There are several key essentials that we require as human beings: food, clothing, shelter, and some sort of external stimuli. Throw in unconditional love and that makes for fairly well-adjusted individuals, right?
Well, usually, but not always. Most experts would agree that these things give us a head start; they equip us with what we need to survive. The unconditional love aspect is huge because of its enormous impact during our formative years. This is the stage when developing a healthy self-concept is so crucial. When children are raised in loving, nurturing environments, they thrive. When youngsters live in a world of hurt and discontent, their maturing years are likely to reflect the same.
On the flip side, what about the children who seemingly have every advantage possible while growing up and they still stray? What happens, as adults, when their sense of entitlement interferes with their perception of how the world should operate? When their own self-absorption takes them down all the wrong paths?
For writers, perhaps these are the scenarios we like to explore the most–the ones that cause us to play the “what if?” game. What if her parents overindulged her every whim? What if, as a child, her character was never told “no” or “wait”? What if she wants to have her cake, eat it, and everyone else’s too?
In the contemporary Christian romance series I’m creating, there are no perfect characters. Everyone has a flaw or two, and usually more.
I like to dispel the misguided notion that Christians are a just a bunch of boring do-gooders who tote their Bibles under one arm with their fishing nets tucked safely under the other. (Most of the Christians I know are far from dull. And we may tote our Bibles, but very rarely do we snag unsuspecting non-believers with our invisible nets.) I’d like to think our witness is a bit more effective sometimes in its subtlety as it undoubtedly is not in its heavy-handedness.
Now, on the other hand, that’s not to say that I will ride the fence on what I believe either. When writing Christian fiction, it’s important we give clear-cut directives as to what God’s word says on specific matters. We can be bold without being “preachy.” We can be holy without being “holier-than-thou.” And we can deliver the salvation message with love, not with disinterest like it was yesterday’s news.
For me, as a Christian and as a contemporary Christian romance novelist, love truly does make the world go ’round!
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From a Christian perspective, what do you think are the most important lessons that parents should impart to their children? Do you reflect a bit of your own philosophy as you write?
Comments 10
To not go through life afraid of it.
Teaching them that they can’t do it alone and that God is always there…so they don’t have to be afraid.
Nice post.
Author
Well spoken, Loree. Fear is the enemy’s greatest tool, but with Christ we can do all things.
Having a perfect main character in a novel .. that’s boring. He or she should have some flaws, so that the reader can idntify with him or her. Likewise, if there is a bad person in the novel, he or she should have some good qualities to make it more realistic. Now, are Christians boring? Never heard this before, but when you google for “are Christians boring?” you do find a heated discussion about this. I don’t see the connection between having faith in Jesus and being boring. Some people are boring and some ar not, Christianity has nothing to do with it. Some peole view “sins” as making people less boring. That’s silly. Doing “sins” on purpose doesn’t make you more interesting. The main task of parenthood, imho, is to prepare the children adulthood. To give them skills like educaton and also to understand what’s right and what’s wrong. Sopiling children is a bad preparation for life, because they’ll fnd out that nobody will spoil them. On the contrary. I put some points about my views on life in my novel. That’s what people call “the voice” of the author. In Every book, Christian or not, the author should try to convey some messages about life, hopefully from their own point of views. It makes the novel more meaningful.
Author
I was speaking more from a worldly/secular view of Christians in reference to Christians being perceived as “boring.”
Yes, Giora, I would agree that spoiling children does not prepare them adequately for success/failures in life.
Since I write Christian fiction, my worldview is closely intertwined with my faith so that’s what’s reflected in my work.
Thanks for the clarification, but still I don’t see why the label of “boring.” Christians have faith in Something (Jesus), while secular have faith in Nothing. Faith makes life more complete, giving it structure, direction and meaning. Having faith in nothing doesn’t make people more “interesing.”
Fair enough, but your question was about “your own philoshopy”. Sure, your Christian Fiction novel must reflect the Christian views but as you said in bold words, it shouldn’t be about “preaching”. As a reader I like to read about your own personal experience as a Christian woman, wife, mother ct with your own interpretation of events. While the core message of Christianity is carved in stone: Jesus is the savior and only via Him there is eternal life … The NY is full with many smaller messages which ar parts of Christianity and you can make your own views what do they mean in our life. And with that best wishes to you and your family,
Author
As I said, “boring” is a label that sometimes society attaches to the Christian lifestyle, not at all what I believe it to be personally.
I write Christian fiction, so I tend to reflect my own Christian philosophy. If your interest is geared somewhere else–that’s certainly fine. I would carefully consider whom you choose to market your work to.
Finances are a lifelong obstacle for some, whether Christian or non. I think we should try to prepare children for tithing, evaluating their purchases, and learning the joy of giving to others. But above all these is LOVE–knowing they are loved unconditionally by God and their parents.
Author
I couldn’t agree more, Patti. 🙂
“We can be bold without being ‘preachy.’ We can be holy without being ‘holier-than-thou.’ And we can deliver the salvation message with love, not with disinterest like it was yesterday’s news.”
I loved that part!! It is absolutely true!
Jeff
Author
Thank you, Jeff! I’m delighted it touched you.