What Does the Christian Book Market Need?

Stancet

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Personally, I believe there need to be Christian authors who want to tell stories that can compete against the mainstream market. I'm not saying that a Christian should rewrite the Harry Potter series with a Christian message inside of it. Most Christian authors I run into put a lot of emphasis on the gospel but their attention to world-building or plot development is uninteresting. We need creative ways to share the gospel subtly, to arouse curiosity in the readers while they read a good book instead of jumping out at them suddenly.
 

Tree of Life

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Personally, I believe there need to be Christian authors who want to tell stories that can compete against the mainstream market. I'm not saying that a Christian should rewrite the Harry Potter series with a Christian message inside of it. Most Christian authors I run into put a lot of emphasis on the gospel but their attention to world-building or plot development is uninteresting. We need creative ways to share the gospel subtly, to arouse curiosity in the readers while they read a good book instead of jumping out at them suddenly.

Authors like the kind you describe should steer clear of the Christian Book Market.
 
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Stancet

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Authors like the kind you describe should steer clear of the Christian Book Market.

Maybe if Christian publishers want to sell books only to Christian readers, but I'm hoping those publishers will try to reach the unreached with the gospel through subtlety.
 
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Tree of Life

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Maybe if Christian publishers want to sell books only to Christian readers, but I'm hoping those publishers will try to reach the unreached with the gospel through subtlety.

If this is their goal then they should stop marketing themselves as Christian publishers who make Christian books. They should just be publishers that make books.
 
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Stancet

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If this is their goal then they should stop marketing themselves as Christian publishers who make Christian books. They should just be publishers that make books.

It is not unchristian to be subtle. C.S.Lewis tried to write a subtle gospel message in the Space Trilogy of books. I've read some of it, and the first book at least was pretty good.
 
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Stancet

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Personally, I am trying to write a book that is exactly what I'm describing. A science fiction book with an original plot line featuring action and peril, but the story is very subtle at first, but the gospel becomes more and more apparent overtime as the plot thickens.
 
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ViaCrucis

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Personally, I believe there need to be Christian authors who want to tell stories that can compete against the mainstream market. I'm not saying that a Christian should rewrite the Harry Potter series with a Christian message inside of it. Most Christian authors I run into put a lot of emphasis on the gospel but their attention to world-building or plot development is uninteresting. We need creative ways to share the gospel subtly, to arouse curiosity in the readers while they read a good book instead of jumping out at them suddenly.

One of the biggest problems I've seen over the years has been rampant theological illiteracy. On some level this can be attributed to many Christians simply not caring or having an interest in theology, but it also should be a criticism leveled against our churches for not doing enough to properly educate, inform, and teach basic Christian doctrine. Also with a market that seems inundated with self-help books, and Amish romance novels, it seems like what is really needed is good theology, and making good theology accessible and compelling to be read.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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Stancet

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One of the biggest problems I've seen over the years has been rampant theological illiteracy. On some level this can be attributed to many Christians simply not caring or having an interest in theology, but it also should be a criticism leveled against our churches for not doing enough to properly educate, inform, and teach basic Christian doctrine. Also with a market that seems inundated with self-help books, and Amish romance novels, it seems like what is really needed is good theology, and making good theology accessible and compelling to be read.

-CryptoLutheran

You mean the Christian book market is the one responsible for the rise of Amish romance novels? Oh my...
 
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AlexDTX

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Personally, I believe there need to be Christian authors who want to tell stories that can compete against the mainstream market. I'm not saying that a Christian should rewrite the Harry Potter series with a Christian message inside of it. Most Christian authors I run into put a lot of emphasis on the gospel but their attention to world-building or plot development is uninteresting. We need creative ways to share the gospel subtly, to arouse curiosity in the readers while they read a good book instead of jumping out at them suddenly.
More instruction on hearing God.

As for fiction, I would like to see a theo-science fiction book about life in the 1,000 reign of Christ.
 
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Kerensa

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Personally, I believe there need to be Christian authors who want to tell stories that can compete against the mainstream market. I'm not saying that a Christian should rewrite the Harry Potter series with a Christian message inside of it. Most Christian authors I run into put a lot of emphasis on the gospel but their attention to world-building or plot development is uninteresting. We need creative ways to share the gospel subtly, to arouse curiosity in the readers while they read a good book instead of jumping out at them suddenly.

