 Okay, let’s talk fiction! Christian fiction, that is. As a writer, I stick mostly to blogs, poems, and short reflections. 1,000 words or less. I am content to leave all the plot twists for others to expertly weave and untangle. I have the utmost respect for the skill it takes to craft a well-written novel. But as we know from our Quill Meanwell series, even Christian resources should be approached with discernment. Over time, I have noticed a few storytelling patterns in Christian fiction that show up often enough that they are worth mentioning. Three in particular stand out— fortune cookie verses, random theology drops, and greeting card dialogue. Fortune cookie verses Let’s set the scene. Mr. Professional Christian sits at his desk, deliberating the sticky situation he is facing. He opens his Bible and voilà, the angels sing as the perfect verse appears. He ponders the inspirational delight for a moment and just like that…his problem is solved. In stories like this, we usually don’t see characters reading larger sections of Scripture, thinking about the context, or struggling to understand what it says. We could be tempted to think that Bible reading is as easy as cracking open a fortune cookie to satisfy our cravings. In fact, I did try this method often. And guess what? No choirs of angels. I didn’t discover any immediate answers to my problem. Random theology drops Now let’s picture Sweet Suzie at the grocery store. She bumps into NonChristian Nancy and they start to talk about their children, who are on the same sports team. Suzie says she is glad that her daughter can participate because it is a great way for her to learn how people can work together — just like the body of Christ lives together in community. Nancy is instantly intrigued and from there Suzie launches into a thorough gospel explanation. Scenes like this depict characters inserting random theology drops as part of everyday conversation. It can imply that we should be able to turn encounters from an everyday topic like the weather to deep doctrines in 3.2 seconds. I would get frustrated because I wasn’t “spiritual” enough to think of these connections and have frequent redemptive conversations in everyday situations. Greeting card dialogue In another scene, we read about Mike and Carol, who have been married for a few years. She is explaining to him how she felt when he said something insensitive. He responds thoughtfully and repentantly. Bible verses are quoted and the misunderstanding is resolved. And of course, they finish by reaffirming their enduring love. Difficult conversations presented as perfect greeting card dialogue can lead to unrealistic relationship expectations. At least it did for me. My husband didn’t respond to me like the husbands in Christian fiction when I presented my well-rehearsed grievances. And needless to say, our conversation didn’t end like the ones in the books. From fiction to reality As I read more Christian fiction, I found myself looking for these things to happen in my own life, and I was angry when they didn’t work out the way they did for the characters in the story. I began to wonder if something was wrong with me. At times I even questioned whether God loved me the same way He seemed to love the characters whose stories always wrapped up so neatly. Looking back, I can see how my own sinful desires and lack of discernment played a role. When my imagined “happily ever after” didn’t unfold the way I expected, I made poor choices and even became frustrated with others. Over time, I learned to spot these elements and remind myself that they are only part of a fictional account. These are not real life examples and they are not models that we are expected to follow. As we read Christian fiction, it is important to reflect on the lessons we are learning from the characters. Are they lessons that will prompt us to view God correctly? Are they practical examples of godly living? Or are they creating unrealistic expectations? We are called to imitate Christ and the godly people he has placed in our lives. As we walk together, we look to him as our example. As we grow in Christlikeness, the Holy Spirit will work in us to live in ways that will glorify him. Through regular, focused Bible reading we can learn more about God, his character, and his works. This will lead us to be able to make wise decisions that honor God. We won’t expect fortune cookie verses to guide our thinking. As we know God and love him more, that love will be evident in genuine relationships with others. We can find ways to share what we know and love about God without needing to awkwardly drop theological insights into our conversations. When we work through a relationship struggle, we won’t expect our conversation to flow like a formulaic greeting card sentiment. We will make mistakes. The problem won’t be settled in a few minutes. We will need to remind ourselves that we have been forgiven. We can extend forgiveness and patience to others. Let’s continue to read and support the authors who create redemptive stories for our enjoyment and edification. But as we enjoy their work, let’s remember to use discernment. This applies to anything you read here at Anchored Hope, too. Life doesn’t always turn out like the stories we read, but we know that this life is not all there is. Someday we will worship, work, and live together in perfect harmony on the new heavens and new earth. See also: Literarily by Kristie Anyabwile, Book Buffet
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