Monday, November 16, 2020

Does Evil Have a Place in Christian Fiction?

 


My newest release, “Softly Blows the Bugle,” deals with some dark subjects against the backdrop of the idyllic setting of the Amish community of Weaver’s Creek.

By the way - in case you haven’t noticed, I don’t write typical Amish novels. I call them “historical fiction with Amish characters.” Don’t expect everything to be buggies, bonnets, and sunshine when you read my stories!


Although my book has gotten great reviews, one reader didn’t like my antagonist. I was expecting her poor review – she had contacted me a few times while she was reading – and I knew what she objected to. My antagonist isn’t just a bad guy. He is evil.

As I read her review and thought of her earlier comments, I had to consider: what place does evil have in Christian fiction?

I’m open to discussion on this! I’m in the process of thinking through this myself.

Here’s my position:

1) There is evil in the world. From the beginning of time, back in Genesis chapter three, we are told that evil is working against God’s plan. We’re also given hope for evil’s eventual destruction (Genesis 3:15.) So, we know evil is real.

2) Christians are to resist evil. That’s why we’re given armor – our breastplate, our shoes, our shield, and our helmet (Ephesians 6:13-17.)

And we are to be prepared to fight against evil with the sword of Truth: God’s word.

3) Since we know those things are true, I believe that one of the things we’re called to do as Christians is to spur our fellow-believers on in the battle.

God has called me to be an author to speak to the Church – to believers – and that’s who I write my stories for.

So, where does evil fit in all of this?

Evil disguises itself as light, hope, and truth. Unless we are prepared to hold it against the plumb line of the Word of God, we can easily be swayed by a smile, a kind gesture, or words that tickle our ears.

This is where Solomon Mast, the antagonist of my story comes in.

Solomon appears to be exactly what he says he is: an Amish man from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. A grieving widower who moved to Ohio to leave sad memories behind and make a fresh start. A wealthy, successful farmer who seems to be destined to be a leader in the community.

He is charismatic, self-assured, and disarmingly charming.

What the reader sees long before the members of the community do is that Solomon is leading a double life. Behind closed doors his true nature is revealed.

Movement on the road to the east of the Patterson place drew his gaze. A spring wagon pulled by a single horse. A young man and an older woman. He watched the horse turn into his farm lane.
“Callers.” The very thing he had expected when the morning had dawned so fine. He turned around and cracked open the front door. “Dulcey!”
The young woman appeared in the hall leading to the back of the house, her dark skin blending into the shadowed interior.
“Get yourself down into the cellar and stay put. Someone is coming and I don’t want them to see you yet.”
The girl disappeared like a shadow and Solomon closed the door. He shook his arms, letting his hands hang loose for a moment, then took a deep breath. As he let it out, he stepped into the man his visitors expected to see. Well-to-do Amishman Solomon Mast, new to the community and pleased to be part of it.

I almost wish that he wasn’t any worse than a con man, but as the story progresses, we see that he is totally depraved and ruled by his evil nature.

It isn’t pretty.

That evil side is what Aaron, the hero of the book, recognizes before anyone else does. And it’s that evil that breaks through Aaron’s self-pity and feelings of inadequacy to bring out his heroic qualities.

I needed Solomon to be a powerful foil to Aaron’s powerful faults.

So, what place does evil have in Christian fiction?

I believe that it can inspire us to fight against the evil in our own world. The greater the evil, the stronger our armor needs to be.

What do you think?

Many people think that Christian fiction should only be clean and wholesome, without the stain of the world’s influence. I certainly agree that those books are wanted and needed.
But is there also a place for evil in Christian fiction?

And what role should we, as authors, play in this battle?

Readers - what do you think? What are your expectations when you read a book from a Christian author?

Commenters will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of one of the books from my backlist, your choice! (Sorry, due to postage costs this drawing is open to US readers only.)

The book list can be found on my website: www.JanDrexler.com 



 

 

45 comments:

  1. Good morning, Seekerville! The coffee is on, there's hot water for tea, and your choice of doughnuts from Jerry's Cakes and Donuts - the Best of the Black Hills!

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  2. Whew, Jan, you hit the nail on the head when you said that evil disguises itself. We all know it, yet we still don't always recognize it, do we? Because of that, I think evil absolutely has a place in Christian fiction. I looked up the review you mentioned (I hope that's okay!), and after reading the description and other reviews, I'm honestly quite intrigued by this story!

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    1. That was my point when I wrote Solomon's character - that evil can disguise itself so well that even the wisest among us can be fooled. We often see only what we want to see, don't we?

