Intimacy Within Christian Fiction: Writing with Integrity

*I’m spending the day with my daughter since school bells will be ringing on Monday. I hope you enjoy this updated re-post. Don’t forget to check out my superfab prizes for my end-of-the-month blog drawing. And hop over to this link for more info on the RULES and how to enter.*

For writers of faith-based romance, it seems to be a never-ending battle to keep up with the changing times, yet not fall prey to trends, euphemisms, and depiction of sin without repentance. We want to meet readers where they are and address real-life issues, but not offend. We want to offer the meat and potatoes, 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.

On the other hand, writers don’t want to write (and readers don’t want to read) namby-pamby stories about cardboard cut-out characters. Gone are the days where Susie Sweetness and Adorable Andy shared a malt and small talk at the local drugstore while Sinister Sam plotted how to steal Susie away from Andy.

We realize that life is no longer 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 are dishing about these issues and quite openly, in fact.

While the CBA (Christian Booksellers Association) has guidelines in place as to what is deemed acceptable (and appropriate) in Christian publishing, individual publishing houses also have their own guidelines regarding the types of fiction they will publish.

We, as authors, must initially decide what types of stories we want to write, but at the same time, be committed to the Lord having His way with the novels we pen. We must be in tune to what is selling, but not waver from our Foundation. We must “tell it like it is” but not be crass with too much in-your-face imagery. We must be authentic, bold, and unpretentious. We owe it to ourselves, our readers, and most importantly, to God.

As I began my writing journey years ago, I made a commitment. I would write stories that reflected my love for Jesus.

Concerning romance within Christian fiction, this is what I believe:

• “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, it’s a moot point.
• 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. I once had a pastor who summed it up best… “I’m just one beggar telling another beggar where I found bread.”

It’s our choice when determining what to take a stand for. And there is, indeed, a time to stand, a time to sit down, and a time to bow to our Heavenly Father’s will.

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  In faith-based romance, how important is it to convey the salvation message?

Photo Credit: Sharron Goodyear/FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

Blessings Always,