The Book Lightwalker Files

Becky Minor is the author of a fantasy serial titled The Windrider, at the Digital Dragon e-zine site. She’s a wife and a mother of three young boys, as well as a writer and an illustrator. Ever since I met Becky on-line at Christian Writers two years ago, I’ve discovered a like-minded spirit in her, and the guest blog she wrote for today shows it. She will explain how God can speak to us through the fantasy genre.

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Christian fantasy. Not very long ago, a friend of mine summed up the visibility of the genre with his words: “Christian fantasy? I had no idea there was such a thing.” Though the tenets of fantasy and Christianity existing on one page may seem dichotomous at first glance, I am a firm believer that the two can live harmoniously, bringing both freshness and depth to one another.

When writing “Christian” fantasy fiction, a writer can go one of several routes. He can choose to write direct allegory, such as C.S. Lewis did in his many works, or even more so, like John Bunyan in his crafting of Pilgrim’s Progress. She can write in a fantasy world that very much parallels the divine influence the God of the Bible has on our own world, much as Karen Hancock does in her Legends of the Guardian King series. In stories such as these, the reader finds a direct representation of at least God the Father and God the Son, though their names are typically different in those story worlds.

Or the writer can choose to write in a more oblique way, crafting fiction that does not tell the gospel story in direct terms, but instead has a Christian sensibility at its core. In such a story, perhaps one won’t find a character or deity that represents Christ, but the story itself will remain palatable to Christian readers in that it glorifies things that are noble, right, pure and lovely (Philippians 4:8 ). Such stories will shun systems of magic that flirt with occultism, avoid morality contrary to scriptural standards, and utilize violence as a carefully employed tool, not as a lure to the carnal nature (1 Timothy 6:11).

In my current body of work, the third approach is the road I follow when I write. Why? Primarily, it is because my goal in writing is more to provide Christians who read fantasy with an alternative to the secular titles they love. Titles which do not contain elements that war with their desires to live thought lives that are pleasing to God. By working with a universe that has a single, intelligent creator who desires a relationship with his creation, I believe I can illuminate aspects of the true God of scripture I believe in, while not feeling an obligation to steer my story to a retelling of the gospel.

Some will argue that in order to have lasting value, I really ought to point readers to their need for Christ. While some books others have written do so quite well, I don’t think, at least right now, that is what the Lord has given me to say. Who knows where his call will lead in the future, however? May I have the spiritual maturity to remain flexible.

So, what is it about fantasy writing that I feel can glorify God? First and foremost, fantasy is one of the few genres that typically functions within a good-versus-evil paradigm. We live in an age of overwhelming relativism, but in a fantasy universe, removed from our everyday reality either a little or a lot, the modern reader can accept an epic battle between good and evil. Whether we like it or not, such a battle goes on in the spiritual realms here in our own world, but that reality is muted by the skepticism of our modern culture.

I believe as people created by God, we have a deep longing to acknowledge the reality of good and evil, and fantasy stories that paint these clearly have appeal on a spiritual level. To acknowledge the role of God’s people as those who stand against evil is to give a nod to the calling God has for each of us.

Secondly, I believe art that has qualities the Lord would admire is well worth creating. If I am going to lay my writing down at the Lord’s feet as my sacrifice of the talents he has given me, I want to be sure that every jot and tittle on those pages would prompt the Lord’s approval. Anything we do in this mortal life, whether it’s write a story or paint a fence, can be done with a humble spirit and an attention to excellence that points others to God’s desire for our very best.

So, despite that Christian fantasy as a genre still flies under the radar of your average secular reader, I feel strongly it is a genre with a great deal of power to depict the character of God in a winsome way. I pray that the Lord will grant me the deep and humbling privilege to pen words that can do just that.

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Thank you, Becky. Like her, I have received surprised and skeptical reactions when I tell people I write science fiction and fantasy from God’s point of view. “There can’t be much of a market for that,” they say. Or “Is that possible?” Or my personal favorite: a flat “Science fiction is of the Devil!” If all of us took that stand, a large and growing sector of the world would be forever lost in their own imaginations, with no hope of salvation.

However, if we create a synchronization between Christian ideals and fantasy, perhaps imagination would not be so demonized in people’s minds. After all, God gave us our ability to imagine. It’s part of His nature, and therefore we in His image have it as well. I firmly believe God meant it to be used for His glory, not spurned over some perceived conflict with the Bible.

Indeed, the Bible itself is full of imagination—primarily God’s, expressed through men. His tremendous imagination gave us the reality we know. Creation. The symbology of the Tabernacle, the Temple, and various sacrifices. The prophetic visions. The parables. All of these take God’s imagination to make up—not that they’re not true, but it’s a creative process to make them true. And it takes a measure of His imagination, instilled in us, to understand them. Of course, as with other good gifts from God, Satan can corrupt imagination with his own ideas.

Becky said, “Some will argue that in order to have lasting value, I really ought to point readers to their need for Christ.” To her remarks, I would add it depends on the target audience one is trying reach. If the person is a minister wanting to bring the lost to salvation, it’s fine for them. Billy Graham, and now his son Franklin, made a worldwide ministry of this. But if one is reaching for the already Christian who watches and/or reads a lot of sci-fi and fantasy, rehashing the salvation message can be a turnoff.

To explain why, I refer you to what the author of Hebrews explained to his Jewish audience. “Though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14).

This is what fantasy is about, a conflict between good and evil, just as Becky said. This is what we’re about too, what my blog is about. It’s solid food for the mature Christian who is tired of the oversimplified theology we usually find in secular stories, who craves something more substantial. It’s a feast for everyone who sits down and partakes of the meat and potatoes we offer.

So when the tag of Star Trek’s “Bread and Circuses” ends on a wonderful Christological note, I find myself wishing the whole series reflected the same ideal. And I know I’m not alone. I’ve heard numerous secular discussions in TV fantasy beginning with “Do you believe in God?”, but they don’t turn the trick, either—not for us as experienced Christians. There must be a stronger element to excite us and keep us interested.

I want to close by quoting the verse Becky referenced. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8 ). God’s Word is all of this, and more.

Contrary to the assumption of some, the Greek word translated “true” does not mean “nonfiction only.” It can also mean “loving the truth,” as in truth being expressed, even in fiction. The Truth conveyed in biblical visions and parables bear this out. Becky and I, with our many Christian writing friends, write Truth into our stories for everyone to enjoy.