Here’s some irony for you: Teenage me already knew I wanted to be a writer, but there was one genre I was certain I would never write: Christian romance (can you hear God laughing?).
It wasn’t that I had anything against Christian romance; in fact, I enjoyed reading it. But I was so sure—in that way teenagers are so sure of everything—that there really was no purpose for Christian romance. Because it would only reach people who already believed in Jesus. And what did they need to read it for?
So when adult me sat down to pen my first novel, the plan was to write a secular young adult romance—from a Christian worldview but without any overt Christianity in it. I did write that book, but it never went anywhere. Which, as it turns out, was a good thing. Because it led me to write my next book, which was a Christian romance.
Why the sudden change of heart?
I have no idea!
Although I suspect it wasn’t as sudden as it seems. Because writing that first book felt a little forced. Like I had to keep things out of it that the character would have thought about in real life. Or that I would have wanted someone to tell her in real life. Things about how God was there and was listening and knew her struggles. I hated having to watch her go through all the hardships I put her through (and there were a lot!) without knowing Christ. Where was the hope? Where was the promise that this world isn’t all there is? Where was the Jesus?
I think that’s why the idea to write a book not only from a Christian worldview but with Christian characters who struggled and sometimes failed but ultimately trusted in the Lord and encouraged one another to live out their faith came knocking at my heart. And I’m glad I answered the door.
Because as I wrote that first book and then the next and the next, I discovered a few things about Christian romance that teenage me didn’t realize:
Christians need encouragement too. Ha. As a Christian, this one should have been obvious to me, right? Of course, our greatest source of encouragement and the source of all truth is God’s Word. I’m not saying Christian fiction can take the place of that. But sometimes it can be helpful to see that Word applied to the lives of people like us. To know that we aren’t alone in our struggles and to watch other Christians living out their faith even in the midst of trials.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” -1 Thessalonians 5:11
Sometimes Christians need guidance in relating to non-Christians. Sadly, we all know people who don’t know Jesus. And sometimes it can be easy to dismiss those people or sit in judgment over them. But I think Christian fiction can challenge us to look at the world through their eyes. To maybe see what it is that’s keeping them from Christ—and how we can better encourage them in love and compassion so that they can come to know God’s grace as well.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” -Romans 10:14
Christian romance doesn’t only reach Christians. It amazes me how often people will mention in a review or email that they aren’t “religious.” Maybe they used to go to church or they pray once in a while, but they don’t really know much about Jesus. And then they picked up a Christian romance (I don’t know why, but praise God that they did!), and it touched their heart. I’m not saying that everyone who reads a Christian romance will love it. In fact, some will have the opposite reaction. But for those who are touched by God’s Word in the pages of a book—what an incredible and humbling privilege to be part of that, either as a writer or as someone who recommended a book to them.
Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” -Mark 16:1
Christian romance provides an alternative to other forms of entertainment. Let me be clear that I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with clean and wholesome books and movies that aren’t overtly Christian. But there are a lot of other forms of entertainment out there that aren’t so clean and wholesome. I love that when I pick up a Christian book, I know that not only won’t I have to worry about finding scenes that make me avert my eyes, but I also know that I will come away uplifted and encouraged in my own walk of faith.
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” -Philippians 4:8
Finally, God uses Christian romance. Nothing touches my heart more than an email or review that says, “This book is exactly what I needed at exactly the right time.” Because I didn’t know they needed the book. But God did. And I have no idea how he coordinates everything so that what they need to hear makes its way from my head onto my screen and then into a book that ends up in their hands just when they need it. But I thank him that he does!
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” -Matthew 6:8
Ultimately, I guess what I’m saying here is: Teenage me was wrong. And I’ve never been more happy about being wrong in my life.
Giveaway time! What draws you back to Christian romance again and again? Is there a particular book that has really touched you or spoken to you, one that was exactly what you needed, exactly when you needed it? One person who comments by March 9 will be chosen at random to win your choice of any of my ebooks!
