But the Lord said, "You have been concerned about this vine, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?"
Jonah 4:10-11 (NIV)
A helicopter downed in Afghanistan on Saturday carried 31 US special-forces troops, including more than 20 Navy SEALS.
God, my heart breaks for the families of these valiant men. Words fail. Intervene, Lord. God . . . in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
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.
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:
Christian fiction are 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.
J. 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.
B. 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)
(to be continued . . .)
The controversial label of “Christian Fiction” incites disappointment, argument, favor, and confusion from various professionals in the publishing industry. Debated and dissected on innumerable blogs, the overall genre elicits both praise and criticism.
You might remember last year I conducted a poll which asked a question concerning the opportunity for or the necessity for changes in the industry of Christian Fiction. I received answers from many authors, some editors, and an agent or two, many of whom requested anonymity due to potential backlash for their opinions of the Christian publishing industry.
Although Christians as a whole desire the unity Christ speaks of in the Gospels, we also recognize that these sinful vessels seem to have ample trouble discerning and deciding what is worthy of agreement. For that reason those of us who are serious about our faith desire to be “led by the Spirit” in an ever-increasing measure. I think all of us would be willing to testify and concede to insiders and outsiders alike: “You know it don’t come easy”.
Tomorrow and Friday I will present the results of this year’s Question/Poll which reads as follows:
Whether or not you like or dislike the label, in three sentences or less define “Christian Fiction”.
I’m pleased to say the poll inspired a good number of responses, which is why I will post them over two days, and, as you might imagine, some of the answers were simple renditions and others were much more complicated and filled with innuendo. Of course there is no “wrong” answer and because of these diverse opinions from those within, without, and those not yet directly embraced by the industry it will be plain to see that reaching consensus could be complicated but not really necessary.
Christians squabble over being called “Christians” and take on their favorite alternatives. Likewise they choose new labels for traditional names of all kinds of things and attach their own titles to them, as if a new “label” changes anything or somehow makes them stand for something different. It’s the nature of the beast within us. We often claim the new nomenclatures make us more real, holy, hip, desirable, whatever, when in reality all that truly matters is the role Jesus plays in our lives. Do we allow Him to transform us on a daily basis? Do we work at providing peace between believers and the world without compromising our faith in any way? Do our deployed words elicit a reaction to, an awareness or a revelation of the Lord? Yet most important of all our reasons to define who we are and what we do lies in the single matter of our obedience to God Almighty. I am responsible for my answers to His requests, not yours. And vice versa. Some things to ponder as we head into the diverse answers to this Question/Poll.
Sincere thank-yous to all who participated. I’m very grateful to each of you for taking the time to make your contributions to this poll. They’re valuable.
Father, you know the only way we can come to agreement is through your Spirit. May we all seek to go deeper and deeper in you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
The objectives of storytelling in novel form range from the simplest desire to entertain to the driven compulsion to touch the soul. Neither is particularly different in the ultimate product lending itself to significance. The multiple meanings of significance can be the determiner of how a novel matters to those who decide its value.
Is the novel significant because its sales number in the multiple thousands or even the millions? Is the novel significant because its reviews on Amazon rate five stars from the hundreds of folks who go there to express their opinions of books? Is the novel significant because of word quality and lovely prose, unique characters and plot twists, moral fiber, conscience clinching, or supernatural revelation? What qualifies your favorite novel(s) to be classified as significant?
Would you break the significance down to categories such as the value a particular novel has for yourself? Or would you only include that novel as significant if it matters to many? Or how about that novel which matters to many, has great sales, and touches scores of people, but you don’t like it or consider it important?
Is negative significance equal to positive significance in your mind?
As a writer, what do you consider a novel should achieve to be rendered significant? Are you pursuing The Great American Novel in your writing efforts?
If one person laughs when he’s supposed to, cries as a result of your words, exclaims that your work touched his life for the better, is that enough to make it significant?
Significance . . . does it matter?
Father, you give us significance. You alone. Yet we often hunger for recognition and affirmation. You make us significant. Apart from you we can do nothing. Help us to always remember and apply that fact. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
My cyber-friend and fellow writer Tim George posted this on his site Saturday:
"As I watch the clueless leadership on the news tonight and once again read a note from our son in Afghanistan I can only shake my head in sadness. If you haven't, please consider visiting http://www.tegeorge.com/Fiction/?p=532, read what our soldiers are saying, and leave a word of encouragement."
http://www.tegeorge.com/Fiction/
This may be one of the shortest posts I ever make here in my little piece of the blogosphere and for good reason. There isn’t much we gripe about in life that can’t be cured by a good dose of perspective. Writer’s complain about publishers and deadlines. Teachers complain about parents and students and a system that doesn’t always work. Citizens complain about the debt and Congressmen and taxes. And we all complain about how hot it is and how much better music was back in the day.
Yesterday I paused in the midst of a marathon writing session to complain to the wall about how bad I felt, how much my back hurt, and how that certain client was making unrealistic demands. Then I checked my email and there was a note from a son I haven’t heard from in weeks. He is serving his third tour in Afghanistan as a Forward Observer with Task Force Chosin in one of the hottest of hot zones and had taken the time to email me the following words (edited of course):
Sorry I have not communicated in so long now. Our phone tent has been out of order and I have just now gotten to where I can email and all. So, I’ve been off the map for some time now. I’m doing alright, although I am worn and tired. I have now worked for 137 consecutive days. I am tired, more tired than I ever remember getting on a deployment. The violence continues here at an amazing rate. Our enemy is growing desperate and continues to attack us on a daily basis, all day long. We hunt them in return, all day long. Every day is ground hog day around here at this point. We wake up every day, the sun comes up and we fight all day until the sun goes down.
