While there are differing views on what defines Christian fiction, experts generally agree it should point readers to Christ and his attributes through how people are portrayed and problems addressed with love, grace, and dignity. Opinions vary on whether a story needs explicitly Christian elements or can be inspired by faith, and whether it should portray an unrealistic world where good always triumphs or a realistic fallen world. Ultimately, Christian fiction aims to leave readers changed by inspiring them to live for God through relatable characters struggling with real-world issues. Its goal is changed lives through storytelling just as Jesus used parables to communicate divine truths.

1. Industry experts share differing (and surprising) perspectives.
By Lora Schrock
What Makes Christian Fiction
CHRISTIAN?
fantasy epics to heartfelt romances. But
the definition of “Christian fiction” varies,
shaped by industry standards, personal ex-
perience, and the creative process.
Intent and inspiration matter.
“Christian fiction is story that comes out of
the heart and gifts of a believer in response
to God’s prompting and calling,” says Karen
Watson, associate publisher of fiction at
Tyndale House.
California-based educator and blogger
Susanne Barrett considers it not a matter of
the author’s faith or even the book’s subject
matter but the content and the way it points
to Christ and His attributes.
“I see Jane Eyre and the ‘Harry Potter’
series as being Christian books because they
teach me how people should treat others
and how the fight for what is right and God-
honoring involves self-sacrifice,” she says.
“These books inspire me to live for God and
others, not for myself.”
Under the latter definition, the works
of Tolstoy, Tolkien, and Dostoyevsky are
Christian fiction, although most readers
would classify them as classic literature.
“Many general market novels touch on
subjects that we who follow Jesus would
consider faith issues,” says Cynthia Ruchti,
author, speaker, and professional relations
liaison for American Christian Fiction Writ-
ers (ACFW). “So the label ‘Christian fiction’
can seem less a list of essentials than it is a
fluid combination of the heart and intent of
the Christian writer, the needs and expec-
tations of the target audience, and content
that offers insight and hope, no matter the
storyline.”
Let customers be your guide.
Good businesses understand their custom-
ers’ wants and needs. The same holds true
for Christian publishers: They know retail-
ers only want to stock titles that will sell
through.
Robin Hogan, director of CCC Publica-
tions, decides what fiction to carry based
on several criteria, including customers’ re-
quests and the authors’ reputations.
“I usually have volunteers who are some-
times retired teachers and enjoy reading, so
they read and review for me,” she explains.
“For new authors, a volunteer or I usually
read for content, substance, and writing
mechanics, especially if the books are self-
published.”
If novels aren’t biblically sound, she won’t
stock them. “For example, if an author is
openly gay and uses biblical content to jus-
tify his or her sexual orientation, I won’t
carry such books.”
Because the average Christian store cus-
tomer is evangelical, faith-based fiction
typically reflects that viewpoint. ACFW
defines Christian fiction as “written from a
Christian worldview that conform to gener-
ally accepted standards of the CBA, includ-
ing no profanity, graphic sex, gratuitous
Jesus used parables to commu-
nicate divine truths. The vibrant
settings, memorable characters,
and rich symbolism of His sto-
ries stayed with people long after
the Teacher had gone to the next
town. While the Bible doesn’t say
how many of His listeners came
to faith, it’s hard to imagine they
didn’t ponder the parables’ deep-
er meanings, ask questions, and
make eternal decisions.
God is still using story to change lives.
Readers can recognize themselves in a char-
acter and say, “This is my story.” Fiction can
renew their hope and inspire them to take
action. It can help them explore different as-
pects of their faith walk and start conversa-
tions about God.
Lining the shelves of Christian retail
stores are countless novels, ranging from
historical page-turners to spy thrillers to
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violence, or other objectionable material.”
DiAnn Mills, whose books include the
“Crime Scene: Houston” and “Texas Legacy”
series, agrees. She writes her novels “from
a Christian worldview where the plot and
characters reflect a slice of life; good over-
comes evil; profanity isn’t written but possi-
bly implied; explicit sex excluded; and glori-
fication of violence omitted.”
