The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Really interesting stuff! I certainly agree that everything we write should be rooted in truth and the gospels. What do you mean by "preachy?" You mentioned Lewis, and I appreciate that example, but could you give some specific instances of it from the Narnia books? I ask because I wouldn't have described TCoN as preachy.
Similarly, I would love to know if you have thoughts on Flannery O'Connor. She's about as modern as you can get, but also deeply Christian. She's another one I wouldn't have described as "preachy."
When you sell fiction as entertainment, it is your first duty to at least try to entertain. Anything else is fraud, and a sin. One glorifies God by honestly selling what you claim to sell.
To also preach insofar as it is possible is also good, but remember that C.S. Lewis observed that a Christian's writing should be edifying insofar as that is possible.
What does it mean to ‘sell fiction as entertainment’? Is the parable of the sower ‘sold as entertainment’?
Our goal should be to glorify God. To preach the gospel. If we falsely claim that our stories are principally entertainment, and we don’t entertain, then we have lied or failed.
Really interesting stuff! I certainly agree that everything we write should be rooted in truth and the gospels. What do you mean by "preachy?" You mentioned Lewis, and I appreciate that example, but could you give some specific instances of it from the Narnia books? I ask because I wouldn't have described TCoN as preachy.
Similarly, I would love to know if you have thoughts on Flannery O'Connor. She's about as modern as you can get, but also deeply Christian. She's another one I wouldn't have described as "preachy."
Thanks for sharing!
When you sell fiction as entertainment, it is your first duty to at least try to entertain. Anything else is fraud, and a sin. One glorifies God by honestly selling what you claim to sell.
To also preach insofar as it is possible is also good, but remember that C.S. Lewis observed that a Christian's writing should be edifying insofar as that is possible.
What does it mean to ‘sell fiction as entertainment’? Is the parable of the sower ‘sold as entertainment’?
Our goal should be to glorify God. To preach the gospel. If we falsely claim that our stories are principally entertainment, and we don’t entertain, then we have lied or failed.
Do you criticize Christians who sell food for not delivering preaching instead of food?
Not at all. No more than I criticise fiction writers for not preaching the sermon at their church, or even teaching Sunday school.
I do criticise parents who failed to preach the gospel to their children. Who failed to raise their children up in godliness.