Friday, May 24, 2013

Who Writes Christian Science Fiction?



I kicked around several ideas about what I wanted to write in this post. Maybe create a list of past and current Christian Science Fiction (CSF) writers, talk about their influence on the genre, classify their works, or compare what they have written to the definition of “What is Christian Science Fiction?” which I wrote about in my last post. Instead of doing something like this, I decided to write about “who” are the type of people “who” write CSF. Besides, all of us can go online and use Google or Bing and get as much information about past, current, and perspective CSF writers.
My first thought of who writes CSF is a Christian. It seems obvious that a person who is writing CSF is a Christian, but I have read some CSF that make me wonder if the author is a Christian. Before I go any further, I want to make it clear that I should not judge if anyone is a Christian if he or she say he or she is. I can’t write or say that he or she is not a Christian to the world just because I don’t think they are, only God knows if a person is a Christian. I can, and it is my duty as a Christian, to call someone out if they call themselves a Christian and writes things that are not Biblical. By doing this, I’m either ministering to them by correcting their actions or I am ministering to myself if, after talking with them, I find out I am wrong. Bottom line, Christian CFS writers should keep other Christian CSF writers accountable.
People who write CSF are called to do so. I believe God as called me to write CSF as a ministry to spread the gospel to individuals who may not be reached other ways. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18-20, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” This being said, I have discerned, thru prayer and what God has communicated to me in various ways, it is my responsibility to write what He has laid on my heart to write. Also, I am to write it as best I can and market it to the best of my ability. It’s Gods responsibility to work behind the scenes and make it available to those He wants to read it.
Also, a person who writes CSF needs to keep in mind that it’s not a numbers game, and success is something that is hard to measure. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say; I want my writing to be successful. Wouldn’t it be great for my book to a New York Times best seller, wouldn’t it be nice to be asked to speak at various venues about my book, wouldn’t it be nice to know that hundreds and may be even thousands of people were saved by reading my book! Yes, I would love that type of success. However, the truth is, my idea of being a successful CSF writer is probably not Gods idea of my being a successful CSF writer.  If Gods idea of my book being successful is to be read by only one person who’s interest is sparked, and leads them to read the Bible which becomes a link in a chain of events for one persons salvation…that is success.
To summarize my rambling about “who” writes CSF; it is anyone who is a Christian, who has been called to write CSF to glorify God, and whose success is not measured by their pride or earthly standards, but by what God wants their writing to accomplish to glorify Him.
I hope you’ll respond to this post and offer your comments, ideas, and questions. And feel free, as a fellow Christian, to keep me accountable for what I write!

Barry Knox

4 comments:

  1. So true, Barry. We write for the single person or thousands of people who need to discover the truth of God's word. Every individual matters to God, and our definition of success is not set by worldly standards. God bless, and may you continue to reach those who need the hope and salvation of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

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  2. Nice to find your blog Barry.

    Another interesting question to address would be "Who reads Christian Science Fiction." Most "Christian Fiction" is read by Christians. When a non-Christian reader picks up one of these not realising that it was "Christian" they can often be quite ambivalent. This means that if you are wanting to use your fiction as a means to spread the gospel you have quite a challenging task.

    The reason I write Christian Science Fiction is because I couldn't imagine writing anything else. Every story idea that comes to me always has a speculative element to it, and even when I don't explicitly set out to write a Christian novel, my faith and world-view inevitably makes it way in.

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  3. Great idea Adam. I think I'll post your idea after I finish this series. I went to your web site and really liked it. I want to check out what you've written.

    Barry

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