Christian Fiction evokes all kinds of emotional outbursts both positive and negative. Perpetual discussions concerning it fill cyberspace. Harsh criticism and gushing praise are uttered in either attacking or defending it. The importance of these debates (sans the vitriol from either side) can be found in the hope of establishing an expanding market, more far-reaching literature, and ultimately an understanding from either extreme that all of it serves a purpose and can even reach a need.
The intellectuals want the prose that digs deep into the human psyche with language that plows the rich soil of fertile words.
The realists want “edgy” stories, “gritty” topics, using language that speaks to the culture in a recognizable tone.
The escapists want everything from fluff to adventure to the pursuit of serial killers and the “just tell me a good story” attitude prevails over everything else.
The purists want simplistic stories with sweet little endings or innocent characters trying to stay that way along the bumpy trails of life.
Of course this is a simplification of groups and there’s often a meshing that takes place between them.
There’s a word that’s applied to those who stand out as leaders of particular industries and businesses. That word is “vision”. The term implies the individuals who possess it see ahead of the times, see beyond the “norm” or the “current”, and pursue the temporarily reckless to reach presently unattainable heights of achievement. Who is the visionary in Christian Fiction? And what does that even entail?
I’m willing to bet there are a few of those individuals out there in Christian publishing, but I don’t know who they are or how they plan on advancing the reach of faith/inspirational fiction. No doubt there is an ample supply of visionary writers, some who get published and some who see the doors repeatedly closed to them.
The approaches of authors in extending the reach of Christian Fiction are decidedly opposites. Some desire vagaries that only allude to spirituality. Others suggest a mere mention of God or offering up a hurried prayer can insure the reader will begin the journey to finding Jesus. Others prefer the gospel worked into the storyline to make sure the reader knows a difference exists between the world and Christians. Some writers want the cap taken off the language barrier. Other writers want a crackdown on violence. It seems very few of them want any specifics to emerge in the sexual arena (and by that I don’t mean graphics).
Stories give us life, fantasy, commentary, and entertainment. They depict culture in the here and now, the past and future and dream worlds. They display all kinds of styles, voices, and creativity. Their purpose can be unlimited. Christian Fiction needs a visionary to offer an array of both the beauty and the vile aspects of living on planet earth and beyond. The needs to read novels range from simple entertainment to soulful investment. The market is large but must be cultivated. Too many times, too many people have picked up the wrong books and gotten sour tastes from what so-called Christian Fiction offered them. Although you can’t please everyone—especially militant unbelievers who shriek at even the suggestion of a Christian form of spirituality—the avenue for faith fiction is a huge road with small traffic compared to the rush hour jam it could have with a little more vision.
This isn’t to condemn any of the published books because there’s a reason they were put forth into the market. They provide pleasure, they service needs, and they give something to each audience they reach. This post is to once again remind those at the publishing end of the industry that you’re neglecting a larger portion of the reading public than perhaps you’re actually catering to. Now that’s a thought for consideration. Isn’t it?
Father, those of us who write for your pleasure desire to accomplish your will for our work. Help us to clarify that to ourselves in order to go and do what you want us to do. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.