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  3. Evil, as you point out using scripture (so we know it's true), is a true and present reality for believers and non-believers alike. If we did not have evil to see and experience, honestly, we would not see our need for a Savior. I appreciate books that have reality, instead of the ideal. In addition to a good story, I can learn from the characters about how to handle temptation, my own sin, and evil in the world.
    I have not used drugs, for example, but I can read a book giving a true account about the life of someone who has used drugs, and I can learn that that is a horrible path. I don't have to live it myself to empathize with a character who has lived it.
    1Peter 5:8-9 says
    "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."
    Reading books, article, hearing accounts of how the devil is seeking to devour others helps me to stand firm. I appreciate you writing about these things. I learn from them. I have used your books in homeschooling my own children, so they can be warned, as well. Keep writing, sister. The research and attention to detail you put forth is greatly appreciated.

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    1. Thank you!

      I know I've learned so much from reading Christian fiction, and I hope to help my readers in the same way. There's a reason why Jesus taught in parables - our minds seem to grasp the example of the story better than we grasp instruction!

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  4. I don't see how evil in a story can be avoided. I'm not familiar with the story in question but since all have sinned, we can't escape it. And the point of fiction is conflict. On the other hand, authors can and should control how graphic that portrayal of evil is. I've not seen this as a problem in Christian fiction I've read. But it is why I don't read fiction in general without a strong recommendation from someone. I once randomly picked a recommended book from my library, started reading, and within the 1st chapter or so of the book there was such depravity written by the author, and seemed so gleeful to do so, that I was repulsed and returned the book immediately. I still feel stained from even being briefly exposed to it. So to me it isn't a question of whether evil should be in a book, the question is, how much of the truth of evil do you expose. Every author has to find that fine line.

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    1. That's a great point, BK. The key is how the author handles the portrayal of the evil. And it's a delicate balance, because what one reader will find offensive, another reader will need to hear.

      That's why I always pray as I write!

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  5. Good morning Jan and of course evil has a place in Christian fiction. It shows us how Christ came to defeat the devil and all his works. I cut my metaphorical writing teeth on reading Brock and Bodie Thoene's "Zion Chronicles" and "Zion Covenant" series, and they did not skimp on anything, including one SS officer who raped his mistress hours after she delivered their child, ew. But Christ and His people shone all the more brightly against the malice and depravity. As they did in the Reich in real life. And I don't think we should ever be afraid to show that.
    I've been impressed with the Love Inspired books of this century as contrasted with the Harlequins of the 50s and 60s. Love Inspired has real people confronting real problems and real issues from their past, not "hilarious misunderstandings" and the like. And sometimes yes, they do have to deal with evil.
    From a purely technical writing standpoint, evil gives a story texture. From a Christian writing standpoint, it shows how good will triumph through the Blood of the Lamb. We have to walk a fine line and not gross out our readers or be too graphic, but it's a line I'm willing to walk. My publisher once had me take out a childhood rape experience and replace it with physical abuse, but guess what, the evil was still powerfully bad and Christ's defeat of it powerfully good.
    Probably why I don't watch a lot of Hallmark. Unfortunately more to the point that evil comes in other forms than the greedy developer who wants to raze the town square or Santa's workshop or whatever. Or maybe it's just me.
    Trying to catch up. A lot to do before the COVID boom is lowered again.
    Kathy Bailey

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    1. You have a great point, Kathy!

      I think you also made another point that perhaps you didn't intend - some readers need and love the Hallmark type of story. I need that type of story often, too - where the worst that evil can do is to replace a cherished tradition with something new.

      But sometimes I need to be challenged to fight. I think there is a place for both kinds of stories. :-)

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    2. Jan, you're right and I didn't mean to "dump" on Hallmark. I may need them myself sooner rather than later. :)

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    3. I didn't feel like it was a "dump!"
      :-)

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  6. First, the most important item: I'll have one of Jerry's blueberry sour cream doughnuts, thank you! :)

    Second, I think this has been a question ever since "Christian fiction" got a label. If there is no evil, the story will be trite and feel fluffy, but you need to make sure that you're not glorifying the evil that you do write. Plus, we have to face the reality that not everything turns out the way we want and not every villain is redeemed. An author needs to decide what sort of story he or she wants to tell and with God's guidance write that story. That can be an interesting balance.

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    1. Ooo...blueberry sour cream! It's a good thing I (virtually) picked up plenty of those! I'm (virtually) having a maple frosted glazed donut right now. ;-)

      I think it's wonderful that some authors can write "light and fluffy" and still pack a meaningful message into the narrative. I love those books!

      But others - and I may be falling into this camp - seem to need to include more of the battle against evil as our world gets darker.

      In both of the books I'm working on now, a murder mystery and an historical romance, I'm trying hard to keep the tone lighter and the story more upbeat, but we'll see how they turn out!