Valerie M. Bodden has three great loves: Jesus, her family, and books. And chocolate (okay, four great loves). She writes emotion-filled Christian fiction that weaves real-life problems, real-life people, and real-life faith. Her characters may (okay, will) experience some heartache along the way, but true to her tendencies as a hopeless romantic, she will always give them a happy ending. Valerie is living out her happily ever after in Wisconsin with her high-school-sweetheart-turned-husband and their four children. Visit her at www.valeriembodden.com to get a free story.
“. I love that when I pick up a Christian book, I know that not only won’t I have to worry about finding scenes that make me avert my eyes, but I also know that I will come away uplifted and encouraged in my own walk of faith.”
You said it perfectly, which is why I choose to read Christians romance.
In a world that has seemingly gone crazy, I find hope in Christian romance. I am encouraged by authors who still believe that love should include respect for each other and the teachings of our Lord. I love your books and look forward to your newsletter every week. I have enjoyed hearing how your family is adjusting to life in Texas. I can only imagine what culture shock it was for y’all. Our daughter moved from Louisiana to Pennsylvania when she got married. She said it was like moving to a foreign country! Keep up the good work. God bless y’all!
Awesome! I’m so glad you find Christian romance uplifting and encouraging too!
Thank you, Sharon! I’m so glad to have your support and encouragement on this journey! And I completely agree with you about finding hope in a world that has seemingly gone crazy. Blessings to you!
I love Christian Romance because it is all good and I don’t have to worry about my grandchildren picking up by book and reading it.
welcome today. I love Gods humor and his timing and his wisdom. thank you for sharing today. I have read many books that I will keep re-reading because they make me think about where my own faith and desires lie. there are some that challenge me to the limit and I now find this a wonderful thing.
Hi Val! I spent many years reading secular “love” stories. Though that was in my time of rebellion against God in every part of my life, the effects of those books are still so clear in my mind. The thoughts they instilled into my head truly swayed my idea of right and wrong. I don’t know how to explain what I am trying to say very well, likely why I am not an author, but reading that material all the time honestly did infiltrate every part of me.
I believe any book holds more influence in the readers life than what we may think about. Personally I am very careful about the books I read now. As you mentioned there are many clean and wholesome books that are fine, at least I think so. I do work for some of the authors who write these books but I read a few of their previous books and talk with the authors a fair amount ahead of time. I ask about if they ever put language and content I disagree with and share why I don’t have the desire to read those. I don’t add new authors often. Val you know I did take on a job with a new author recently because I felt strongly led to be a witness to her. I’ll email more about this to you personally but I’ve discovered either I failed to discern what God was really telling me or His reasons were just different than I thought. Either way I pray to handle the last of our interaction in the way He wants me to. And this did cement my decision to only be involved in books that are true to my beliefs from here forward!
I have been told by unbelievers before that they often read Christian books because they do not like to have stories peppered with language or sexual content that has no bearing on the storyline. I also think that hot button topics can be a great tool we can learn from whether we have been through what we are reading or not. We all have someone in our lives who have gone through these things. God can use anything as a influence to teach us about ourselves and others alike. Knowing the incredible gift He gave us with His written Word, the Bible, it seems so natural to me that He can have a great influence through any written words. The Bible is set apart from everything else as being the Ultimate Word, His Words. Yet the fact of importance in written or spoken words seems natural to me!
I read Christian books for a lot of the reasons you wrote. I can see characters going through life but realizing that God is faithful through it all. And I never have to worry about certain scenes.
I read only Christian fiction from the 80’s to about 2012, when I was given my Kindle as a Christmas gift. I found lots of free books (both Christian and Sweet/clean) to put on it. When I read the sweet/clean, I kept thinking to myself how much better the book would have been if the faith element had been there, how the characters lives would have been enriched with Jesus in their lives. So, now, I’m back to mostly CF, as the sweet/clean leaves me wanting more; more for the characters, more for myself, and more for that author, knowing the book would have been far better with God in it!
