Why I Don’t Read Christian Fiction

I don’t read the fiction one can find almost exclusively at Christian bookstores.

That is not an indictment on you if you do.  I don’t really want you coming after me or hounding me because you think I am getting on to you.  I’m not. 

I have read books from there.  I found some of my favorite fiction and one of my favorite authors in a Christian bookstore.  It just happens that what I found isn’t easily described as Christian fiction.

If you are reading at all, I’m tickled to death.  I’ve been reading for forty years or so now.  Reading takes me places that I will never visit and expands my mind and vocabulary.

The problem is that too many of the stories don’t seem real enough.

The aren’t messy enough.

Life is messy.  People are messy.  Our stories are messy.

The Christian fiction I have taken a look at just doesn’t seem messy enough.

When I get to know you, I want to know about more than just the good stuff.  I want to know about the messes.

I want to know about all the sordid details.  I want to hear about all of your junk.

I want to see how the Lord has redeemed it.

So, I don’t read Christian fiction.

What I would love to see are more Christians writing fiction that is messy, sordid and full of junk.

Just like all of our lives.

How about you?  Do you read Christian fiction?