tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301712379976680355.post439862667932856653..comments2024-01-10T01:50:47.469-06:00Comments on Teenage Writer: Fighting for Christ-Centered Christian FictionJakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07013859345463250479noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301712379976680355.post-51427905263614228902012-10-29T13:53:28.613-05:002012-10-29T13:53:28.613-05:00Hi Jake,
I don't comment here often but this p...Hi Jake,<br />I don't comment here often but this post speaks volumes and I do have something to say. <br /><br />There are very few clean Christian writers and with your heart and love for God I know you can write some amazing Christian fiction that does not leave a person feeling tainted. <br /><br />It is always wise to follow the Bible and to see how God tells His amazing story with excitement and yet no gore. C.S. Lewis and Tolkien are fantastic story tellers that get get depth and excitement without crossing the line into making evil look good. I am referring to the books not the movies as I think the movies portray evil as enticing.<br /><br />This line must be broad and deep because there is no fine line between good and evil. It is either for God 100% or not. <br /><br />Keep up the amazing work in the Kingdom of God. You are a gifted writer and your heart is in the right place. Honour God always and you cannot go wrong. <br /><br />Blessings,<br /><><child of Godhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11635805396738062444noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301712379976680355.post-91704413273980295272012-10-29T02:09:45.869-05:002012-10-29T02:09:45.869-05:00I think there is a fine line, I also feel empty af...I think there is a fine line, I also feel empty after a "squeaky clean" book, but then I've read books by Christian authors which are dark, and no really good theme, but just a thin sugar-coating of Christianity to ofset the bitter, even sour, taste of the rest of the book.<br /><br />But I also think that it is a difference of personalities, I feel satisfied when I can relate with a character, which generally happens with slightly darker books (which still have good themes and morals). But I also know people who end up more satisfied from the "squeaky clean" books.<br /><br />I myself find it easier to write slightly darker characters, I can't write the ones that are cheerful and happy, but I also know people who can't write anything but happy and cheerful characters.<br /><br />For me, I find that, like my cooking stlye of doing things to taste and ignoring the recipe, with my writing, I have trouble getting it clean, but not "squeaky clean" or "wishy-washy" as my mum would put it, but yet not too dark. Like me cooking, I have to experiment and taste with my writing, and like people have different senses of taste, some will like something and be satisfied, while others won't, I guess books are like that.<br /><br />I'd better stop using food as an example, I'm making myself hungry :D Good post, it definately made me think quite a bit.<br />Charlotte Reindershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01732905415445053797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301712379976680355.post-55754425135210032572012-10-27T12:53:40.842-05:002012-10-27T12:53:40.842-05:00On another note, a few authors made this point, th...On another note, a few authors made this point, that I recently watched in a video of them talking about C.S. Lewis: That darkness is just plain more interesting than light. Evil is more interesting than Good simply because we can understand Evil, but we cannot fathom Good. Like, real Good. We can't understand that because we are imperfect. So it is a great challenge for us to write and read true Good, simply because we do not understand it and will not fully understand until we stand before THE Goodness in Jesus Christ. <br /><br />This is not saying that we should only write about Evil. It is just a point I found really interesting because they went on to say (which I totally agree with) that C.S. Lewis tried to write Good. They were talking about, in particular, Ransom in That Hideous Strength (one of my favorite books). He was a Good character in many ways, so good that it was really hard to fathom his character. But at the same time, the character of Ransom was paired with the really imperfect characters of Jane and Mark. Anyway, just a thought. :-)Hannah Joynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301712379976680355.post-21011618465704722422012-10-27T12:47:39.819-05:002012-10-27T12:47:39.819-05:00Hm. This is a really deep subject, and I think one...Hm. This is a really deep subject, and I think one that I have struggled with.<br /><br />Obviously, you cannot shy away from the dark and evil in this world. There is darkness because of the fall of man. There is darkness because the shadow of Satan fell over this world like a storm. <br /><br />But there is also light--the extravagant light of Christ--that writers are to portray through their writing. <br /><br />Christians are not going be uplifted by a novel that shows them perfection, because perfection is unreachable. Readers want heroes that they can look up to--that are good enough to look up to--but are also flawed and more reachable than Christ. Obviously, I'm not saying that we shouldn't strive to be like Christ in everything we do, but I also think that sometimes it gets to a point where it is discouraging to see such a high bar to try to reach up to. And when that happens, it is oftentimes that I find Jesus gives me heroes--flawed ones--that I can start with. <br /><br />What I'm saying is, I often find when I read a really "squeaky-clean" book, I am left empty. The characters that are perfect throughout (or very, very close) are not relatable, do not seem real, and in the end do not make an impact on the reader. What does make an impact on the reader is characters that do wallow through the muck of the world, that push through flaws and imperfections to the end. Why? Because that is what we are fighting through, as Christians. <br /><br />However, at the same time, we are striving to be good--and when there are characters that are too bad to relate to--we fall in the same rut. I don't believe in really dark Christian literature. Darkness without light at the end. But there is a point where we cannot ignore the darkness, or the reader will feel...misunderstood, perhaps? They will come out of the novel feeling empty because there was not something worth fighting for. <br /><br />In the Bible it says, "This present darkness will fade..." Yes. What we are fighting for is the fading of the darkness. But in this present time there is darkness. And that is what we must fight THROUGH. (I don't mean to yell, I just can't figure out how to do italics on this thing, and I want to emphasize that.) <br /><br />But I definitely agree with you that there is a point where there is too much darkness. We are not to fill ourselves with sin just because that is reality. There definitely IS a line, I think, but I also think it could be different for every reader--AND every writer. <br /><br />Good post, Jake. Got me thinking. As usual. :-DHannah Joynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301712379976680355.post-73913334398712996442012-10-26T23:46:09.523-05:002012-10-26T23:46:09.523-05:00I agree with you too, Jake!
