A Warning to Fainthearted Christians
I know people have certain expectations of what a Christian book should be about.
Some have recently been upset because I write about characters that almost have sex or think about it, or maybe have questionable language.
They want to know why there are characters like this in a book, which are referenced as Christian?
So here's my answer ...
I write about characters that are real ... around us every day. Did Jesus choose to spend his time with perfect Christians or did he dine with sinners? I think anyone, who has read the Bible, will know the answer to that question.
Just because some of us are Christians, that doesn't mean that the good, bad, and ugly in our hearts turn white as snow overnight. For some of us, it's a process. It is a daily struggle to fight sin or temptation to transform into what God wants us to be.
In my books, I write about the struggle in life. I allow the characters to go through their own process. They do not have a perfect walk overnight or sometimes ever. I don't think any of us do.
Some have said I focus too much on sex. Well, if anyone really cares to take notice ... I'm the anti-fifty shades of grey. I promote abstinence until marriage, but I can not expect characters, who are young and in the middle of a very sex conscious culture to not struggle with their fair share of temptation.
So to the readers, who think I should not have written a struggle with sex in ... know that in the real world that is a daily struggle for some young couples. I'm not obsessed with sex ... I'm just realistic about what has become of our culture. For those who aren't faith-based, having sex is expected. For that exact reason, I take a couple who struggles with this issue and highlight their choice to abstain.
Just because they choose to abstain, doesn't mean they won't struggle with it... that would be completely unrealistic.
So, if you want a Christian fiction book that only highlights perfect Christians... then I'm not the author for you. If you'd rather read a book with rose-colored glasses - you may skip my books. While I have an underlying message of hope and redemption - I showcase characters who have flaws.
If you want a book, that shows real struggles that all of us have (Christians or not) and how God takes us to where He wants us... then you'll appreciate my books.
We are all in different walks in our faith, but we're far from perfect. God has called me to write my books about sinners who come to know God. We aren't born perfect. We're born sinners. That means that some questionable wording or behavior might take place in my books - but it's done with taste.
There is nothing vulgar or crass. I'll be the first to admit that I've fallen from grace more times than I'd like to admit, but God has always been there to pick me up and show me a different path. And, He's used my past to help others.
As my pastor says, 'The minute we feel we're a perfect Christian, with no room for growth, we should be really scared. Because that's probably when we're furthest from where God wants us.'
In short, life gets messy ... only God's love is perfect. God's grace is more than sufficient to cover our sins, but we have to turn away from them once we've reached the point, in our walk, that we're able to. This is the underlying message I portray in my books.
So, I wanted to put this out there ...
Do I use curse words in Facing Redemption?
I believe the 'H' word is used twice, but I've not gone through and counted. A couple of Christian critics have been upset that I wrote in bad language, so if that offends you - I'm sorry. But my character is a typical military man. To be authentic, in real life, he most likely would say more than the H-word. To keep him in character, I could have used more offensive language but chose to limit it to 'only' the H-word during his younger years in the book.
Do I have raunchy sex in my books?
Absolutely not. However... that being said we are sexual beings. God made us that way. I was raised to believe that He designed sex for marriage. I can't expect everyone to advocate my beliefs, but I can write about characters who struggle with this issue, only to make the decision to wait.
Am I too focused on sex to be a Christian author?
No. I am a Christian, but I know the real struggle with the question 'to have sex or not.' Does this make me a bad person? No, it makes me real - and we all live in a flawed world. My characters face this same struggle, which a lot of Christian unmarried couples do. But if you get through the thick of it - by reading on - you find out they choose to abstain for the right reasons ... which IS NOT a bad message. I think more people should focus on that message.
That being said ... go in with your eyes wide open. I love God with all my heart, and He has called me to write about real struggles in today's world. And I'm not ashamed of any of my character's decisions. It makes them who they are and God takes them where they are and brings them to where He wants them.
I just wanted to respond to some of the women who didn't understand why a Christian book would hold any of the character flaws that it did.