Does that mean stories that differ from
these descriptions can’t be “Christian”? Of
course not, said author Simon Morden at
his Greenbelt Arts Festival address. It just
means they may not be published or sold in
the Christian products industry.
While he states not all fiction written by
Christians automatically is Christian, he
does think an author’s faith plays a key role.
Watson also believes that what makes fiction
Christian starts with the heart of the author.
“We believe that God speaks to authors
who are sensitive to His voice about topics
and stories that need to be explored for the
benefit of the body and the world at large.
What that doesn’t mean
is that the story has to
meet a checklist of crite-
ria or set expectations,”
she says. “What that
looks like cannot and
should not be defined
by the personal taste of
gatekeepers’ own per-
sonal tastes (mine in-
cluded) or put exclusive-
ly through the filter of
what has been embraced
in the past.”
Hold out hope
for a real world.
Many authors have
heard from readers who
became Christ followers
after reading inspira-
tional stories.
“Our novels reach a
wide range of people at
different places in their
spiritual journey. We
believe fiction has the
opportunity to be many
readers’ first taste of a
spiritual conversation,”
says Watson.
However, secular
readers often discount
faith-based books, assuming they will be too
Pollyanna. Morden agrees, saying Christian-
industry novels are often filled with “fantasy
Christianity” in which “demons are slain, sin-
ners saved, prayers instantly answered, [and]
the righteous though tempted never fall.”
According to Morden, this unreal world is
so sanitized, it bears little resemblance to the
one readers live in. “The wicked never pros-
per, no one swears or drinks or takes drugs
or has sex, and the Gospel is met with accep-
tance or rejection, never indifference.”
Because they have a difficult time relat-
ing, many readers won’t finish books of this
nature. These titles would fail what Watson
terms the “real people” test.
“We believe the best fiction portrays peo-
ple—both good and bad—that readers know
and encounter in their day-to-day lives,” she
says. “This is the glue that sticks a story to
someone’s heart.”
However, some readers prefer fiction that
doesn’t deal with the nitty-gritty realities of a
fallen world. Michele Tennesen, who served
as publicist for David C Cook and Mult-
nomah, remembers one particular novel that
was greeted with public outcry.
“In Wisdom Hunter, there’s a rape scene
that was alluded to by the man ‘taking off
his belt.’ Oh, the outrage! The author was
eventually booted from his church ministry
because of those heinous words,” she recalls.
“Christian fiction needs to embrace how a
Christian responds to real-world problems
with love, grace, and dignity in the midst of
pain, injustice, hate, and war.”
While some works do have ham-fisted
themes, many writers let their message
evolve organically. Lauraine Snelling, author
of Sophie’s Dilemma and A Heart for Home,
tries to create “characters who struggle, suf-
fer, learn to trust that Christ is who He says
He is and then try to live according to what
they are learning with all the ups and downs
that all humans experience.”
Mills also prefers subtlety in writing. “My
goal is for the believer to identify with the
character’s actions and reactions, and for the
unbeliever to be challenged to look at life
from a different perspective.”
While writers are understandably dedi-
cated to their art, at the end of the day, they
have bills to pay like everyone else; they want
their novels to be sold. The true litmus test
for them and everyone involved in publish-
ing is at the retailer’s cash register. If readers
don’t buy a book, for whatever reason, it will
only have one print run but many returns.
The aim is changed lives.
Ecclesiastes 12:12 says, “There’s no end to the
publishing of books” (MSG). One could also
say the “reading of books” and the “writing
of books.” Content may be available in differ-
ent formats, but fiction isn’t going away.
While writers, publishers, retailers, and
consumers might have different opinions
on what elements should or shouldn’t be
in Christian fiction or which approach it
should take, they can agree that good writ-
ing should leave a reader changed.
Jesus used story throughout His earthly
ministry, and it remains a tool our powerful
and creative God can use to draw people into
relationship with Him. And He is still using
it to change lives today. R+R
With more than 20 years in magazine and book
publishing, Lora Schrock is the owner of Editorial
Answers LLC, www.editorialanswers.com. She re-
sides in Colorado Springs, CO.
Experts agree good Christian fiction writing should draw readers to
God, and leave them changed.
Experts agree good Christian fiction writing should draw readers to
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