Adding Fuel to the Fire and Stoking the Flame

Since I write heartfelt, homespun, contemporary Christian romance, I often contemplate which content to leave in and what to edit out. I consider how much fuel to add to the fire while stoking the flame. I’m deeply aware that my words should always reflect the love of Jesus Christ first and that any other relationship should be secondary.

As a Christian, I’ve made the following commitments: to point others toward Christ, to be an encourager, and to use my writing as a ministry. As a woman, wife, and mother, I want others to see Jesus in me. I want to address the needs, hurts, questions, and considerations that we, as women, wives, and nurturers have. I want to write the stories that God has laid upon my heart–the books that I would be proud to have my family and friends read.

Now, that being said, I may touch upon certain topics from time to time within a Christian context. To write about certain situations outside of a Christian arena serves no purpose. To add titillating details within Christian fiction (specifically Christian romance) is never appropriate.

There are many Christian authors who write what is considered “edgy Christian fiction” and they do so beautifully. How? By staying Christ-centered and God-focused. By staying true to their genre (Christian fiction) and not deviating from the salvation message. By equating mistakes (and sin) with consequences. By sharing the love of Jesus Christ throughout their stories. And by showing God’s impact upon imperfect characters and their lives.

So, how do I choose what to leave in and what to take out (or never include in the first place?) This is my personal guide:

• “Romance” is not to be confused with physical desire. Desire is a component of romance/love. It shouldn’t be what drives the story. It’s only one factor within a relationship/marital framework.

• There must be a moment of recognition–a “come-to-Jesus-meeting” in which the characters realize Christ as their first love. Anything else is secondary, as it should be.

• Is the accountability factor there? When all side issues are taken into consideration, can I honestly say that my storyline has dealt with these things in a Christian context from a “what would Jesus do?” viewpoint?

• Have I effectively shown how sin and poor choices affect our consequences? Without addressing these from a spiritual perspective, I might as well hang it up now, because my novels will certainly not fit the criteria for Christian fiction anymore.

• Have I communicated that through true repentance comes forgiveness–that we must be truly sorry for our sin and turn away from it, and that our Heavenly Father’s love is unchanging despite our slip-ups?

• Have I adhered to  specific guidelines and tenets of faith set forth in the realm of Christian publishing? My goal is to inform (deliver the salvation message) and encourage (growth as believers.)

And since I’ve chosen to write Christian fiction, I won’t include:

• Scenes that depict a gratuitous lifestyle without some redemptive value. I’m not out to shock. There are millions of other books that do this, unfortunately.

• Sugar-coated sin. It is what it is–sin. There must be a day of reckoning for my characters who choose to live outside of God’s will.

• A holier-than-thou approach. “Do as I say, but don’t do as I do.” Words you won’t hear from my mouth. I know my limitations and shortcomings.

Now that you understand my perspective, you know I love a great romance! I enjoy the pursuit, the application of real-life struggles, the joining of forces, and the happily ever after factor that should always prevail in the end. And I’m completely humbled when God directs my thoughts as I write so that my stories might always reflect the Heavenly Father’s all-encompassing love for us.

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 Over the years, Christian fiction and inspirational romance have clearly evolved. What are your  favorite types of plots in today’s Christian fiction? Can you think of a particular book that might have been the catalyst for change and a benchmark for how we view Christian fiction and inspirational romance now?

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