Some have recently been upset because I write about characters that almost have sex or think about it, or maybe have questionable language.
They want to know why there are characters like this in a book, which are referenced as Christian?
I write about characters that are real ... around us every day. Did Jesus choose to spend his time with perfect Christians or did he dine with sinners? I think anyone, who has read the Bible, will know the answer to that question.
Just because some of us are Christians, that doesn't mean that the good, bad, and ugly in our hearts turn white as snow overnight. For some of us, it's a process. It is a daily struggle to fight sin or temptation to transform into what God wants us to be.
In my books, I write about the struggle in life. I allow the characters to go through their own process. They do not have a perfect walk overnight or sometimes ever. I don't think any of us do.
Some have said I focus too much on sex. Well, if anyone really cares to take notice ... I'm the anti-fifty shades of grey. I promote abstinence until marriage, but I can not expect characters, who are young and in the middle of a very sex conscious culture to not struggle with their fair share of temptation.
So to the readers, who think I should not have written a struggle with sex in ... know that in the real world that is a daily struggle for some young couples. I'm not obsessed with sex ... I'm just realistic about what has become of our culture. For those who aren't faith-based, having sex is expected. For that exact reason, I take a couple who struggles with this issue and highlight their choice to abstain.
Just because they choose to abstain, doesn't mean they won't struggle with it... that would be completely unrealistic.
So, if you want a Christian fiction book that only highlights perfect Christians... then I'm not the author for you. If you'd rather read a book with rose-colored glasses - you may skip my books. While I have an underlying message of hope and redemption - I showcase characters who have flaws.
If you want a book, that shows real struggles that all of us have (Christians or not) and how God takes us to where He wants us... then you'll appreciate my books.
We are all in different walks in our faith, but we're far from perfect. God has called me to write my books about sinners who come to know God. We aren't born perfect. We're born sinners. That means that some questionable wording or behavior might take place in my books - but it's done with taste.
There is nothing vulgar or crass. I'll be the first to admit that I've fallen from grace more times than I'd like to admit, but God has always been there to pick me up and show me a different path. And, He's used my past to help others.
As my pastor says, 'The minute we feel we're a perfect Christian, with no room for growth, we should be really scared. Because that's probably when we're furthest from where God wants us.'
In short, life gets messy ... only God's love is perfect. God's grace is more than sufficient to cover our sins, but we have to turn away from them once we've reached the point, in our walk, that we're able to. This is the underlying message I portray in my books.
So, I wanted to put this out there ...
Do I use curse words in Facing Redemption?
I believe the 'H' word is used twice, but I've not gone through and counted. A couple of Christian critics have been upset that I wrote in bad language, so if that offends you - I'm sorry. But my character is a typical military man. To be authentic, in real life, he most likely would say more than the H-word. To keep him in character, I could have used more offensive language but chose to limit it to 'only' the H-word during his younger years in the book.
Do I have raunchy sex in my books?
Absolutely not. However... that being said we are sexual beings. God made us that way. I was raised to believe that He designed sex for marriage. I can't expect everyone to advocate my beliefs, but I can write about characters who struggle with this issue, only to make the decision to wait.
Am I too focused on sex to be a Christian author?
No. I am a Christian, but I know the real struggle with the question 'to have sex or not.' Does this make me a bad person? No, it makes me real - and we all live in a flawed world. My characters face this same struggle, which a lot of Christian unmarried couples do. But if you get through the thick of it - by reading on - you find out they choose to abstain for the right reasons ... which IS NOT a bad message. I think more people should focus on that message.
That being said ... go in with your eyes wide open. I love God with all my heart, and He has called me to write about real struggles in today's world. And I'm not ashamed of any of my character's decisions. It makes them who they are and God takes them where they are and brings them to where He wants them.
I just wanted to respond to some of the women who didn't understand why a Christian book would hold any of the character flaws that it did.
Comments
Give me your two cents. Should a Christian author stick with characters living with rose colored glasses? Or should they portray characters with real struggles and temptations, so that readers can relate to it?