Ministry or Money

Recently, a friend posed a couple of questions to a group of writers for a workshop she was preparing. The idea sprang from something she'd heard at a conference when the speaker asked (my paraphrase), "If Jesus asked you to write a book for the lessons the act of writing (and God, through the act of writing) would teach you and then asked you to put that manuscript in a drawer, never to see print, would you write it?" She thought it a wonderful question, if doing so didn't mean she would starve for lack of income.

Ah, do I write for Jesus or do I write for money? Is this my ministry or is this my vocation? Yes. Both. All. And therein lies the struggle.

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Here are the two questions she asked and my answers:

Why do you write for the Christian market? Ministry, entertainment, or both?

It is both for me. I wrote 30 books in the general mass market, and God very specifically called me out of that career and into a new one of writing for Him. But my goal is always to entertain my readers. I am not writing them a sermon. I am telling them a story which, hopefully, will also reveal some truth to them.

What do you consider the criteria for a book to be considered "Christian"?

A book can be inspirational and/or educational and/or the best book you've ever read without the author naming the name of Christ anywhere between its pages. But I don't believe a book can be considered "Christian" without naming His name, even if it's written from a biblical worldview.

However, there is a very wide field to play on under the banner of Christian fiction. And naming His name does not mean being preachy or heavy handed. "Gratuitous Christianity" is bad writing just like gratuitous violence or gratuitous sex or gratuitous anything. The Christian plot thread must be an integral part of the story just as any other plot thread must be.

So now I'd like to ask you, the readers of Christian fiction, a similar question:

When you close the cover after reading the last page of a Christian novel, what is it about a book that leaves you feeling the most satisfied?

~robin

Comments

[Marta]

I'm a Catholic Brazilian, and I love read Christian fiction. For me, the plot and Bible verses increase my Faith. Thanks a lot for your books.

[Robin Lee Hatcher]

Marta, what a lovely note. Delighted that my books have found a way into your hands and that they have blessed you.

Robin

[Anita Strawn de Ojeda]

The most satisfying thing for me is: Did I relate to the character's spiritual growth? Since I am no longer young (like most heroines), single (I've been happily married for 24 years), or 'beautiful' in the worldly, fictional sense, I desire to learn more about how Jesus changes people and helps them through their daily struggles.

[Patty]

Somewhere in the midst of the character's struggles, options were offered to resolve the situation. One of those options must be strongly based on Scripture principles. (Exact Scripture text and address does not have to be given.)Having the character choose the option based on Scipture is not required for me to be satisfied with the story. Sometimes the character (for what ever reasons) chooses the worst of the options. I can be satisfied with the story if I can understand the reasons a particular option was chosen. In real life the best choice is not always the one chosen. Jesus gave us free will and sometimes we stumble.

[Robin Lee Hatcher]

Thanks for sharing, Anita!

[Robin Lee Hatcher]

Thanks for sharing, Patty!

[Ochanya]

... When beyond the characters, I could relate to the voice of God in the story, not just a happy ending feel good story.

And I haven't seen your book in my country (Nigeria-Africa), both in the bookstores and online (locally). I would like to read one... so send some our way... lol.

[Sandie]

I like my happy endings and all threads to be finished - all questions answered. I recently read a great book which left one major thread (subplot) unanswered. I am pretty sure it must be tackled in a following book as I can't imagine it would be left dangling, but it left me dissatisfied with that one.

[Robin Lee Hatcher]

Ochanya, I wish it was up to me where my books were shipped. It isn't. It is the publisher's job to try to sell to buyers in individual countries, and often times those other countries just don't place orders for certain books.

[Robin Lee Hatcher]

Great point, Sandee. I am the same way. I want to put down the book with a sense of completion, although I don't tie up everything all neat and pretty always. Definitely would never leave a big plot thread dangling.

[Betti Mace]

I don't read very many secular books anymore, partly because there are so many Christian choices out there. I am making a conscious effort to put "in" what I would like to have "coming out". I, too, want to lay the book down with a sense of completion, and a sense of time well spent!. If one of the characters spurs me on - spiritually or morally - I feel that it was worth the read. We all have so many things that we are dealing with every day, it is good to read a story that shows how positively things can end, even if they don't end quite the way we could have wished.

[Maureen Verone]

I started reading Christian fiction because I enjoy a good romance and hated all the "sex" and its details in the books I was reading. Now I not only enjoy the good romance but also often the spiritually of the books. Add some humor and I go searching for the next book by that author. When I was young there was an author, Lloyd C Douglas that wrote wonderful books. Some were made into movies. His books have influenced my life those it has been over 60 years since I read his books for the first time. I enjoy your books very much Robin, keep them coming.