You know them. They show up on your Christian writing blog or website and leave cryptic messages about how untalented, copycat-ish, preachy, and nearly illiterate Christian fiction authors are. When you challenge them to name the recent titles they’re referring to in their deluge of negative critiquing, they disappear into the blogosphere because they haven’t read a Christian novel . . . probably ever. Maybe one or two of their friends read one, once, and thought it was all of the above. So, they base their elitist, high-minded criticism on hearsay. Or they play it cool and say that the only “real Christian” writers are Flannery O’Connor or Anne Lamott.
Or they appear in newspapers with their sardonic, condescending tones of “informed” disdain for the Christian market as a whole without truly being knowledgeable about which they speak. But they know no one who’s reading their columns gives a rip about Christian fiction anyway, so they figure they can get away with it. Since a large percentage of the news is slanted to the left, their articles will feed the hungry for more ammo to hurl at the right wing Christian Conservatives who read the pathetically written trash known as Christian fiction.
Journalism of all kinds has taken a hit in recent times. There are a few true journalists, talented individuals who know what reporting is all about: reporting. Yes, they have their own voice as they do so, but they keep their opinions at bay because their duty is to report what is actually happening, not what they wish was happening so they could further their particular ideas or group’s agenda.
And more often than not “the arts” also have an agenda. That’s not a recent thing. People of power usually like to color their creations with their own opinions, and isn’t it nice that they get to do that here in America? The privilege of freedom. Hard-fought-for freedom. Bloody battles. Lives lost. To pay for it.
So, if my “agenda” in writing fiction is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ in some way, why should a secular humanist bemoan my right to do so? While secular humanism is a religion full of its own worship of humans, although they equate them with animals, strict in its doctrine: NO GOD! NO CREATION!, and filled with music: anything that doesn’t mention or allude to GOD, Christianity is not in fact a religion. On the contrary. Christianity is being known and accepted by The Creator through the surrender to His Son’s sacrifice given as payment for each human being’s sinful conduct. Of course, in the religion of secular humanism, sin is not sin. Sin is equivalent to a four-letter word. Do not speak it, do not define it, do not pay any attention to it because it’s rank and rigid and restrictive. Hateful, even. “Free” speech only applies to secular humanists apparently.
Point being, if you’ve read any of the current menu of Christian authors who write in a variety of genres, then you know the grounds for criticism are slim. Especially, and I do mean especially, stacked up against a current menu of secular authors. Take the “best” of both worlds and chances are you’ll have a draw. Because talent is displayed in multiple forms, and just because the plot has to do with the possibility of a character meeting, considering, or actually knowing Jesus Christ, does not make the novel something less by default. Subject matter is not a factor here. We’re talking writing.
Sometimes we Christians cower at the accusations of the world using various excuses and disclaimers concerning why or what we write. You know what? We don’t need to do that. We can speak with the authority of a believer in the Risen Christ when we have opportunity to acknowledge that we write for Him. Maybe our books will only reach other Christians, maybe God will use some of them to reach or stir the lost, but whatever He decides to do with them should be the reason for our joy and satisfaction of being a “Christian” writer/author. Don’t we write for His pleasure, for His glory? We have nothing to hang our heads about: we know the Truth of salvation available to all. We’ve been rescued from certain destruction! We’ve been given an opportunity to point hearts to Him however He decides we should. We are blessed by the Living God.
So write. From your heart. For Him. And be glad you have true freedom in Christ. And don’t be hindered or ashamed to proclaim it from the housetops with love, compassion, humility, and grace.
Praise you, God Almighty. Give me words to assemble for your glory. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.