I have believed many things throughout my life…I thought I would study medicine (I study law), I thought I didn’t like writing (I’m writing and planning to start with stories on wattpad there are christian people there too), I thought I wouldn’t have friends men because boys hurt me as a child but I have had several since I was a teenager, I thought that I would not be a Christian when I was a teenager because I preferred other types of beliefs and I thought I was very cool for thinking that all religions are fine, I felt inclusive and good I am Christian now lol.
No doubt I was also a mistaken teenager.
I like Christian fiction in all its genres because it gives you an alternative to have fun because sometimes even clean things have some care content (tarot, fortune telling, allusions to premarital sex being okay, the best lesbian friend, the person with two parents, etc and none of it approached with Christian points of view).
I love Christian Romance stories as they give us faith and hope concerning our own lives.
I understand you a lot! books are not “just fiction” harmless regardless of the values it has as many would have you believe as a youtuber who reviews books said: they store the feelings of humanity, what they like and how we feel perhaps many romance books that promote relationships toxic or taboo are not things that people say they want to live because they know it’s bad but it is a faithful testimony of these crazy times where pushing limits that should not be pushed is considered modern.
The Bible itself is a book and it has power. As a teenager I read many secular romance novels (clean or not) and secular fantasy, it was 2010 so even what was in the bookstores was not as explicit as it is now. But reading that influenced what I found normal and what didn’t, normalize fornication, the foul and blasphemous language of taking the Lord’s name in vain. When I converted I realized that I had a lot to clear my mind.
I enjoy reading Christian fiction because I like to see how the characters are able to grow in their faith and relationships with God and each other and how they handle different challenges that come their way. I also like knowing what won’t be in the book.
I loved every point you made in this article. But my reason for coming back to Christian Romance is what you mentioned in #4: not only clean & wholesome entertainment but also uplifting and encouraging in my walk with the Lord.
You also reminded me of the quote “if you want to make God laugh, tell him of your future plans”. I think that when we go “I’m NEVER going to….”, God goes, “well, that’s a good idea!” (speaking from experience too).
Oh yes! That’s a good point. Family friendly for any age. :)
Being challenged can be hard but also a huge blessing! It’s always wonderful when you find a book you want to keep re-reading.
Hi Deb! You make such a good point about the influence what we read can have on our lives and how we think about so many things, including relationships and what is right or wrong, even when we don’t necessarily recognize that influence. It especially worries me when I see books directed at young people that are normalizing things that are so far from loving and God-pleasing relationships. It’s always hard to say how things are going to go when we witness to unbelievers, whether through books or working with them or in just chatting with them. But I always remind myself that even if we don’t see the fruits of our labors, there is value in planting the seed, and God can use others to water it and make it grow and bear fruit someday. You know I love to include harder topics in my fiction–because I completely agree with you that even if we haven’t been through that particular thing, we may know others who have, or we can relate in other ways. But ultimately, God’s Word is where we find our truth, and I am so grateful that he gives us the opportunity to share it in so many ways.
I agree with you about the power of books. They’re not “just entertainment.” They can affect our whole worldview, and it’s so hard to get those ideas out of our head after reading them. I’m so glad you’ve found Christian fiction!
Those are definitely blessings of Christian fiction!
It’s awesome that you’ve been reading Christian fiction since the ’80s! And I agree with you about sweet/clean books–although they are often good stories, I tend to be left feeling like something is missing. I definitely think a faith arc makes for a richer and more rewarding story–and shares the truth of God’s Word too! Win-win!
It’s funny how certain we can be of things as a teenager–and then when we’ve grown a little older and wiser look back on and wonder how we ever could have believed them. But I am so glad God worked even through those beliefs and situations to draw you to him. And you make a very good point that just because a book is clean doesn’t mean it won’t have other things in it that are not God-pleasing or approached from a Christian point of view, which can be just as dangerous.
