Questions

When people discover that I am an author, they sometimes ask, “So, do you write Christian books?” Earlier in my writing career, I was often perplexed by the question, but I’m now more prepared with an answer. I usually bounce the question back to them. “So, what do you mean by ‘Christian books’?”

The question is typically followed by an awkward silence, finally ending with something like, “Well, you know…do they have any drinking, or swearing…or sex…are they ‘family-friendly’?”

Although I’ve not yet said this in response, but perhaps I should—“Have you read much of the bible? Have you read Genesis chapters 9 and 19? Or Judges chapter 19? 2nd Samuel chapter 11? John chapter 2? Or, most of Song of Songs? And that’s just to get started. Would you consider the bible either Christian, or family-friendly?”

The bible is replete with salacious stories, unspeakably violent and horrific acts, blasphemous and foul language, and sexually explicit content. I believe these things neither make the book bad, nor non-Christian.

How I usually respond is to say, “I write ‘Christian books’, simply because I am a Christian writer.”

What I write is deeply informed by my faith in the One Who created the universe, and Who also saved me from ultimate destruction. My hope is that in the final analysis, he is pleased by what I write. Does that mean that every sentence I write is a doctrinal statement of belief in him? Or even that every story or book I pen talks explicitly about God, or Jesus? No, of course not.

Music

In regards to this matter, I often think about an art that is parallel to literature—that of music. Music has been used gloriously over the millennia to bring glory to the Almighty King of the Universe. The countless hymns of centuries past have explicitly extolled the worthiness and holiness of the One Living God.

Some of the same composers of these explicit songs about, and to, the Lord also wrote other “sacred” music, relying only on instrumentation, without the benefit of the human voice. Are these actually Christian works of music? By listening to them, can we be brought into an attitude of worship, and closer to God? The answer is obviously “yes.”

Could a person not believing in God hear them and enjoy them, and be brought closer to him? Possibly. Or could they simply enjoy them, without any spiritual enlightenment whatsoever? Also a possibility. Is there anything within the instrumental music itself (other than its title, possibly) which actually indicates that it is ‘Christian’?” Can this really be ‘Christian music’?”

And what about its style? Must ‘Christian music’ be contained within a particular style, or form, for it to truly be Christian? This has been debated for many years in America, with some coming down on the side of “If it’s rock and roll, no way…that’s of the Devil!” And yet, there is now a huge and successful genre of music labeled “Contemporary Christian Music.” Is that really Christian, or not? How about jazz? Or rap/hip-hop?

Then there is the matter of instruments. Should Christian music only come out of an organ (preferably of the “pneumatic pipe” type, not electronic), residing in the sacred space of a church building? How about a piano, instead? Or a guitar? Maybe even electric? A banjo? Or, heaven forbid, a set of drums?! And if we allow drums, how loud should we let them play?

Then there are those who claim that the only proper Christian music comes out of the human voice (the only instrument created by God), and that all other instruments are of the Devil.

I don’t mean to make light of these questions. These are good and serious questions, and should be asked. I think similar questions are appropriate to ask of whether or not certain writings are ‘Christian’.

Words

Each writer stands before God, and must ultimately give an account for what he writes.

As recorded in Matthew chapter 12, Jesus said “…I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Although he specifically calls out verbal/spoken words, I believe he is also indirectly including our written words. This should be a sobering thought.

Back to my own writings, I caution all who are considering my books, that I have not yet written “for children.” My works to this point are very much intended for an adult audience. You’ll notice that I didn’t say a Christian adult audience. I never began writing seriously, with a Chritian audience in mind. I simply write what I believe the Lord is prompting me to write.

That doesn’t mean that I think in any way my writing is “inspired” by God. I don’t believe he is putting his words in my mind, and then I write them down. It would be a huge presumption (and potentially blasphemous) to suppose that’s how this works for me.

Gifts

But I do believe that, since 1977 when he entered my life, he has led me through many twists and turns, filling me, shaping me, knocking off some of the rough edges, and hopefully, maturing me along the way.

He has also put various gifts in my life, none of which I deserve, or can ever lay claim to as my own. One of those happens to be the gift of taking things out of somewhere inside of me (call it “imagination”) translating it into words, and transferring it onto a physical page. I believe that, in some unexplainable way, this act, this process is pleasing to my God. I also believe that if I didn’t engage in writing as I do, I would be disobedient to the gift he has placed in me.

Are all of my writings glorifying of God? I could hope so, but only God himself is the proper judge of that. I believe it is glorifying of God simply to be utilizing these gifts to the best of my ability. I continue asking him to help me courageously venture into the hidden depths of imagination, pry out the few gems I find there, and strenuously haul them back up to the daylight, where others can enjoy their beauty, and so praise the One Who made it possible.

I sometimes think back to the 1981 movie “Chariots of Fire,” about the 1924 Olympic champion, Eric Lidell. When his sister confronted him that he was “wasting” his life on the track, and should instead be out on the mission field serving God, he answered, “I believe that God made me for a purpose: for China. But he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure. To give it up would be to hold Him in contempt.”

May we all strive to discover how God has made us, that we might follow that divine blueprint for who we are in him, and so feel his pleasure.