Christian Fiction? If you’re like I was, the first time I heard this term I thought: I don’t want to read about people during Biblical times doing good all the time. What fun would that be? But I was so wrong.
Fiction written for the Christian market is so much more than you have ever imagined. Yes, there are authors who write Biblical Fiction, and from what I hear, those books are amazing. But there are books written in every genre you can imagine: Suspense, Contemporary, Speculative, Historical, Young Adult, Middle grades, Historical Romance, and my current genre Contemporary Romance. A librarian gave me my first Christian Fiction book, and I read the first 100 pages without stopping, staying up well past midnight. These books are page turners.
So why does it matter if you’re reading books written with a Biblical worldview? Well, if you’re not a Christian it doesn’t matter, but for those of you who are following Jesus, I believe all our entertainment choices influence our walk with Christ. I’m not suggesting everything you read, watch, or listen to needs to have a Gospel message, but it is important to avoid things that go against the Bible’s teachings and glorify sin. What that means to you is a personal choice but know even if you take the book jacket off to disguise what you’re reading to the world, God still knows. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
But what about the entertainment value . . . the quality of the writing? I will tell you from my experience, it is excellent. Many of these books are New York Times Bestsellers. And there are so many choices, you will never run out. You may even recognize some of the authors. The American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) has a search engine for finding just the right book for you. Check it out. https://www.fictionfinder.com/
Local author Charles Martin’s new book, Send Down the Rain, releases on May 8th, also receiving a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly.
Honestly, there are so many amazing books, I always have a stack to be read. Currently, I’m reading Into the Free by Julie Cantrell. It was a New York Times bestseller and received a starred review by Publisher’s Weekly. Local author Charles Martin’s new book, Send Down the Rain, releases on May 8th, also receiving a starred review from Publisher’s Weekly.
One last thing for those of you with tweens and teens, review their books, even the ones assigned for school. Schools might select books with themes that you don’t want your children exposed to without your knowledge. Take the time to be aware of what your kids are reading. I’m just as guilty as the next mom of being “too busy” to vet every book my kids read, so I love having Christian authors who write for young adults.
I will be posting author profiles here at Bold City Voice, so come back and visit. I hope you will find them helpful. I look forward to sharing my love of Christian Fiction with you.
I’d love to hear from you and help build our reading list. What is your favorite Christian Fiction book and why? Who is your favorite Christian Fiction author and why? Send me an email or comment below.
Article first appeared in our Jacksonville, Florida division, Bold City Voice
