In the guise . . .

Few things seem more like sabotage in reading than fiction which “pretends” to be Christian fiction when it’s clearly not. I know this topic could easily digress into the familiar “What is ‘real’ Christian fiction anyway?” That’s not where I’m going here.

Although the differences in doctrines appear uncontested in novels from CBA publishers, this isn’t about the nuances in doctrinal differences in stories. My irritation lies in those books which infuse themselves into the Christian fiction market with no intention of meeting any basic standard of the faith.

I find it mysterious why a writer who depicts characters and situations in direct conflict with Christianity would want to portray said characters as Christians in the first place. Why not just allow those worldly characters to be true to how they act? Why bring faith and Christianity into the story at all? It’s one thing if a writer chooses to portray them as hypocrites or backslidden individuals who’ve had a lapse in their identity and are either angry at God and have turned away from him or who have attempted to participate in the world while professing the faith. We’ve all known these people or experienced those very lapses within ourselves. In those cases we understand where the characters reside in their faith or lack thereof. But to read about characters who have no moral fiber, no attention or desire to adhere to the direction the Lord has for them, and allow those characters to represent real Christians? No. And why?

I’m a firm believer in writing the stories God has given each one of us to tell. If you examine some of today’s CBA authors, you will find several who insert Christianity in nearly invisible or peripheral ways. These are writers who profess and live out their Christianity in real life but who feel their mission to readers is to appeal to a broader base—in other words: not the proverbial “choir”. They don’t pack so-called Christian characters into their stories who in every aspect of their lives fail to accurately represent true Christians. Many times their protagonists are unbelievers and act as such. Occasionally, a close peripheral character or sometimes a lesser peripheral character will represent a person of faith. The insertions of these characters rolls with the storyline, fits in perfectly, and gives a nod to true faith without asserting a strong message.

The hypocrisy of representing real Christianity in a faux “believer” is not only disconcerting but very odd. Any ideas why an author would choose to do this? I’m not suggesting any of the mainline CBA publishers would publish such an effort, but I’m more curious as to why a writer would think a novel like this would appeal to either a Christian or secular audience.

Father, you are Truth and the Truth cannot be improved upon. Period. Thank you, Jesus.

Comments

[Kristen Torres-Toro]

I have no clue. It doesn't sound to me like it would appeal to either.

[Nicole]

Exactly.

[Sally Bradley]

You know, Nicole, I think to those authors, they're not lying. I think what they say is Christian shows their view of Christianity--and that's very sad for them.

The last book I reviewed is a prime example of this. These people were sooooooo not Christians. Yet to the author, they were. Which means his view of God and true Christianity is off too.

[Nicole]

Your review is what sparked this post. I read one other review of the same novel and that reviewer was in total agreement with your assessments, giving similar examples, and it made me wonder how this author arrived at his "opinions" of Christianity. Not from a biblical source obviously. And why he attempted to push it through a "biased" group/readership whose name clearly implicates what they're about: Christian Fiction Blog Alliance??