In case you’ve been living under a rock in 2020 (and if you have, I envy you), the world, as we know it, has gone crazy. I’d list all the things going on, but we all know them. Every part of our lives have been uprooted and sometimes it seems as if there’s no end it sight.
Since the craziness began, I’ve tried to read more and I’ve encouraged others to do the same. There’s a quote by Mason Cooley that I love, he said, “Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”
So true, isn’t it? Through the power of story, through the lens of a fictional character, we can go to places we’ll probably never get a chance to visit, or encounter fictional worlds we wish were real. But most importantly, we can experience struggles and viewpoints that we’ve never encountered ourselves. And that is exactly why I adore Christian Fiction.
I know some may roll their eyes at Christian Fiction. There’s a lot of misconceptions about the genre. Many think it’s too cheesy, too preachy, too predictable, and too clean (if you think this, please read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, then get back to me). Some think Christian Fiction books are just like Hallmark movies or only stories about the Amish.
But Christian Fiction is so much more, WAY more, than any of that.
To readers of Christian Fiction, it provides not only entertainment, but these books can bring hope, deepen faith, convict us, and help us have a better understanding of God, and how incredible and powerful He is.
Whether the book deals with heavy stuff or is a light read. Or if the ending was a happily-ever-after or is a bit gloomy where the main character let out their last breath. It can still inspire us to grow closer to God.
To writers of Christian Fiction, it’s how we minister and show the amazing ways of God through storytelling. To show the world what it says in Hebrews 6:19-20 “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner…”
We want to show readers — believers or unbelievers — that our hope doesn’t revolve around social media posts, self-love, political parties, or news sites. We want to share the Good News, whether the books have a deep spiritual theme weaved through the story, or just a milder one.
Christian Fiction books are definitely no replacement for the Bible, but every Christian Fiction book should point towards it.
Christian Fiction should always lead to Him.
Kelsey D.M. Anderson 