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  7. Books wouldn't be very realistic if there wasn't some evil in them. I think Christian authors are able to portray it in a way that isn't too graphic, but evil does exist as we know. (But I do also love the Hallmark movies!) Interesting post, Jan.

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    1. I think that the level of evil we include in our stories depends a lot on the story itself.

      Softly Blows the Bugle takes place at the end of the Civil War. The characters in my series had just lived through a time when evil was rampant in our country - on both sides - and they were ready for some relief. But, of course, evil wasn't banished with the signing of the surrender at Appomattox.

      I felt like I needed to include evil in a deeper way in this book, as a reminder that even though one battle was over, another was just beginning.

      But when it comes to evil, we know how Our Story ends! God has already written the end of that book!

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  8. Books where the antagonist is only mildly difficult and easily defeated are boring.
    Bring on the bad guys' darkness so the Light shines brighter!

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    1. I like that, Erica! Light does shine brighter in the dark!

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    2. That's a good point, Erica. I've often read that the antagonist needs to be powerful enough that it's a real struggle for our protagonist to overcome.

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  9. Jan, what a fascinating post! I believe there are readers who resonate with the hard things in our stories and these hard things give hope to readers who do/have suffered at the hands of evil. I think when it's written without being graphic, evil being overcome in a story can be very powerful.

    Thanks for making me think about this!

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    1. One thing that is hard to do is to portray the negative side of evil - without "telling." Showing evil means we have to drop hints or skirt the edge of reality, but even that can be too graphic for some readers.

      It's something each author - and their editors - need to look at very carefully.

      And you are so right - seeing evil being overcome by good can be very powerful!

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  10. I enjoy books that are real. A fluff book is good occasionally but give me a book where light overcomes darkness . Thank you for sharing. Your book sounds like something I would enjoy and I have it on my wish list. Blessings

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    1. Thanks, Lucy!

      A happily-ever-after story can still show evil being conquered, can't it? Think of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Even the Disney version makes us shiver!

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  11. Jan, great topic! I enjoy reading and writing stories that include a battle between good and evil. In reality, we all fight that battle, whether in our personal lives or in the world at large where we certainly see evil raise its head far too often. Some of the evil antagonists in my stories are more vile than others, but each villain serves to showcase the hero and heroine's desire to lead righteous lives. The contrast between the peace-loving Amish and the worldly antagonist enhances the conflict and, in my opinion, brings a satisfying resolution when the good guys win in the end.

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    1. That contrast is the center of the story's power! The greater the contrast, the greater the message. :-)

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  12. Here's a thing I've noticed about evil characters, of course I have 'bad guys' in my books. And always I try and make them three dimensional. Interesting, not just black evil for no reason.

    Ok, that's one point.

    Next thing, I am an almost compulsive RE-READER of books. I have a mountain of favorites and I almost always have one of these favorites open. I read before bed and I can enjoy a book I've already read and enjoyed, and still get to sleep. A new book is much more likely to keep me up for hours.

    So I re-read these books and what I've noticed is, I always SKIP the bad guy scenes. Especially if the hero/heroine is not in the scene.

    Even bad guys I think are brilliantly done...I just don't want to re-read their scenes.

    I've given this a lot of thought because I have bad guys (like I said) and I wonder how to make them compelling enough a re-reader will want to read those scenes.

    I haven't figured it out yet. Do I just not want to re-read them because they're evil? Is there some other reason? This is a little hummmmmmmm in my writing skills that I think I should be able to do that.

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    1. Mary, that's a really interesting thing to think about. For me, I used to read more suspense/thrillers. But it would sometimes really mess with my mind. I can imagine not wanting to read those scenes again!

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  13. I guess my point is, sure there's a place for evil in Christian fiction.

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    1. One thing I liked about Wax, your bad guy in the Brides of Hope Mountain series, is that he was redeemable. He did bad things - but his character grew and changed. He asked questions and looked for answers.

      I've had bad guys who could be redeemed in a future story. That's something to think about.

      But with a few of my bad guys, I don't want to look too deeply into their characters "on screen." I do in my pre-writing character development, but I know that some of those things I discover in their minds should never reach the printed page.

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  14. Boy, this is a tough, tough question.

    First, I think evil belongs because it's as real as the devil himself. And just as consuming.... and I think towns and people are easily fooled by con men, so I see justification for you presenting Solomon in this way.

    But then I look at what I read and want to read and I want my evil intimated but not intimate. I want to know it's there, but not have it hit me in the face. And I've had to tone down the realism in a lot of books because Jan, you're right: It exists. It lives and lingers among us. It's everywhere and I think more insidious now because we excuse so much.

    But as a writing tool I've had to learn to minimize my talent for graphic and/or present evil. So if the evil is in the past, that's easier for me and probably the reader to handle. If it's a present danger, that's tougher, right? More immediate. And then it becomes more a suspense than a women's fiction or a romance.