The Bible is so refr...I agree with you too, Jake! <br />The Bible is so refreshing in this age. If only Christians would show that same refreshment and hope and not fake squeaky clean writing just to be clean if their mind is filled with unclean things.<br />I myself am writing an allegory of the two very different worlds: God's Kingdom, and Man's Kingdom (which is dark and looks like nineteenth century London). I decided not to show too much of the dirtiness of the world, but just enough to show the contrast between Love and everything opposite. But I am also going to show the relationship between us and Him, who is so gentle and gentlemanly and yet fierce against evil. I hope many more devout Christians will write fiction, for the light within them will shine through.Emilyn J Cloverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00892659942186331664noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301712379976680355.post-77616409633746111272012-10-26T22:22:45.343-05:002012-10-26T22:22:45.343-05:00I really like how you described the light of Chris...I really like how you described the light of Christ. It does blindingly shine!<br />This little light of mine... I'm gonna let it shine! Abbey Stellingwerffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10426609355118356332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301712379976680355.post-47665942041949211412012-10-26T15:07:47.169-05:002012-10-26T15:07:47.169-05:00An honest portrayal of life is that Christ is goi...An honest portrayal of life is that Christ is going to conquer the evil, and that we as Christians are called to do the same. I've heard people say that dark Christian novels are "realistic", but according to the world, living a righteous life and loving your enemies and transforming lives isn't "realistic". As I've said, "Darkness can make the light brighter; but our job is to use that darkness only to enhance the light, not to let it “overwhelm” the light."<br /><br />I have zero problems with books that are dark but still have a strong theme. What I have a problem with is books where the primary element is evil, darkness, etc.<br /><br />To illuminate what is wrong and bad in society and then leave it unanswered is just as bad as a pessimist-atheist sci-fi novel (of which I have a cordial dislike). And I find that the closer I grow to Christ, the less I like the "dark" Christian fiction rampant with cursing, sexual content, and lack of spiritual life. Whether Christians like it or not, we are called to think about whatever is good, praiseworthy, etc.; and to read something is to think something. To read is to imagine, and there are some scenes in Christian fiction that I would rather leave unimagined...and unthought.Jakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07013859345463250479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301712379976680355.post-85561481748476331192012-10-26T14:34:23.070-05:002012-10-26T14:34:23.070-05:00Amen, Jake! I think it is true that writers have t...Amen, Jake! I think it is true that writers have to be careful to be realistic, like Varon just said, but I share your frustration with Christian fiction. For me, it comes down to this: I want to read fiction that encourages me to be more like Jesus.<br /><br />Of course, I have personal preferences about what is clean or unclean for me, but I think every Christian writer should look at their book and ask, "Does it glorify God?" If it doesn't, then it's not worth anything.Storyteller SilverLoomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10534851653668916838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7301712379976680355.post-18485433901603734072012-10-26T14:25:46.490-05:002012-10-26T14:25:46.490-05:00And once again, I'm your opposite. When I find...And once again, I'm your opposite. When I find Christian books that are darker or edgier like that, I'm relived. I find to many Christian books that are squeaky clean, and it conflicts with what I know reality is like. I'll read it, but it doesn't have quite the power of one that honestly portrays life.Varonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10101960337060957593noreply@blogger.com