I agree–there are so many ways we can apply what we are reading to our own lives and walks of faith.
Agreed! As an author I love to throw challenges at my characters. But I also love watching them work through those challenges from a faith perspective (or come to faith as God works in their hearts through those challenges).
Lol! Love your words for God, “well, that’s a good idea!” But you are so right…God knows the plans he has for us–and they’re often not the plans we *think* he should have for us! Thankfully! :)
I love reading Christian Fiction because I know I won’t have to skip
pages that have things I don’t want to read. Thanks for the books you write.
the characters
I am so thankful for clean books. Sweet and uplifting, a definite Christian theme are what I desire in a book. Those are the thoughts I want running through my head when reading.
I enjoy Christian novels. I believe that they can help to spread the word about God’s love and salvation through Christ.
I come back if they are clean books.i really come back to the love inspired and harlequin heartwarming books I have read so many of those I always am waiting for the new ones to come out each month
Love the insight on Christian romance! I agree with the points you brought up and with the statement that Christians are not the only ones that read that type of ramance.
Couldn’t agree more, I’m the same I know I can pick up a Christian romance and just enjoy it, not having to be afraid of the smut and other stuff that makes up mainstream. I love the message and encouragement in them and that I can recommend them to others.
I am not remembering any Christian fiction that has come to me at the time that I needed it, but I can say that has happened in my devotional time or Bible reading. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I’ve just read a lot of teen christian books & then make me want to read more
I like the characters & how there romances survived through everything.
Not to keep repeating what everyone else has said, but I too, love to know that when I pick up a Christian fiction book, I don’t have to worry about what’s in there that I wouldn’t want to see. Nice, wholesome books are the best!
I agree too. I read very explicit and just plain crude books back in the 80s and even though I have read many good Christian books in the years since I can still remember some of the things in that material! And reading things I did definitely fed the sinful life I was living. By the time I came back to my love for the Lord I was disgusted when I picked up those books. I’m so grateful He brought back my common sense. I kept my intense love for reading but it was being fueled by my love for God again. I will never be convinced books have no influence and I am so happy I have my Bible first then a never ending supply of books that stand on what the Word of God says!
What you said reminds me of the video your husband did for the teenagers in your church with the drop of water. We will never see the full scope of our influence until heaven but this sure makes you think before acting!
I agree! What a blessing to have that opportunity to reach others with God’s love in so many ways, including through books!
Yes! Exactly!
Yes! You can read the whole story without worrying about what you might come across!
Oh yes! The characters are what draw me into a story, for sure!
Awesome! And I agree with you! Thanks for sharing!
It’s such a blessing that there are more clean and Christian books coming out all the time! :)
Thank you, Pam!
Yes, recommending books is such a great way to share the message and encouragement with others. And authors always appreciate it too! :)
Oh yes! God has a way of making sure we hear the message we need to hear from his Word when we need it. What a great blessing!
I love that–when reading a book makes you want to keep reading more and more of that kind of book!
Yes, the characters are always what draws me in too–and especially seeing how they turn to God in all the challenges they face in their relationship and lives.
For sure! I think what’s not in a Christian book is a big draw…no need to worry about coming across those scenes you don’t want to see.
One thing I love about Christian fiction is the encouragement factor that I find in it. I also love knowing that I can read it without the worry of running across something I don’t have any desire to read. I love how God uses these stories in my own life. I love how I can share them with friends and my mom.
There are so so many books I could name regarding your other question. It’s difficult to pick one or two!
It’s inspiring, encouraging, and uplifting ❤️❤️❤️
I like Christian romance novels because they are so uplifting and encouraging. I want to cheer when a character “gets it” or comes through a crisis stronger than before. Also, I don’t have to worry about coming across a steamy scene. I have lived long enough to know all about that and don’t need to read about it.
