Christian Fiction: Sin

Anyone can write about sin. If by ‘writing about sin’ one means writing passages in which the characters do sinful things. And even where the characters, and those around them, are affected negatively by that sin. They can even write scenes where the character (as well as the others surrounding them) realise that it is their sin that is causing the negative effects, and react to those effects by turning away from their sinful activities.

Indeed much can be written, and is written, by the secular author about sin. But only the Christian author can finish the story. Indeed from beginning to end much is missing in the secular author’s portrayal of sin.

Christian Fiction

This post is part of a series of posts on the idea of Christian Fiction: books written by Christians that have the goal of glorifying God. These posts include:

Christian Fiction: What is ‘Christian Fiction’? Should our stories be just like those that the world makes, only perhaps a bit cleaner?

Redemption in Christian Fiction: The goal of redemption should be a fundamental principle in our fiction.

Preachy Christian Fiction: Fiction written by Christians should be ‘preachy’.

Christian Fiction and Sex: How should the Christian author deal with the issue of ‘sex’ in their fiction?

Profanity: How should the Christian writer deal with the issue of profanity and its godparent ‘realism’?

Creation and the Nature of Sin

The story of sin begins at creation. We can only understand the nature of sin if we understand the nature of creation. That God created all things ex nihilo. That before God spoke, none of the created order existed. After He spoke, it came into being. That it exists in reflection of His will.

And that sin consists of rebelling against that created order. Sometimes by denying that it is created, or changing the name of the creator. And always by turning things away from their created purpose. Contradicting their purpose (as with ‘gay marriage’), ignoring their purpose (as with bottle feeding), placing man’s wisdom in place of that purpose (as with birth control)… all sin is a perversion of God’s purpose.

The Naming of Sin

And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

Genesis 18:20

One of the most critical factors in the secular portrayal of sin is… naming it as sin. There are several replacements for the word, all of which also replace the concept.

It used to be that men spoke of the ‘seven deadly sins’. Now one can have an interesting discussion as to whether those particular sins were the most deadly, whether there were only seven, and the like… but they did clearly name sins and attempt to define them (sometimes with rather grotesque art). Nowadays the naming of sin seems to be in short supply. (Except, perhaps, for one or two sins that our modern society still admit exists, or have made up out of whole cloth.)

Mistake

Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

Proverbs 14:9

One of the most common ways of replacing the name, and concept, of sin when discussing it is to speak of a ‘mistake’.

It Just Happens

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

Proverbs 21:4

Sometimes, especially when two sinners are involved, the phrase used is ‘it just happens’. Divorce is a common example. When the child, devastated by his parent’s divorce, asks why it is happening, the parent replies, “Sometimes these things just happen”. This is a lie, obviously. And a sin. It reflects the sinners refusal to claim responsibility for their sin.

Part of Life

For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

Psalm 51:3

Another fallacy that is often trotted out when speaking of sin is to say it us ‘just a part of life’. Now, let us admit that sin is part of life… our current life. Our life lived in rebellion to God.

But it is not a ‘part of life’ that we should embrace, or ignore, or just walk silently by. It is a part of life that we should reject, and correct, and fight against.

Rebellion

For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.

Psalm 59:12

But we Christians, in our fiction as well as our non-fiction, need to name sin as sin, and present sin as what it is… rebellion against God. It is not a ‘mistake’ it does not ‘just happen’ it is not a ‘part of life’… it is sin, it is rebellion against God.

Definition

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 1:29-32

And as a Christian it is not just the nature of sin itself which we can bring forward, but the sin-ness of sins. We can point out that certain things are sins which the world, and even much of the church, treats as normal. I read a post today which started with ‘Given that I am a passionate Christian’ and then, in the middle, we read, “Have sex with him as soon as you are enthusiastic and comfortable with it.” It would be hard to give more unChristian advice… promoting sexual sin right after claiming to be a Christian.

The whole ‘realism’ crowd will tell us that we need to have sin in our books, and treat it as normal. To have our characters live like the world (and, apparently, ‘passionate Christians’). But our goal should be to bring forth sin… as sin. To make it clear that sin is sinful, that the penalty for sin is death, and to point to the only remedy… the gospel of Christ.

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Von also writes as ‘Arthur Yeomans’. Under that name he writes children’s, YA, and adult fiction from a Christian perspective. His books are published by Wise Path Books and include the children’s/YA books:

The Bobtails meet the Preacher’s Kid

The Bobtails and the Cousins

The Bobtails go to France

and

No Ordinary School

As well as GK Chesterton’s wonderful book, “What’s Wrong with the World”, for which ‘Arthur’ wrote most of the annotations.

Arthur also has a substack, and a website. On the substack you can listen to some of his published books. Free.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

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