Oh me oh my I'm much too shy... By Vickie Stam

Yikes! Have you ever found yourself caught in the middle of a controversial subject? If you're anything like me, you most likely felt that inevitable lump rise in the back of your throat and maybe even those nasty beads of sweat that trickle down your spine as if they were taking dictation in a court room. It's not surprising. Controversial topics have a tendency to stir up feelings that make us uncomfortable. When two or more people engage in a conversation with different opinions it opens the door for upset to creep in. As luck would have it, conflict is born.

Most people have faced some sort of controversy whether by choice or circumstance. This is not to say that all controversy is bad. Amazing things have evolved from some of the most unsettling issues. Still, I feel uneasy when I think about the fallout; the adverse consequences that can occur from such topics and then I shy away.

Right now, this month's theme is prompting me to mull something over.

"Hmm." Do I tackle controversial topics.....in my writing???

My first response is to say, "No way, not me." But that wouldn't be entirely true. I have written about some very conflicting circumstances that have affected me personally where I have felt there is only one side or the other with no middle ground or no other options. It wasn't a great feeling.

Whenever I find myself mixed up in a conversation that has suddenly become heated I hear my inner voice whisper. Tread lightly. Be Careful. Don't say anything at all. And at times I hear only one word----Stop! Before someone gets hurt. Learning when and where to pick my battles didn't come without scars.

I'm a shy person by nature having grown up in a home where you were seen and not heard. As an adult I still find it difficult to relieve myself of the task my parents instilled in me.

When I think of Jesus though, I'm reminded that he himself stirred up controversy when he healed the crippled woman on a Sabbath or when he dined at Levi's house among tax collectors and sinners and sadly enough when he died on the cross for our sins. But it wasn't Jesus intention to stir up controversy and it isn't my intention to either.

In 2nd Timothy we are told, "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments because you know they produce quarrels." Most of us can attest to that in one way or another.

Yet when I think about matters of relevance that might make a tremendous difference in a person's life I feel a little more bold. I openly share my belief in God even though we live in a world where that too can stir up trouble.

After much thought, I don't see myself as a writer of controversial topics. I'm not fond of them even if I have written about them a time or two. They were conflicts I would much rather have never experienced. None the less, writing about them provided me with an avenue for healing. Maybe one day I will feel compelled to share those accounts but for now..... I choose to remain silent.







    
   

A Rating System for Christian Fiction - Tracy Krauss

I’ve been a long time fan and proponent of what some call ‘edgy’ Christian fiction. If you don't know what I’m talking about, it's fiction with a Christian message or from a Christian worldview that has a realistic bite. Some of my favourite authors could, conceivably, fall into this category: Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker - even Francine Rivers. They don't try to cover up the ugly truth, yet deliver a story that is redemptive in nature. These 'experts' show that tackling 'taboo' topics doesn't mean the writer has to be graphic. The waters soon get muddy, however, when one tries to define the line between what is acceptable and what isn't.

My experience as a pastor’s wife has taught me that you just aren’t going to please everyone all the time. It’s why we have denominations, and frankly, only Jesus Himself is going to be able to sort out all the finer details when it comes to differences among believers. There are readers who want ‘edgy’ fiction and there are writers who feel called to deliver. Some readers don’t want the characters involved in anything unsavoury while others want characters who succumb to moral failings since it allows God’s grace to come shining through. The problem lies not in the sub-genre. The real issue is the lack of classification or standards. There is no rating system, as yet, for Christian fiction, and readers don't always know what they may be getting into.

My own writing is evolving in this regard. While I do believe that there is room for all types of Christian fiction, even so called 'edgy', I have come to realize that this is not the hill I wish to die on. (Or should I say 'edge' I wish to fall over...) My novels are quite tame in comparison to some. I don’t appreciate a lot of skin in a movie when the photographer could easily have ‘panned to the left’. (We don’t need graphic evidence to know that a couple may have ‘hooked up’.) Similarly, this is the approach I take in my writing. Characters may engage in less than godly activities, but the reader doesn’t need to see the details. In my earlier work, I have used a few mild ‘cuss’ words (emphasis on MILD) – something I thought added authenticity and which I felt was no big deal. I have since been surprised to find that it is a big deal in some people’s minds and I’ve had to rethink this approach. I plan to republish my earlier work once the contracts are up, minus some of these words. The story is still the same, with or without them.

I think that expectation is the real key. Many Christian readers may read a secular novel with the same amount of so called ‘edgy’ content (or perhaps more) and not find anything wrong, but when given a Christian novel, they are shocked by minor ‘PG’ content. It’s a bit of a double standard, but understandable. When a person is buying a book labeled ‘Christian’ there is a certain expectation about what it will and will not contain. Unfortunately, everyone's expectations are different. Some readers seem offended by everything and are quite vocal about sharing their opinions. (And trying to make everyone else agree with them...) Dogmatic legalism is just one end of the spectrum, however. At the other end are those whose salt has become a mere sprinkling in a dish overflowing with pop culture, all in the name of evangelism. Somewhere in between there needs to be balance. Perhaps a self imposed rating system is in order to help readers make more informed choices.

What are your thoughts? Should Christian fiction have some kind of rating system?

Tracy Krauss is a multi-published author and playwright living in Tumbler Ridge, BC.

Website: http://tracykrauss.com