Thank you and all the other Christian authors for writing these books. God bless you!
As you mentioned, I like knowing I can pick up a book and be encouraged in my faith while also not having to worry about the content not being appropriate. I also love happy endings.
Two things I think go together for me reading CF, “Christians need encouragement too” and “God uses Christian romance”. I can’t tell you how many times something the author said in the book or through a character that touches on exactly what I needed to hear or how do deal with a situation I’m in. Maybe I’ve been struggling to know what to do, what to say or what step to take next, and that very thing pops up on the pages and answers my questions. It’s like God speaking directly to me through the authors words. I LOVE when that happens :-) And I often do email the author and let them know their book touched me and changed me or encouraged me in some way. I know writers love to hear that as much as readers love to discover those little gems on the pages!
I’m so glad God changed your mind about what you write because readers need those words He puts in your heart to share in your stories!
THANK YOU
I love how you phrased that: “the encouragement factor!” And I agree with all of your points. Including how impossible it is to pick only one or two! :)
Yes, yes, and yes! :)
Yes, that moment when they “get it” is so powerful! It can leave me smiling and crying at the same time. Blessings!
Exactly! And I can’t believe I forgot to mention the happy endings! So important!
Yes! It’s so amazing to me every time God does that! It’s so wonderful that you email authors to let them know when their book has touched or encouraged you–that is such an encouragement to us and a reminder to keep writing even when it’s hard. Thank you!
I remember listening to a few debates at university about the value of Christian fiction…I definitely devoured many at different times and still do! However, an older lady was of the opinion that if we were reading novels to detriment of our reading of God’s word then this was unacceptable. It is trying to have a balance otherwise God will not be first. To my shame , there were times that my fiction pile was being given more attention than my Bible.
The book that puts God front and centre will ALWAYS encourage a Christian if their Lord is glorified in it. The reader can take away much to mediate on and possibly learn spiritual lessons that can be put into practice so it’s a powerful tool that God can use in people’s lives – just when they need it! I have had some lovely experiences of this and that’s why I encourage writers to continue for they will probably never fully know this side of heaven what their gift from God has accomplished!
I also agree with another contributor that all types of books can influence for good and bad so being selective now is very important….my teenage self hadn’t learnt that!!!
I agree that it’s important that we always keep God’s Word first, and as much as I love reading and writing fiction, I would never want someone to only get God’s Word through their fiction reading. It’s so important to go back to the Word itself. At the same time, there are those who may not regularly spend time in God’s Word, and they may be encouraged to start doing so through Christian fiction (or at least that’s my prayer!). Thank you for your encouragement of Christian authors! It is such a blessing to us!
I like reading Christian romance because it’s clean and helps us remember He is always with us, especially to help us work through the issues we have in our life.
A very kind lady at our church turned me onto Christian romantic fiction when I was a teenager by loaning me her books. I loves that they were clean but more so that they were deep and encouraging. I think the one majore difference between CF and secular is this, CF has hope. Secular fiction doesn’t have hope because without Christ there is no hope, so even if everything works out all right in the end you’re still left with knowing that there’s no real depth to the resolution.
All great reasons to love Christian romance! :)
Hooray for the lady who shared Christian romance with you when you were a teen. :) And I completely agree that even a happy ending has no hope if it comes without Christ. Knowing that the characters are living happily ever after not only in their relationship with each other but also in their relationship with Christ brings such depth and truth to a story.
Ah, I love this post so much… I knew I always wanted to be a writer but I never wanted to write contemporary military Christian romances or anything except historical fiction since it was my favorite thing to write for so long but there’s what happened.
It is often interesting how things don’t go like you expect, isn’t it?!
Yes, it’s so funny how things often turn out in ways we couldn’t have expected…and also such a blessing that God knows his plans for us even when we don’t (though we might think we do, lol)!