I agree, Stancet. I always say my first real introduction to Christianity was reading the Chronicles of Narnia (by that chap in your avatar! ;)) as a child. They just touched my heart in a way I didn't fully understand at first but absolutely loved; I think I was starting to guess, but it was only when I got to the end of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader that I knew for sure who Aslan was in "our world", and that was a real thrill. C.S. Lewis wrote those books deliberately to introduce young readers to the basic concepts of Christianity in a non-explicit, non-preachy, engaging way, and I can only say that in my case at least, he succeeded brilliantly.

Of course many readers either don't pick up on the deeper message of the stories at all, or else ignore or dismiss it, but it's still there. I've never forgotten what an impact those books had on me when I was little and I still absolutely love them (hence my own avatar!). It would be nice if there could be more books for children and adults that manage to do a similar thing — introduce Christian concepts subtly and make them deeply attractive rather than ramming them down readers' throats. It really can do a lot to bring people to faith (or deepen their existing faith) if it's done well. :glowingstar:
 
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Hidden In Him

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What the Christian book markets needs most is accurate, authoritative hands on training in how to operate in the spiritual gifts as they are described in the New Testament epistles, especially prophecy, interpretation of tongues, casting out of demons, miraculous and visibly confirmable healings, and the raising of the dead. Maybe there are few who could teach authoritatively on the latter, but certainly there ought be accurate instruction on how to operate in the rest, and train others in how to do so as well. The fact that so few operate in these things today is a true barometer of just how far we have strayed from true New Testament Christianity.
 
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GandalfTheWise

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I agree with the OP. The world needs storytellers who are Christians who tell great compelling timeless stories that reflect Christian principles. Many of Jesus' stories (aka parables) did not explicitly teach doctrinal things but rather principles. To me, much of contemporary Christian literature seems to be trying to pack doctrinal statements, altar calls, or apologetics into a story (sort of like putting medicine in sugar to make it taste better), or just tacking a couple of Christian events into an otherwise secular story (let's market this story that wouldn't have made it in the secular market for Christians). Yes, this is exaggeration with some degree of sarcasm on my part, but only to some extent.

The internet has created an opportunity (unique in human history) easy distribution of independent works away from the yoke of estimated publishing profits. I anticipate we'll see a rise of independent artists, musicians, and storytellers that will share their talents with the world and reveal their understanding of Christianity in unique ways. It's already started to some extent, but I'm wondering if we're barely starting to scratch the surface of the possibilities. I think that many of the greatest works of our time will likely come from independent sources rather than those running through traditional channels.

The biggest need I see in the Christian world is a way of cataloging the works of independent artists, musicians, and writers (who are Christians) as well as non-fiction devotional and teaching works for all of us to easily search and find. There are a lot of self-published works out there that are every bit as good as those that make it through the profit/doctrinal filters of the publishing companies.

 
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Godlovesmetwo

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And I don't mind if its a satirical expose of the problems with current Christianity in all denominations. Examples, prosperity gospel, scandalised catholic clergy, Phariseeism, too much liberalism, too much traditionalism, technology and how it is changing our faith journeys, and so on.
 
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Stancet

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Or more Christ figures as the central character like Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Yes!

I have also thought it would be awesome to make stories about Christians as heroic figures. Not as stuffy, self-righteous people, but people who seem likable because the Lord's hand is evident in their lives.
 
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Godlovesmetwo

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Yes!

I have also thought it would be awesome to make stories about Christians as heroic figures. Not as stuffy, self-righteous people, but people who seem likable because the Lord's hand is evident in their lives.
Just referring to the movie role by Gregory Peck. He was so measured, so subtle. it never became Hollywood schmaltzy. Powerful stuff. I never forget the spitting scene. then it really became Jesus like.
 
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ByTheSpirit

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Personally, I believe there need to be Christian authors who want to tell stories that can compete against the mainstream market. I'm not saying that a Christian should rewrite the Harry Potter series with a Christian message inside of it. Most Christian authors I run into put a lot of emphasis on the gospel but their attention to world-building or plot development is uninteresting. We need creative ways to share the gospel subtly, to arouse curiosity in the readers while they read a good book instead of jumping out at them suddenly.

You mean like Chronicles of Narnia?

Some may even suggest Lord of the Rings has Christian undertones no matter how subtle
 
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