Nothing good has ever come of war, and nothing good ever will. However, it is an unfortunate necessity in this world of ours. Mankind is in a sad state of affairs I fear, and I can only hope to raise my children right and to point them in a direction that gets them to somewhere positive in life. I do not want my children to be Soldiers. I do not want them to see what I have seen, nor bear the burden of things that no one else can understand unless they’ve been there.
As messed up as America is right now, it is still the greatest nation on the face of this planet. Gotta love it. Love you guys and see you soon.
Still fighting to put your troubles in perspective? Glad I could help you fix that.
Father, please help these men in every possible way as they do what they've been asked and called to do. Relieve them, renew them, refresh them, and revive them. You're the only one who can. Please protect them and be close to their hearts, Lord Jesus. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. This is the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
". . . He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
Acts 10:34-35;42-43 (NIV)
Excerpts from the ACLJ:
We face a critical deadline in our ongoing battle with Planned Parenthood – the nation’s largest provider of abortions. We are holding them accountable in a case where they are accused of fraudulently overbilling taxpayers by hundreds of millions of dollars.
The ACLJ has until this Monday, August 1st, to respond to Planned Parenthood’s latest legal maneuvering to avoid being held accountable for their actions.
Planned Parenthood knows that this lawsuit could cripple their operations in California and their opportunity for future public funding in the rest of the country. We are up against the full weight of this abortion giant’s billion-dollar budget – a budget subsidized by hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.
Our team of attorneys is taking action, working vigorously to meet Monday’s deadline for filing our legal opposition to Planned Parenthood’s motion to throw out a large portion of this case. We are also continuing our work in several other critical pro-life cases – to defeat ObamaCare and defend pro-life pregnancy centers.
Earlier this week, we filed a new brief in our ObamaCare lawsuit, arguing that this pro-abortion law is an unconstitutional restriction of our liberty. Not only does it unconstitutionally force Americans to buy a particular product, it is essentially a bailout for the abortion industry.
ObamaCare infuses groups like Planned Parenthood with unprecedented levels of new funding – funding they will continue to use to attempt to defeat us in court and expand their abortion business.
We are also continuing to defend pro-life pregnancy centers against a New York City law threatening to shut them down – a law pro-abortion forces hope to enact in every city in America. As you know, we won an important victory in this fight earlier this month when a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing this law from going into effect. However, the government – with the support of pro-abortion groups like Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the ACLU, and the National Organization for Women – has already filed their notice to appeal this well-reasoned decision.
We are preparing our response to defend these pro-life centers against this violation of their First Amendment rights so that they can continue doing what they do best – helping women in their crucial moment of need and saving the lives of unborn babies.
Jay Sekulow
ACLJ Chief Counsel
President Obama could not be more clear, saying in his television address: “If … we default, we would not have enough money to pay all of our bills — bills that include monthly Social Security checks [and] veterans’ benefits ….”
This is not only a moral outrage; it’s just not true.
Our legal analysis has concluded that there is nothing in the Constitution or federal law that would prevent the President from ensuring that seniors and our military heroes get the benefits they are due.
If President Obama will not make it a priority to honor our commitments to those who have paid into the system their whole lives and those who have put their lives on the line for their country, we must urge Congress to take action. Reports have shown that if we default, not only would there be money enough to pay Social Security, Medicare, active duty military pay, and veterans’ affairs programs, there would still be $39 billion remaining each month for other essential services.
Let me be clear. President Obama has both the legal authority and the financial resources to ensure that our seniors and our military heroes receive the benefits they are owed, yet he continues to use scare tactics, threatening those we cherish and respect.
As our nation is faced with this impending debt crisis, our leaders in Washington still have an opportunity to cut the debt and prioritize our spending. We could save billions of dollars just by cutting funding for Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry, the terrorist-led Palestinian Authority and other despotic governments that oppose us at every turn, and pro-abortion ObamaCare.
Yet, President Obama and the liberals in Congress insist that the most important cuts we could make are ending tax breaks for corporate jet owners, while abortions remain a tax-deductible medical expense.
There is still time to prioritize our spending and solve our debt crisis, but we must send a message to Congressional leaders today. Tell Congress to support legislation that prioritizes spending, eliminates tax increases, and protects seniors and our military heroes.
Thank you for standing with the ACLJ and taking action to protect our seniors, troops, veterans, and values. This is a critical time for the direction our nation is taking, and your voice is vital in reminding Congress of America’s priorities.
Jay Sekulow
ACLJ Chief Counsel
P.S. In his address to the nation, President Obama urged all Americans to “let your Member of Congress know” how you feel about the debt crisis. It is time to do just that.
God, we're desperate for you. Help us as we pray for our country. Apart from you we can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Whereas yesterday I asked you to recall favorite characters and recite what you loved to see in one that proved meaningful, it might be much more difficult to remember those characters that made you want to forget them.
Can you list three things that you detest in novel characters?
God, remind us to write truth in our stories. To peel layers from characters and expose them at their core. Help us to write real. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
