Your fiction sells what is in your heart
Your fiction sells what is in your heart. Jesus said, “Out of your heart, the mouth speaks.” But it’s fiction! No, it’s your fiction. What are you selling?
Whatever your heart is focused upon, your fiction will promote. So, what is the focus of your heart: adventure, entertainment, romance, fleshly pleasure, football team, pushing boundaries, justice, intellectual imaginings, democracy, socialism, church denomination, uniqueness, strength, weakness, wisdom —or— Jesus?
Very soon, the call will come, and you will be with Jesus or not.
Or you’ll die with the same two results: with Jesus, or not with Him. When I get to be with Jesus, [may I be found worthy, Lord] my books will matter in only one aspect. How many people’s lives were transformed by reading my books? Or more simply, how many people met Jesus as a result of my fiction? Other than that, they will be burned up with everything else from the world.
Your fiction sells what is in your heart
One of the major thrusts of my writing career is the discernment of spiritual content: good and bad. Do you realize how few Christian fiction books mention Jesus? Notice I didn’t say talk about, introduce you to, or testify about. I said mention. Remember, I quit reading anything except Christian fiction nearly a decade ago. I’m including spec fiction gods who came in the flesh, died for all people, and provided new birth, salvation, and eternal life.
I was talking to a good friend a couple days ago, who [like me] is pulling back from a high-pressure push to review Christian speculative fiction. He’s overwhelmed by books, many of which are entertaining. I suggested maybe he should only review books that are at least talking about rebirth. He said, “Yea, that would help. There’s only two or three of those a year these days.”
Even my wife, who read Christian romances, got really excited (six months before she went to be with Jesus) as she was reading a book where the main character was living a life like we’ve lived since the mid-seventies. She couldn’t remember the last time she read a book like that.
Your fiction will sell what matters to you
Of course, that may not be true. But then your book is a lie. We know where liars end up. But if you have a close personal relationship with Jesus and talk to Him all day long, your books will show that. If you can shut that off, then something is wrong.
