How should Christians approach difficult conversations in literature?

E

Ezekiel

New member
Joined
Apr 18, 2025
Messages
7
Reaction score
13
I'm a Christian author who recently faced criticism for my new novella's message about freedom from LGBTQ+ behaviors, exploring themes of faith, redemption and Love. I'd love to hear your thoughts: How do you think Christians should approach sensitive topics like this in literature? Share your thoughts!
 
Hello, Ezekiel! Welcome to the site! Glad you've joined us. I think it is a very delicate topic but since I write nonfiction, I don't know that I can give you a qualified answer.
 
suspensewriter said:
Just believe in what you write, @Ezekiel. You'll always have critics for what you write. It only means you have struck a nerve. Don't try to nuance writers to please your detractors is the best advice I can give.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Thank you very much for this reply sir. It just the exact message that satisfy my heart. I will keep believing in what i write. Thank you once again.
 
lynnmosher said:
Hello, Ezekiel! Welcome to the site! Glad you've joined us. I think it is a very delicate topic but since I write nonfiction, I don't know that I can give you a qualified answer.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I am glad i joined this wonderful platform. Just scrolled through searches on google and i found this great platform. I await your response as a fellow writer. Thanks for your hospitality.
 
If this criticism is from a non-believer, then this is to be expected, yes? If from a fellow believer, then you two have something to talk about, and your writing just opened a door--supposing the other person doesn't slam it in your face, which would prove @suspensewriter's point--you hit a nerve.

Having said that, delivery can open or close doors. Our stories can be used to vent our opinions or plant seeds.
 
robwitty said:
If this criticism is from a non-believer, then this is to be expected, yes? If from a fellow believer, then you two have something to talk about, and your writing just opened a door--supposing the other person doesn't slam it in your face, which would prove @suspensewriter's point--you hit a nerve.

Having said that, delivery can open or close doors. Our stories can be used to vent our opinions or plant seeds.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
robwitty said:
If this criticism is from a non-believer, then this is to be expected, yes? If from a fellow believer, then you two have something to talk about, and your writing just opened a door--supposing the other person doesn't slam it in your face, which would prove @suspensewriter's point--you hit a nerve.

Having said that, delivery can open or close doors. Our stories can be used to vent our opinions or plant seeds.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Thank you very much sir. You really nailed the fact. I don't really think most of them are real Christians. A writer uses stories, play with different characters to vent out his opinion. Thank you sir!
 
Oh yikes. On one hand I could point to how Biblical writers like the Apostle Paul handled it... calling it out for what it is. But at the same time, if you are trying to encourage the bad guys (not that they would appreciate that term, lol) to come to repentance, then screaming "repent or burn in hell" probably isn't the best approach. Granted, it worked for Jonah. Just sayin'

From a more text-book style writing approach, who is your intended audience? Are you writing to reach out to those people? Or just for a strictly Christian audience? That may be an important question to answer to better understand the best approach.

Also, I know from personal experience that just being the Light around them is offensive. Even if you never judge them, never say anything about anything, they will still hate you just because they are convicted by your very presence. They tell you you are intolerant and hateful when it is their own conscience judging them. Thus, they will be offended no matter how you handle the situation.
 
Lynae Fisher said:
Oh yikes. On one hand I could point to how Biblical writers like the Apostle Paul handled it... calling it out for what it is. But at the same time, if you are trying to encourage the bad guys (not that they would appreciate that term, lol) to come to repentance, then screaming "repent or burn in hell" probably isn't the best approach. Granted, it worked for Jonah. Just sayin'

From a more text-book style writing approach, who is your intended audience? Are you writing to reach out to those people? Or just for a strictly Christian audience? That may be an important question to answer to better understand the best approach.

Also, I know from personal experience that just being the Light around them is offensive. Even if you never judge them, never say anything about anything, they will still hate you just because they are convicted by your very presence. They tell you you are intolerant and hateful when it is their own conscience judging them. Thus, they will be offended no matter how you handle the situation.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Hmmm, lovely point. In the world we are now one should be wise in doing things. I have actually written a story that covers other aspects of message and theme. I didn't deliberately majored on that sensitive aspect just to judge anyone. Although i still voice out my mind and did that with love. Thank you very much for that point!
 
I have a scene in my novel where a believer is observing some--let's call it human interactions--and the reader gets to hear some of her thoughts about the matter. Initially I included some of her mental commentary surrounding LGBT+ issues, but later pulled it. Why? Because it would have distracted from the point of the scene.

As an author, I am often tempted to insert "commentary" on various contemporary issues, but such commentary doesn't really advance the story or drive home the theme. I'm probably the only one who is so tempted, right? ;)
 
Interesting. Not really, a lot wants to treat this contemporary areas also but are careful doing so. Especially, when one wants the work of art to be consumed by every type of persons. I just kept writing and somehow i got led to that aspect i couldn't help it
 
Ezekiel, as someone who has been in Christ for over forty years and participates in all kinds of evangelical efforts and projects (to GOD goes all the glory) - the most valuable tool that I have found is just keeping my responses to "what sayeth THE BOOK." The Word of GOD really can stand on its own. Our Lord demonstrated this when Satan tried to tempt Him in the wilderness, didn't He?
The times I tried to use my "intellect" only resulted in humiliation and failure. It didn't matter if it was a believer or a nonbeliever: the result of those debates made me sound like a babbling brook of self-righteousness. Where was glory for GOD in that? Nowhere.

So, to answer the question of "How should Christians approach difficult conversations in literature?" The same way that we should approach every difficult conversation: Biblically. Because at the end of the day, there is, really, only One Reader's opinion that matters. Amen?
 
Ezekiel said:
Sincere and forward. I think that's the general way for all Christians. I accept. Thank you very much
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
These days, there is never a time when being sincere and forward does not take a great deal of confidence and courage, but it's worth the risk, isn't it? So, to quote an art instructor from my past: Let your art cause an investigation. Your work must be so intriguing and compelling that others will want to know what truth you are trying to reveal and/or convey to them in your own unique style. Artistic dialogue can be so stimulating, can't it?;)
 
Just a word of caution. I would advise against inserting an opinion on a hot-button issue just for the sake of expressing your opinion. If you deliberately create a character so as to express your opinion, do not use a stereotype of that character. Understand who he/she is before you create him/her. If your character is autistic, learn about autism, what it does to the person, how it affects him/her, not from an outsider's viewpoint, but from the inside. Then apply your themes of faith, redemption, and love to a real person, someone you know.
 
Ezekiel said:
I'm a Christian author who recently faced criticism for my new novella's message about freedom from LGBTQ+ behaviors...
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
As an aside, I was listening to a YouTube video on my way to work, done by a "Trans-Woman," about how the recent Romantasy trend was considered "Conservative Propaganda." Because the girlboss protagonists were always fawning over hot, hunky, bad boy types.

I laughed so hard I nearly wet myself. I had to pull the car off the road for a minute.

It's evidence that, no matter what you write, or how delicate you try to put things, someone is going to condemn you in this day and age. So don't try.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Recent Discussions

Back
Top