What You Shouldn't Read This Summer and Why: Editorial

by Heather Donckels

I’ve read a fair smattering of Christian fiction in my lifetime. By Christian fiction I mean the paperback novels with pictures of beautiful young women on the front and dramatic questions under the titles: “Can she fulfill her dreams without losing the one she loves?” After reading four Christian novellas of this type in early high school, I realized that often Christian fiction is Christian in name only. Though the pages of these stories were sprinkled with prayers and a few Bible verses, the characters behaved in ways that made them indistinguishable from unbelievers.
Since reading those novellas, I’ve had an interesting relationship with Christian fiction. Even though I don’t like it, I sometimes stroll down the Christian fiction aisle at a bookstore, waiting for something different, something radical, to catch my eye. But nothing ever does. It’s all the same. The girl eventually gets the guy, and they live happily ever after.
There are many reasons why Christian fiction drives me up the wall, but for now, I’ll ignore the stale plots and actual quality of the writing and focus on aspects that, I believe, have even more significance. As stated above, I’ve found that much Christian fiction is Christian in name only. Many of the characters in the stories I read were more concerned with chasing after Mr. or Mrs. Right than pursuing a relationship with the Lord. I’m not saying that characters should be perfect Christians; that wouldn’t be realistic. However, I do think that fiction labeled as Christian should show genuine Christians fighting to pursue the things that matter. Often, in spite of the Bible verses, prayers and spiritual breakthroughs, Christian fiction is not edifying. Honestly, do you read a Christian romance novel for the spiritual truth or for the love scene? Now tell me, how will a love scene draw you closer to Jesus? Likely, it won’t. It may give you nice feelings, but it won’t bring about any change in your life. There’s nothing inherently wrong with romance or love scenes, but should a book that focuses on these be labeled as Christian? Often Christian fiction — and Christian art in general — gives easy, unrealistic answers to life’s problems.
A recent Christian film, “Facing the Giants,” demonstrated this tendency of Christian art. In the movie, the protagonist and his wife are unable to have children. However, after the protagonist places his complete trust in God, his wife gets pregnant. Life does not always operate on this blessing theology. Sometimes trusting God doesn’t bring success, but it does bring a person closer to God, a benefit greater than earthly prosperity.
The question then rises: What sort of fiction should a Christian read? Personally, I’d suggest almost anything besides Christian fiction. There are so many classic and contemporary works of literature out there that have been largely ignored by modern evangelicals. These works are mostly secular, but I believe that in our times, it can be more profitable to read a secular novel than a Christian one. The secular ones show us our world with all of its imperfections — the immorality and paganism, the poverty and injustice — and force us to see our depravity apart from the grace of God. If we consciously filter secular literature through the grid of Scripture, we can practice discernment while reading and strengthen our ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Also, reading secular literature increases our ability to relate to unbelievers. If we can understand their literature, we will better understand their philosophies and be able to more effectively share the truth with them. As Christians, we cannot wall ourselves up in completely Christian worlds. We must get out and understand our culture if we are going to change it.