The Problems with Christian Fiction
- Lyn Winters
- Nov 14, 2022
- 4 min read
Most Christian readers have read a few Christian Fiction books in their lifetime, so those viewing this blog should be familiar with the genre, and yes, I’m classifying it as its own genre. It has its own section in bookstores just like all the other genres; it’s a genre. Some Christian readers have nothing negative to say about Christian Fiction, while others, like myself, have a few complaints. Hence this post, the problems with Christian Fiction.
A few disclaimers before we begin: firstly, this does not apply to all Christian Fiction, just the vast majority. There are books and novels within the genre that don’t have the problems listed below; those are not the ones I’m talking about. It also depends on how you classify Christian Fiction. Books like Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Wingfeather Saga are written by Christian authors, with biblical messages and parallels, but are not typically considered Christian Fiction.
Secondly, this is not an attack on Christian Fiction authors. I have seen some issues that I don’t see people talking about, so I’m addressing it
That said, let’s dive in.
Number One: Pushed Themes and Messages
A pet peeve of mine when reading books, not just Christian ones, is when the messages the author is trying to convey are being strongly pushed at the reader. Although this problem is not exclusive to Christian Fiction, it is quite common within the genre.
As a Chrisian, I generally agree with the themes and messages presented in Christian Fiction, but I still don’t appreciate it when it feels like they’re being shoved down my throat. Imagine if someone who doesn’t agree with the messages presented in a Christian Fiction novel reads the book; how would they feel about Christianity then? If I set down a Chirstian novel annoyed with the themes that I agree with, how would somebody who doesn’t agree with the themes feel about them? And not just the specific themes in the novel, but God and Christianity in general? A well-meaning author attempting to push biblical messages could end up doing more harm than good.
Number Two: Cheating Character Development with “They’re a Christian Now”
Not only is this bad storytelling, but it’s also false advertising and dare I say theologically inaccurate. A character doesn’t automatically become a perfect and righteous person the second they become a Christian. Accepting Jesus is a huge step in the right direction, but that doesn’t mean all of your problems are going to magically disappear and resolve themselves.
I can understand how an author would want to demonstrate the positives of being a Christian to appeal to unbelievers, but it’s not accurate. I don’t believe that these authors are being intentionally deceitful, but they are almost lying to the reader about what becoming a Christian is really like.
Number Three: The “Christian Fiction” Section in Bookstores
Truthfully, I don’t mind the physical section in bookstores that advertises Christian Fiction, you know what you’re getting when you select a book from that genre. I understand that authors can't fully choose where their book ends up in the bookstores, but I'm still going to mention this because it is a problem.
If an author claims they are trying to reach unbelievers with their novel, and it ends up in the Christian Fiction section in bookstores, they have failed. I can almost guarantee you that no nonbeliever is going to walk into the bookstore and buy a book from the Christian Fiction section.
Imagine a Christian walks into a bookstore and the first thing they see is “Atheist Fiction” in big letters over a selection of books. What are they going to do? What would you do? Keep walking and avoid or ignore that section. The same goes for an atheist, or any other non-believer walking into a bookstore and seeing “Christian Fiction” in big letters. They keep walking.
Number Four: Avoiding Dark Content
I can understand the thought process of Christian authors wanting to avoid dark content in their books, I really do, but it's not very good storytelling. Avoiding dark content in your book is one way to guarantee that your book will have very little impact on people.
In a room of darkness, a tiny prick of light is like a beacon. If Christian authors would be brave enough to add some dark things to their books, it would only emphasize the power and goodness of God.
The Bible does this all the time! Paul was involved in the stoning of Christians before he became one himself, David had an affair, the Pharaoh of Egypt decreed the murder of newborns, Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, and there are so many other examples. Instead of thinking, “I can’t put this in my book because it’s sin,” think, “how can I use this for God’s glory?”
Number Five: When the Reader Pretends it’s Good
This is definitely my biggest gripe when it comes to the Christan Fiction genre, and it has nothing to do with the authors, but with the readers. This is the reason I have been so shy about sharing my opinions on Christian Fiction up until this point.
Many Christians after reading a Christian Fiction novel claim that it’s a good book, despite the storytelling being subpar, because they agree with the themes and messages within the novel. It is totally okay to acknowledge that the story itself wasn’t very good, while also agreeing with the message the author was trying to convey. Most Christian Fiction readers don’t see it that way; they think that saying they didn’t like the book translates to disagreeing with the themes within the book.
Those are my main gripes about the Christian Fiction genre, and why I don’t read much of it anymore. I don’t want the Christian Fiction genre to disappear, but I would like for it to change for the better.
If this post interests you at all, I recommend reading The Christian Imagination by Leland Ryken. It is a compilation of essays and journal entries written by authors such as C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L’Engle, J.R.R Tolkien, Flannery O’Connor, and a few others all put together into one book. This post was somewhat inspired by Part Six of the book, which is about the success and failures of Christian Fiction and poetry. The link to purchase the book is below.
Until Next Time!
~Kamama Deere
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