The battle is being lost.
Oh, not all at once—we’re compromising in small areas, but small areas lead to bigger ones. We’re letting in half-hearted soldiers who may turn traitor. We’re lowering our guns, inch by inch, until they do little more than pepper the ground in front of our feet.
I did a search on the Christian Book Distributors website for last year’s Christian fiction. There were many titles—mostly romances of some sort, a few of the mystery type, some historical. And of all the descriptions I read, only one—ONE—mentioned God.
What has happened to Christian fiction?
The simple answer is that Christ has been taken out. Yes, the books are ‘clean’ and there are references to God or prayer or church, but the redemptive work of Christ is often a side-plot at best.
I know this isn’t true of all Christian novels. There are still soldiers bravely standing, firing their guns at the enemy: the prince of this world. But so many stories are just that—stories. Stories that fail to challenge and inspire and shed Christ’s light to the lost and dying, that fail to lift up and encourage and strengthen the weary, wounded soul.
True Christian fiction isn’t popular anymore. I don’t expect my books to hit bestseller lists and make me a lot of money. But that’ s not why I write. And that’s not why any Christian should write.
For we who are truly saved by grace, having accepted Christ’s work on the cross as payment for our insurmountable debt, everything is about Christ. We did nothing to save ourselves, and we owe everything to Him: our hearts, our thoughts, our words … our very lives.
Nothing in this world is about you—it’s about Christ. Nothing is about your glory—it’s about Christ’s. (1 Corinthians 1:31)
That doesn’t make God a selfish tyrant. No one could ever believe that when they realise that He sent His only Son—a very part of Himself—to die for us. What greater love is there than a man laying down his life for his friend? Jesus gives us the answer in John 15:13.
None.
There is no greater love, and God showed His love like that, though we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. (Revelation 3:17)
Do we not owe Him the words we write? How can we not give Him a place in our stories—and not just any place, but the place of pre-eminence?
Let’s pick up our weapons again and fight this world of darkness! Our Captain is with us, His standard lifted high. Come, fellow soldier!
Fight!
T.R.Q.T.
I couldn’t have said it any better, but I have been saying it. I’m in this same battle with you. I have just been looking over the same Christian Book Distributers website and thinking the same thing. I have also just been in the same kind of discussion with my Christian book cover designer who has been in the business for over 50 years designing covers for the big name publishers, and he feels the same. I decided to do a hard thing with the trilogy I knew God wanted me to republish. I decided not to use Amazon to print my books. Now I think the Lord wants me to do what I can to help other real Christian authors in some way. I am not sure what that looks like, but seeing your blog today is one more conformation that He has a plan.
Thank you so much for your comment, Mrs. Neelands! It’s so good to hear from another writer seeking to glorify God. Sometimes the battle feels lonely, but I’m sure there are more soldiers out there–we just haven’t connected yet. I’m struggling right now to find publishers that I’m willing to support and that are accepting my genre. God has a plan for my writing, though, I’m sure of it.
I’m glad you took the time to share your vision here. May the Lord bless you in your endeavours!