(A note to the
reader, whether a writer or no: this post is something that's been on
my heart for a long time, so I'd appreciate if you read it, and I'd
love hearing your thoughts. I may be repeating myself in many ways,
but I think it's a message worth repeating.)
I
have been struggling with something for a quite a while. For a long
time, I've been resolved to present Christian fiction that is clean,
and leaves you feeling
clean.
In many ways, I feel that this resolution is contrary to other
Christian fiction books out there. Ted Dekker comes to mind, and
Travis Thrasher. As I've said many times (and I'm likely to say it
many times more), fiction that is too dark leaves the reader feeling
as if they've waded through muck, and it'll take a long scrubbing to
get them clean again. Thus, I want to write something that cleans
the reader instead of dirtying them.
I've
resolved that for myself, yes. But the question is, where is the
uncrossable line for any
Christian writer? I
believe there is one, a line that Christian writers sometimes cross
in portraying depravity as too depraved, and failing to equally
portray goodness. But many Christian fiction writers seem to think
that there is a relativism in reading novels; if a book is “too
much” for you it simply means that it's your own tastes that's the
problem. Some people can handle more than the others; it's the
“weaker faith” thing. What was clean and unclean food in New
Testament times is the equivalent of clean and unclean books in
modern day....right?
Some time ago I
read a book called Avalon Falls by L. B. Graham, who wrote the
excellent Christian fantasy saga The Binding of the Blade. I had
read the sample (which was compelling) and convinced my sister to buy
the Kindle edition, which was only $2.99.
That book once
more brought these questions to my mind, not because of how good it
was, but because I was surprised at how bad it was. Not in plot or
character or anything, no. Stylistically it was fine, even great in
spots, and certainly the first ten percent was good enough to get us
to buy it.
But the content in
the book, and the way it was portrayed, was almost shocking,
especially after reading Graham's squeaky-clean Binding of the Blade
series. There was cursing, sexual content (albeit addressed from
afar, not in POV, and tactfully brief), and the scenes of two
gruesome murders that could have used a lot less description. The
main character was a non-Christian and the Christian themes of the
book were kept at an arm's length.
In short, Graham
did what I earlier described as “portraying depravity as too
depraved”. In doing this, he also failed to balance it out. The
rather poetic theme of the book (Avalon Falls; that is, even holy
isles like the mythical Avalon have fallen) was far overshadowed by
the grim mountain of human sin that had been built before it.
As I finished the
book, I felt that I had wasted my time and sullied my mind. Such
content from non-Christians I might have expected; but from a
Christian author?
There
are many times where I feel like giving up, but what carries me
through is the fact that, even though mankind seems hopelessly fallen
and that sometimes there doesn't seem to be a single honest person in
this entire country, Christ can break through the darkness. Our
depravity is expected, because mankind has fallen. But when I find
this darkness in a Christian
book, what am I supposed to think?
Doubtless
it will be said that Avalon Falls, and books like it, are meant for
non-Christian audiences. I'm sure the theme of the book may be
somewhat evangelistic in that sense. But nevertheless, you do not
feed a poisoned man poison. How will someone want the light if all
you keep giving them is the assurance of their own darkness?
The weight of Avalon Falls has been weighing on my mind all night
long. I deeply respect L. B. Graham for his dedication to his craft
and to Christ, and I hope that the two-dollar royalty that he gained
from our purchase of his book goes to a good purpose. But
nevertheless, I feel that Avalon Falls, and books like it, have
missed the mark. Christ has called us to something more.
Like I've said, after reading Avalon Falls, I felt down, almost
depressed. As I'm wont to do when I have something on my mind, I
wandered around and did nothing in particular for some time.
Eventually my wandering led me to my Bible, and as soon as I started
reading I felt as if a cloud had lifted from my mind. Here's what I
read:
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us
and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,
encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and
word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16)
Even if the Bible never outright says not to write fiction that is
too “dark”, and even seems to support the fiction relativists at
times, I believe that the more we read the Bible, the brighter the
light will shine in our writing. How can we think such thoughts,
after all, if we believe that Christ himself will encourage our
hearts and strengthen us in every good deed and even in our writing –
our words?
Is there to be only light in fiction, then? By no means! 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. My
own novel deals with difficult subjects, but the difference is that
the darkness only exists to glorify the light, just as it does in
real life. In books like Avalon Falls, the author made the mistake
of letting their own light go dim.
So what are we to do? We need to fight for Christ-centered Christian
fiction – and better yet, write it.
The path of the New Testament is not to expose all of the bad deeds
of humanity so that we all know how depraved we really are, but to
let the light shine so blindingly bright that it not only burns out
the bad deeds but allows the good deeds to grow. Christ has given us
a righteousness from God, and He has paid with His blood; let us not
waste it! May our light shine before men, so that their evil deeds
look like straw before the everlasting glory of Christ!
Let it be an example to us, then. We cannot fight fire with fire.
Fire consumes, but water may put out the fire, and feed the green
things that grow. Words are powerful and precious; we cannot waste
them!
Will we allow our words to describe the things that tarnish the mind
and weigh down the heart, or will we use them to spur other
Christians on toward love and good deeds? Will we not use them to
put forth the gift of God – a righteousness apart from the law –
to those who desperately need it?
As Christians, we are called to think about all of the things that
are good – to hate what is evil, cling to what is good! We are to
be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Our minds have been
renewed in Christ; our spirits are alive in Him – so why would we
even think for a moment to write something that lets the darkness be
greater than the light?
I charge you, Christian writer: do not waste your words. We have
only a short time on this earth, and then we will give an account
before God on what we have done on this earth. May we answer well on
that day! May we say that we were not ashamed of the Gospel – and
that we have done what He has called us to: to glorify His name.
Whatever we do, we do it in the name of Christ: let us not dishonor
that name above all names!
May glory be to God alone, and may Christ encourage your hearts and
strengthen you as you act and as you write!
