In Australia there is a Christian magazine called Eternity. In their most recent edition, they included an article deriding Christian romantic fiction.
I am a Christian, and although I write books for a mainstream audience, not a Christian one, I still found this article ignorant and uninformed.
I sent them a letter for their ‘Letter to the Editor’ section, but I doubt it will be published, so I am publishing it here:
Dear Editor,
When I read Simone Richardson’s article on Christian romantic fiction in Eternity’s October 2013 edition, I wondered from where she had obtained her novels.
I assume they are from USA’s Bible belt, as the three negative remarks she made about romantic fiction are not reflected in any of the novels I have read.
Ms Richardson may not be aware that Australia is responsible for many good works of Christian fiction – both romantic and otherwise – which do not reflect the negative take she freely pinned on all of them.
I have never read a Christian romance novel that ‘explicitly [taught] that God has someone lined up for each of us’. I guess it could be said that they may imply it, as the book’s protagonists usually end up together, but I have never read one that has explicitly taught this point of view.
I laughed when Ms Richardson stated that Christian romances always feature ‘Mr Perfect’, a man with no faults. Perhaps this is the case in US novels, but again, I have never encountered it in Australian ones. That would be both ridiculous and unrealistic, as I’ve never met anyone who is perfect.
Ms Richardson’s third remark was that Christian romances are bad because they try to teach us God’s sovereignty, instill Christian values and promote Godliness. Is this really a bad thing? Isn’t this what the preacher does at church every Sunday? While he bases what he says around a passage in the Bible (sometimes) he usually gives it a practical demonstration by telling a story from real life. Is this any different from what a novelist is doing? Perhaps Ms Richardson would argue that the preacher has studied at Bible college, so is more equipped to do so than an author. What then, can we say for all our Sunday school and religious education teachers? Many of them are only laypeople, and they are teaching about God’s sovereignty and trying to instill Christian values, etc. Maybe they should stop. What about my role as a parent? Should I no longer try to instill Christian values in my son because I don’t have a degree from a bible college?
I certainly agree that we should all read the bible daily, but reading stories is also a good way to digest biblical truth. That’s why Jesus often spoke in stories (i.e. parables). Not only that, some non-Christians have read Christian novels (romantic and otherwise) and have come to faith in Christ as a result.
As CS Lewis said, ‘Any amount of theology can now be smuggled into people’s minds under the cover of fiction without their knowing it.’ This can happen in all forms of fiction, and I have definitely seen it in Christian romantic fiction. I would advise Ms Richardson and others to broaden their horizons and look to Australia for good Christian fiction.
Well said, Lynne! Going by recent conversation, a lot of us feel the same way. If your letter doesn’t get printed, I hope you at least get a reply.
Well said.
I found the article’s generalisations to have all the flaws of sweeping generalisations – and particularly disturbing since no titles were ever mentioned, no specific quotes given. It was opinion, masquerading as expertise.
Are you putting that in your article to them, Annie? It’s a great point.
Christians not write romance novels! Why ever not? Do they promote porn and violence? Are they full of swear words? dont follow Bible truth? I know some of the protagonists behave like total nitwits but that is about the worst you can say about them. And dont we all behave like silly billys some of the time. The world would be a sad place without the happy ever afters and the hope of a good life. On with romance, I say.
I know that I write Christian romance and I am an Australian. I don’t have a Bible degree, but I can still teach. Two of my spiritual gifts are knowledge and wisdom. (along with writing).
I hope to just change one person’s life, Also none of my hero’s are perfect, neither are the heroines. Though through God and his goodness they overcome issues. Some Christian romances are very easy to read and seem perfect, but that would only be a small minority.
MEL
I’ve now read the original article from Eternity. I got the impression that the author simply sees little value to fiction in general. Perhaps she should read this:
http://www.crossway.org/blog/2012/07/4-benefits-of-reading-fiction/
Yes, Adam. Apparently they have a bad attitude to all fiction.
Thank you, Lynne, for responding to what seems to have been a very negative magazine article; uninformed criticism is not only disrespectful to the vast majority of Christian Romance Writers, it is condescending and offensive to the genre’s readership. As a teenager, my daughter read her way through most of our local library’s substantial collection of Christian romance fiction. Some of it was brilliant, some less so, and she soon worked out who the quality writers were. She set about saving for and purchasing books by her favourite authors. When she moved out of home, she had to purchase a large bookcase to accommodate her collection! She especially loved Christian romance with historic elements. As a parent, at least I knew that she was not being fed a diet of promiscuity and profanity. And if I read through my own stash of spy-thrillers and crime mysteries from the library too quickly, I could raid her room for something to read! Those romance books reminded me of how blessed I was to have found my Mr. Right, who, if not perfect, is still God’s perfect choice for me, in real life, and has remained so for 33 years and counting. My daughter went from being disinterested in reading, to devouring books. The book that ‘hooked’ her, was a modern interpretation of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ written by a Christian author. She loved it, went on to read Jane Austin’s original and was soon a confirmed Jane Austin fan as well. If that isn’t enough good reasons to appreciate Christian romance fiction, the size of the market speaks volumes as well. If it was all so bad, it simply wouldn’t sell. There will always be things written and said that sell God short, because we are so limited in our understanding of him. But I think he’s big enough, and brilliant enough, to utilize Christian romantic fiction for the good of his kingdom and his glory too. Don’t you?
You go, girl! (Expanded version: You make several excellent points that support your overall thesis, which I find myself in agreement with. The succinct version is more emphatic though.)
🙂