FnFS: Stop That Already!

(Faith ‘n Fiction Saturdays are hosted by Amy!)

This week’s question asks:

A lot of us are reviewers which means we consume books at a rate that blows the minds of others. As a result, we might start seeing the same thing over. and over. and over.
What are some cliched phrases or plot devices in Christian fiction that you’d like to see go? (by the way this was inspired by a conversation on Twitter with Deborah)

For this one, I’m going to have to agree with Amy and Deborah: the church scenes in Christian fiction where the characters sit up front (or near the front row), and the message is always about forgiveness, or wolves in sheeps’ clothing, etc, and the sermon always relates directly to what the main character is dealing with in his/her life at that moment. Like Amy said, there are more ways that God speaks than just in a sermon at church! What about a ladies’ Bible study group? I’ve heard God speak to me there PLENTY of times!

Secondly, I think Deborah also mentioned how the newly converted Christians, in Christian fiction, seem to already act like mature Christians, using “Christianese”, and trying to bring others to the faith, too. That’s just not realistic! They need to struggle through their new “way of life”, and have questions, and still mess up. Christians aren’t perfect! Salvation doesn’t all-of-a-sudden mean you’ve got it all figured out.

I really dislike that almost all Christian “historical” fiction is set in Texas, or “the west”. Why do they all have to be westerns? ((And, for the record, I love the new Christian fiction “historical” novels that are being set in Regency England!))

It drives me crazy that most romances have a woman who’s newly widowed, and a single mother. Why do all the husbands have to die, in order for the women to be single? Divorce is something that happens just about as often in Christian families as it does in secular ones, unfortunately. And, sure, having kids in the mix makes things more “complicated” and adds to the pity factor for the single mom… she has to really struggle to make ends meet if she has kids. But, they don’t all have to be raising kids, too… some people choose to remain childless when they get married.

I’m sure there’s more, but I’m drawing a blank this morning… I’ll have to give this more thought, and edit my answer later on.

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