Re: Why Christians Can’t Agree About Chri stian Fiction

>But *after all is said and done, the debate about
Christian fiction is not about fiction at all — it’s about the nature of
Christian witness.*<

If we are talking about writing, or any other art form, isn't, after all is said 
and done, the debate about whether it is any good?  


If writing is the goal then it shouldn't matter what camp you fall in - write 
well regardless.  If you aren't comfortable with strong language, sex, violence, 
whatever, write in a compelling enough manner that the absence of those things 
in your work don't detract from it.  If you are comfortable with them use them 
to further the story without being gratuitous.

I'm not a "writer", but I am a reader and I think I can say that I don't waste 
my time reading writers who spend too much time on that debate.

Mike F.  

  




________________________________
From: Johne Cook <[email protected]>
Sent: Fri, May 27, 2011 9:39:04 AM
Subject: [DADL-OT] Why Christians Can’t Agree About Christian Fiction

I'm squarely in the Honesty camp, preferring to engage the world instead of
push it outside the Christian compound.

http://mikeduran.com/?p=12734

Why Christians Can’t Agree About Christian Fiction

by Mike Duran · 57 comments <http://mikeduran.com/?p=12734#comments>

Behind the Christian fiction debate is two different paradigms, two
contrasting views of Christianity. In one sense, those views are *
theological*. But in another sense, they are *cultural*. In other words, *the
reasons Christians can’t agree about what Christian fiction should be is
because they don’t agree about what Christianity is and what its followers
should be*.

I realize what I’m about to say is pretty simplistic, even potentially
divisive. But the more I watch the debate unfold, the more I get the sense
we’re talking past each other, employing two different sets of terminology.
As a result, we’re seeing the emergence of two camps. I’ll call them *The
Holiness Camp* and *The Honesty Camp*.

   - *The Holiness Camp* — These writers / readers emphasize our *separation
   from the world*; we are saints and our conduct, values, and entertainment
   should be categorically different from secular society. Thus, we should *
   critique* the world, avoid what is impure and have no fellowship with
   darkness, either philosophically or culturally. This separation should be
   reflected in our stories. Law is the driving principle of those in the
   Holiness Camp.
   - *The Honesty Camp* — These writers / readers emphasize our *association
   with the world*; we are all sinners and sin takes on monstrous forms.
   Thus, we should *engage the world*, identify with the fallen, look with
   unflinching candor and deep empathy upon the wreckage of humanity and its
   redemptive struggle. This should be reflected in our stories. Truth is the
   driving principle of those in the Honesty Camp.

It’s a simplistic division, granted, and can easily be interpreted (or
misinterpreted) as an unjust stereotype of either side. Of course, it’s not
to suggest that writers who emphasize Holiness avoid *honesty*, or that
those who value Honesty are somehow *unholy*. It’s just my way of trying to
think this through. Nevertheless, I believe this classification accurately
captures a polarization occurring within the market of Christian readers and
writers.

As long as there are two camps, two intrinsically different views about *what
Christianity is* and *what its followers should be*, there will be a
demographic of Christian readers who are outside the camp. For the most
part, *the Holiness Camp has been the one to define what Christian fiction
is*. Which forces lots of writers and readers outside.

If you think about it, many of the objections to mainstream Christian
fiction have to do with cultural preferences and codes of conduct (i.e.
cursing, smoking, drinking, sex, etc.), and expectations about what
Christian art should accomplish (i.e. glorify God, offer hope, offer an
alternative, condemn sin, illustrate Scripture, etc.). *The two camps hold
fundamentally different views regarding  what their art should accomplish.*

Martin Luther once said: “It is better to think of church in the ale-house
than to think of the ale-house in church.” Whereas some believers want to
take our light to the ale-house, others aim to shut down all ale-houses.
Likewise, some Christian writers and readers approach art as a means to
leave the ale-house. Others view their art as a means to engage the
ale-house.

Both sides have problems. The Holiness Camp is potentially cloistered in
their own Geneva, drifting further from the world we’re called to influence,
hedged in by their own theology and “thou-shalt-nots.” We are so busy
straining at gnats (like whether or not we can say “damn” in our stories)
that we’re swallowing camels. Conversely, people in the Honesty Camp can be
viewed as worldly, compromised, sellouts. Our liberalism regarding Christian
Fiction is proportional to our moral laxness. We are so busy trying to
engage the world that we have become like them. We are prone to theological
murkiness and our stories are little different from those of the secular
marketplace. And thus, the standoff.

*Though many suggest there is a balance between “safe” and “edgy” Christian
fiction, what’s ultimately at odds is our theology.* The two camps hold
fundamentally different conceptions about God, the world, and our
relationship with it. One seeks to *critique* the world and separate the
Church, while the other seeks to *contribute* to the world and bring the
Church to it.

But as long as we Christians define our witness primarily in terms of Law —
no cussing, smoking, drinking, dancing, or sex — and see our fiction as a
tool to perpetuate those values, we are destined for tension. Go ahead, call
me carnal and worldly. But *after all is said and done, the debate about
Christian fiction is not about fiction at all — it’s about the nature of
Christian witness.*


Johne Cook
| http://raygunrevival.com | http://authorculture.blogspot.com |*
*
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