    I guess I mean it comes down to degrees. And some readers will love it and some will shoulder it aside. I think that's human nature, too.

    But great question and great post.

    You have me thinking. And re-thinking.

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    1. I love this: "I want my evil intimated but not intimate."

      And yes, evil in the past is easier. There's a distance built in, and even if the evil hasn't been dealt with completely, it has had a chance to become less immediate. Great point.

      And now you have me thinking and re-thinking!

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  15. Wow! That character does sound really evil, but I think that evil helps display the light and good in the world. Light wouldn't mean a lot to us unless it was dark.

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    1. You're so right, Angeline!

      And yes, Solomon is evil, but I have always felt sorry for him because he is so lost.

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  16. Your books sounds amazing Jan Thanks for sharing!

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  17. Hi Jan:

    I'd rather not see evil in Christian fiction. There are many Christians who believe that 'evil' is 'error' and it does not have an independent existence.

    In physics Newton's Third Law, "For everyaction, there is an equal and opposite reaction," can be taken to mean that you make 'evil' as real as the force you employ to oppose it.

    That's why the Jesus teaches to 'turn the other cheek' and 'to resist not evil'. There are bad things in the world but to claim them as evil is to give evil an independent existence. To say John is evil is like saying John has a soul. Where did he get it? Did God give it to him? Why would an all powerful good God allow evil to exist? Why did He create it?

    These type of questions create a big mess and have lead to many different Christian sects. Better to avoid it unless you are an advocate for one of the sects.

    I don't like and I'd avoid it.

    How's that for a different POV?

    Vince

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    1. I declare a thumb war!!!!

      :)

      Okay, we can't do a thumb war virtually, but I don't agree, my friend. I think that by denying evil we give it power to ooze into every crack and crevice there is.

      "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he doesn't exist." (Usual Suspects)

      And honestly, looking back historically, human nature and men wanting power and things their way have paved the way for the thousands of different Christian sects. Even the Amish, when in disagreement, separate out, move away and begin their own church someplace else. We are so very human.

      But I believe evil is real and alive and well among us. And that's a dreadful sadness.

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    2. Hi Ruth:

      "Never argue with a Bible thumper," a wise man once told me. "The Bible said it, they believe it, mind closed."

      Christian fiction can have all the evil it wants. It can have demons, too. Demon fiction can be very interesting. It's just a matter of limiting your Christian audience, needlessly.

      You can have very bad characters. Make them mentally ill or even criminally insane. Why posit evil -- a religious concept? Why only write for the fundamentalists? Why not make predetermination part of your Moral Premise? Oh, that would limit your Christian audience. Right. That's my point.

      I'm thinking marketing here. How many exorcisms are done a year these days? Why? Is there less deviltry and more mental illness? Remember: the devil was the most real when we were burning witches at the stake. Posit evil and you will get evil. I just think it would be better to get sales.

      Vince

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    3. Interesting point, Vince. Thanks for your input!

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    4. By the way, you can call me a Bible-thumper. The Bible said it. I believe it. But it isn't that my mind is closed - the case is closed. As far as I'm concerned, God always has the last word.

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    5. "I think that by denying evil we give it power to ooze into every crack and crevice there is." - well said, Ruthy!

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    6. even secular fiction has good and evil - how much more should we as followers of the One who ultimately has defeated evil be calling evil out for what it is? #mytwocents

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  18. I go through phases in reading. Sometimes I want fun rom-com reads where imperfect characters make mistakes and pick themselves up. But sometimes I want something a little more serious, and that's where the evil characters can play a part.

    We do need to see evil in Christian fiction. We need to know what it looks like and how to fight it ... or help others fight it. If we don't understand darkness, how can we appreciate the light?

    Having said that, the evildoer needs to be a three-dimensional character. They are the hero in their own story, so their evil has to be motivated. Otherwise the drama runs the risk of turning into melodrama.

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    1. Good point, Iola!

      One thing I've learned as I'm delving into the world of cozy mysteries is that the perpetrator (murderer, thief, or whoever the bad guy is) needs to be developed as thoroughly as the sleuth.

      I think the same goes if we have a bad guy in our romance stories - he (or she) needs to be three-dimensional, just as you said! And I love the way you put it - "They are the hero in their own story..." Well put!

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  19. Wonderful post, Jan! Evil is a part of this fallen world. And while our books are an escape and have uplifting messages, they still need that realism. It doesn't have to be graphic, but our stories often reflect the "good triumphs over evil" that our faith is rooted in. So to answer your question, yes, there is a place for evil in Christian fiction.

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    1. I agree Mindy! Even the most feel-good Hallmark story has that element of good triumphing over evil. That's why we feel so satisfied at the end of the story!

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