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Christian Fiction

April 2005

There is a big market for Christian Fiction. What I mean by ÒChristian FictionÓ is imaginative literature that is written from a distinctly Christian perspective.

The ÒLeft BehindÓ series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins is a twelve-volume multi-million dollar publishing event and sells as Christian Fiction. Unfortunately, it is written from the vantage point of the premillennial notion of end times.

But for those who are amillennial there is The Last Disciple, by Hank Hanegraaff and Sigmund Brouwer. Hanegraaff and Brouwer have done their homework to give the reader an accurate depiction of life in ancient Rome a few years prior to the destruction of Jerusalem.

Another series of books written in historic fiction depicting life for early converts to Christ just prior to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD is ÒThe Mark of the Lion,Ó written by Francine Rivers. The three volumes are titled, A Voice in the Wind, An Echo in the Darkness, and As Sure as the Dawn. (This is the next set I plan to read.)

Several of the ladies in our congregation have read ÒThe Mark of the Lion,Ó and each one has had a favorable response to the books. For example, Roma Lacuata, the wife of one of our elders, critiqued the books by writing,

I thoroughly enjoyed Francine RiversÕ trilogy, ÒThe Mark of the Lion.Ó In fact, it was difficult to put the books down. The plot is interesting, and not predictable. Rivers is biblically sound for the most part. I found myself wanting to be a better person, wanting to let Christ shine through me because of reading these books.

Kathy Oyen, another sister knowledgeable in the Scriptures, has read the series and writes,

The series of books by Francine Rivers was extremely interesting because they took you back to a time in Christian history that I was very familiar with (intellectually), yet I had never put myself in the position to think what it would, or could have been for the Christians during that time in our history. She is an excellent writer and the reading really flows, in fact I could hardly put them down. They are not just of interest to women either. My husband is in the process of reading them now, and he was pleased when he got to the part about the gladiators.

While this type of literature can be tricky and or treacherous in that it has the potential for smuggling false theology into our thinking while our guard is down, it can be a fine form of pleasure and learning. Good fiction can illustrate propositional truth.

 

Steven Lloyd

Joining the Conversation:

Tim Nichols

I've read The DaVinci Code. Does that count?
Although folks are alarmed at the premise, it might have a good effect
in that people are certainly asking questions. It is a work of fiction
after all. I've learned quite a bit by trying to sort out historical
fact from fiction.
I hope you're well in every way. All's well here. -- Tim

 

Denny Petrillo

Two books I've read that I thought were interesting and thought provoking were:

1) Frank Peretti's "This Present Darkness." This book dives into the realm of the demonic and angel world and their involvement into the affairs of men.

2) A book entiled "A Skelton in God's Closet." I can't remember the author right now. This book is deep into archeology, and considers what impact finding the body of Jesus would have on Christianity.

Take care, and keep up the good work.

(Editorial note: The author of "A Skelton in God's Closet" is Paul Maier, professor of Ancient history at Western Michigan University.)