Faith 'n Fiction - Questions or Answers?

My friend Amy is the host for Faith 'n Fiction Saturday. She poses the questions and we try to answer them. If you're interested, check it out here.


Today's question stems from a quote: "Too many Christians think we are supposed to use the arts to give people the answers. We’re not. We’re supposed to use the arts to lead them into a question."
Barbara Nicolosi, founder of Act One

What do you think? Do you think Christian fiction should provide answers or lead us to questions?

My Response:
The real question seems to be "What is the goal of Christian fiction?"

Sometimes it might lead us to thought-provoking questions and sometimes it might answer some questions we have been wrestling with, but most of the time Christian fiction is to enjoy. Do we go to the movies to have questions answered? Or do we go to be entertained? Watching television, listening to music, visiting with friends--isn't it all about enjoyment?

Along the way, we might find some answers or new questions to ponder, but that is not our major goal. Reading should be fun!

Christians authors do not have all the answers, but they should know who does and be able to make that clear by teaching through parables, metaphors, anecdotes, and real-life situations.

The goal of Christian fiction should be to present believable characters in real-life settings and situations, keeping true to the Bible in an entertaining mode, while remaining free from the assault of profanity, graphic sexual situations, and unnecessary violence.