The Christian Spirit-Filled Fiction Award by Reality Calling includes everything mentioned in redemptive fiction, with the addition of what John the Baptist told us: That one was coming who would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit instead of [or in addition to] the baptism of water for forgiveness. This baptism is what took place at Pentecost and was prophesied by the Lord to be a time when the disciples were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
These are storytelling awards
We are not necessarily concerned with literary or book design issues. Some of the best books I have ever read were either poorly edited or poorly designed. But it’s the story that matters here.
The Christian Spirit-Filled Fiction Award is a badge used by the reviewers associated with Reality Calling, and the publishing house, Radiqx Press. It is awarded by the reviewer, at his or her discretion, to indicate that the book or books so awarded meet the criteria we have established for Spirit-Filled Fiction. This is the spiritual level five in our rating system.
All reviewers using this badge have been known and discerned by the leadership of Reality Calling/Radiqx Press to be trustworthy men and women of God, called by the Lord to review Christian fiction as a service to both the readers and authors of true Christian fiction.
The Christian Spirit-Filled Fiction Award is to be used seriously, after deliberate prayer, only when the reviewer is convinced that the book meets our criteria. If there were any concerns the reviewer has taken said book or books to the leadership group for discernment and critique.
Christian Spirit-Filled Fiction Award by Reality Calling
This includes everything mentioned in redemptive fiction, with the addition of what John the Baptist told us: That one was coming who would baptize with fire and the Holy Spirit instead of [or in addition to] the baptism of water for forgiveness. This baptism is what took place at Pentecost and was prophesied by the Lord to be a time when the disciples were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.
This is what we see in Acts 19, where Paul sees a lack in the believers because they had not received the Holy Spirit, but had only been baptized in the baptism of John. So, he baptizes them in the baptism of Jesus. The result is seen in verse six: “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.” NASB
These believers are clearly born-again and have a deep hunger for scripture, but their relationship with the Lord is intimate. He speaks to them regularly by the Holy Spirit. They commonly, off-handedly, manifest the gifts of the spirit Paul lists in I Corinthians 12: 4-11—plus church for them is much closer to what Paul talked about in I Corinthians 14: 20-33.
For romances
The key is that the romances show the truths expressed by Paul in Ephesians 5:22-33, I Corinthians 7, and I Peter 3:1-7—plus, stringent sexual limits. Fornication and adultery are always serious sin. Fornication is sex between unmarried people. Adultery involves a married person with someone else. Homosexuality is fornication at the least. There will be no titillating descriptions of sex or seduction. Titillation is “a pleasurable or sexually exciting sensation” caused by descriptions or situations. Abuse is always sin.
Their entire life is based on their intimacy with the Lord, and following Him through direct guidance from Him
They are commonly persecuted or shunned by the religious and even many of the redemptive. Non-believers quickly come to love them, in many cases.
Many of the characters were deeply flawed individuals living lives sold out to sin and depravity. They are aware of how much their lives have changed, are deeply grateful, and obviously thankful for the Lord’s presence in their lives to save, heal, deliver, and transform.
They are focused upon characters with (or who develop) an intimate relationship with the Lord. These believers talk with Him all the time, day in and day out, hour by hour, minute by minute. And, the Lord [and/or the Holy Spirit] responds with emotional cleansing, answered prayer, and direct guidance throughout the daily life they lead together.
The characters may or may not be religious in church attendance. They all love reading the scriptures and gain a great deal through their reading and increased knowledge of the Bible or sacred book.
More than that, the presence of the Lord in their lives produces fruit in their character [Gal 5:22–24], causes radical changes in thought patterns and understanding [Eph 4:17+], and manifests in healings, miracles, supernatural knowledge, direct guidance, and so on [I Cor 12].
They show by example how God talks and communicates with His People. They walk in the works which God has prepared for them. They have supernatural power and authority of which they are commonly unaware. These spiritual acts or events are not under the characters’ control, and usually without any foreknowledge—other than direct or indirect prophetic guidance.
Spiritual warfare: At Level Five, spiritual warfare is a normal part of daily living. They can defeat the enemy with prayer, words given by the Spirit, a rhema—which is the specific, focused word of God talked about as the Sword of the Spirit in Ephesians 6. They can easily clean up buildings, objects, people, whatever the Spirit leads them to do, because the power is in the name of Jesus by His Spirit. They can find protection for campsites, travel routes, living quarters, and so On. God helps directly through prayer, gifts of knowledge, discernment, and wisdom.