention a church. Its protagonist might not be a Christian–even at the conclusion of the book. But the book should provide quality storytelling grounded in a biblical worldview.

Eric Wilson (Author)

Novels can't be "Christian." They can, however, contain elements that reflect Christian precepts, virtues, and beliefs. Stories that frame a biblical worldview and/or wrestle with spiritual themes, whether or not those themes are explicitly portrayed or representative of any one religious wing, should be considered as part of the spectrum of Christian art.

Mike Duran (Author) 

Christian fiction is a well told story from a Christian worldview.

Mary DeMuth (Author)

Christian fiction: A novel that is told from a Christian worldview, a story where the Christian faith of the characters is an integral plot thread, important to the story as a whole.

Robin Lee Hatcher (Author)

Christian fiction is our opportunity through story to show the grace, mercy and redemption of Jesus Christ. As He used story to teach and emulate sacrificial love which leads to God, so can Christian fiction whether as overtly as the story of David or as subtly as the story of Esther.

Dineen Miller (Author)

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” 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 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)

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)

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.

Father, presently, I thank you for all of these who responded to this poll many years ago. I pray your blessing still over them and your love to encompass them as only you can do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.