…But the Greatest of These is Love

Like many couples, when my husband and I were married  we chose to include a portion of 1st Corinthians in our wedding vows:

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…” (1st Cor. 13:4-8 NIV)

The mere reading of that passage of scripture didn’t necessarily make the words so; it did, however, remind us that love and its meaning were not to be so easily dismissed during times of trial.

The apostle Paul didn’t just dream up the definition of love. These were the God-breathed words of the Author of love through Paul.

For writers of faith-based romance, it’s important we keep the biblical definition of love foremost in our minds. However, as we write, we’re aware that the tension and conflict within our novels is also a must. Without them, there’s no story. To paint our characters without faults, foibles, and occasional battles is unrealistic. Boring.

We want to create characters who are like us–imperfect and not without blame–while demonstrating God at work in their lives. We want to kick trends and euphemisms to the curb and meet readers where they are. We want to address real-life issues, but not offend. We want to offer the meat and potatoes in our stories, but not go overboard on the gravy–the intimacy.

While today’s Christian fiction and faith-based romance novels are not what they were 20 or so years ago, we recognize that there is still the need for propriety.

As I’ve said before, writers don’t want to write (and most readers don’t want to read) namby-pamby stories about cardboard cut-out characters.

In a previous post, I put it like this: Gone are the days where Susie Sweetness and Adorable Andy shared a malt and small talk down at the local drugstore while Sinister Sam plotted how to steal Susie away from Andy.

Lame premises won’t work. We may read to “escape” for a bit, but reading about Dave and Debbie’s wild day at the county fair isn’t what most of us have in mind.

Though I adore nostalgia, I realize  that life just isn’t what it was a few decades ago. In today’s world, real Christians are dealing with death, divorce, addiction, unfaithfulness, lawlessness, accountability, and a host of other issues. They are dealing with the very things that Christians dealt with in times past with this exception: today we’re dishing about these issues, and quite openly, in fact.

Now, since I write heartfelt, homespun Christian fiction, I have some personal convictions about what I will and won’t write about. I will tackle real issues in a sensitive manner at times. I won’t depict gratuitous lifestyles without recognition of sin, and ultimately, repentance. I will incorporate love scenes but not anything so shocking that it would offend mothers or daughters, or more importantly, my Savior. In other words, I won’t be the one writing the fly on the wall, play-by-play bedroom scenes.

Don’t misunderstand. I like romance as much as the next person. I like reading it. Obviously, I like writing it. Since I want to keep the focus on Christ, however, I’m deeply aware that the words I write should always reflect the love of Jesus Christ first and foremost. Any other relationship is secondary.

As I craft my stories, I’m cautious about deviating from my ultimate purpose: to spread God’s message of hope and redemption. I strive for a balanced view of realism, romance, purpose, and spirituality. I’m not preachy or pretentious and my stories and characters reflect that.

The bottom line: Godly relationships take work. But they’re so worth it!

 “…And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1st Corinthians 13:13 NIV)

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If your favorite romantic novel were made into a movie, who would the hero/heroine be?

*Photo Credit: Aleksandr Kutsayev/FreeDigitalPhotos.net