“In literal terms the Annunciation can only confound us. But the whole story of Jesus is confounding to the literal-minded . . . Instead of rejoicing in this glorious “impossible” which gives meaning and dignity to our lives, we try to domesticate God, to make his mighty actions comprehensible to our finite minds.” Madeleine L’Engle Walking on Water
The other day I baked a cake but decided to leave out the flour because I think it tastes terrible. Seemed to me that if I only used my favorite ingredients, I’d have a much better cake in the end.
Okay, maybe not. If I tried to leave an important ingredient out, such as flour, I’d have an epic fail baking in my oven.Yet, when many people contemplate the God of the Bible, they want to leave out the parts that cannot be replicated in a petri dish or grasp with the 10% of grey matter between their ears. Why do some people want the Almighty, Creator of the universe to be fathomable and, as ML’E stated, “domesticated’?
If I’m going to place my life, my soul, and my eternity in someone else’s hands, I want it to be Someone with a capital “S” . . . and I don’t mean Superman. And as a writer, I want weave that thread of “possible impossibilities” into my stories as well, because it echoes what I know of the one, true God. The one that parted the Red Sea, felled the walls of Jericho, impregnated a virgin, took on flesh without losing His deity, exchanged my sin for His standing, and brought Himself back to life.
As Christian artists, our stories and our work should reflect the amazing truths of a miraculous God. Not in ways that preach or condemn. Whether our sentences simmer with possibilities, or our overarching plot points to hope and redemption, what we create should stir the souls of our audience, in some way, to contemplate the infinite.
What would Narnia be like if Aslan was merely a tame, talking lion? Would we love the stories of Middle Earth if Gandalf didn’t intervene at just the right moment for Bilbo and the Dwarves? These two legendary stories reflect the worldview of their authors . . . and resonate with readers because of it.
People are empty and tired and resigned to being that way. They are jaded and cynical and flock to books and movies as a way of escape. Would Dystopian and Fantasy books be flying off the shelves right now if they didn’t offer a possibility for change woven into their worlds? What an opportunity—and responsibility—we have as Christian artists to offer Truth to our readers.
God is not distant. He is near. He has revealed Himself to us despite our hatred of Him. God is not domesticated (anymore that Aslan was a tame lion). But He is good. He is Holy, full of infinite and unapproachable power, yet merciful and loving. He offers an alternative to our cynical existence, and we should offer such hope, in some way, within our artistic creations as well. Whether subtly implied, or as a straight up allegory, we can offer more than anarchy and oblivion to our audience.
What stories have had a profound effect on your life, and why? Do you agree that artists have a responsibility in the message they send to their audience?
Off the top of my head, I can’t remember many of the fiction books that I know have impacted me. I do, however, remember when I re-read The Secret Garden years ago. I came away touched by its simple yet powerful beauty and its messages of forgiveness, hope, and restoration.
Yes, we artists have a responsibility in the message(s) we send to our audiences. If I write a book with an unhappy ending after a broken story, I’m not giving my readers a message of hope. If I write about a turbulent character who never finds rest in a turbulent world, I’m not giving my readers a message of peace. If I write about a depression that never lifts, I’m not giving my readers a message of joy.
I want to give my readers *a* message of victory, or hope, or perseverance, or sacrifice, or love, or all of the above. When possible (such as in a modern, Christian novel), I want to point my readers to *the* message of victory, hope, love, etc. — the message of the gospel. But that’s a more direct, more specialized message that must be a part of a book.
The messages you talk about are the undertones of a book. What undertones we put in our books create the emotions with which the reader walks away from our books. Are we giving our readers hope or despair, peace or trouble, joy or depression, triumph or defeat, etc.? That is a massive responsibility.
Thank you for your thoughtful response, Melissa! Yes, definitely talking about the undertones. Really depends on the story. But your examples are perfect and I’m so glad you took the time to say what you did!