Features Of African American Christian Fiction Novels

By Richard Barnes


Every piece of writing has its characteristics that are unique from another. These dictate the contents that must appear in those books. For authors, therefore, they need to understand this even before they start deciding on writing any work of literature. The following are features of African American Christian fiction novels.

They base the romance on more than physical attraction. If at all the book contain any romance, the author should base it on more than just the physical attraction between the involved parties. They try to show other inward qualities that made the two people fall in love. Many show romance between a believer and a non-believer which is wrong. The Bible points out clearly that the relationship between believers and non-believers is as wide as the heaven and earth. Therefore this romance is discouraged in such books. Romance is based mainly on Godly behaviors.

They do not encourage violence and revenge. Stories on these kinds of books are purely not based on revenge and violence. These two are ungodly and hence discouraged. The Bible encourages people to love their enemies and not tolerate their actions. The two actions do not show love because they inflict pain to the enemy.

Lack sexual sin glamour. They need not glorify sexual sin at all. The Bible categorically differentiates that the act of sexual sin is not only the sin but also seeing and thinking of it is a sin. When the author takes time to sit down and reflect on how to portray a certain sexual sin scene in their book, they think and hence commuting the sin itself.

Lack profanity. Profanity is the use of bad words and socially offensive language. It is against the will of God for a person to use abusive language. It shows the ungodliness in a person and lack of respect of a person to the other, simply abuses the other party. Many writers are using this language in their writings to make it real. In believers, however, the reality the words will bring are not to be used in these books.

Actors who are believers should act in integrity or suffer the consequences. Believers acting in the given book should be portrayed as people who follow morality and integrity in their actions. They should not be allowed to win in cases of compromising their personalities to fit their circumstances. In such compromise, the author needs to show the consequences of their actions.

It has a Christian message. The book should show the teachings that the reader is to learn after reading the book. It should have a meaningful purpose in the life of a believer and its message be based on the moral teachings. The message is what changes the reader.

It has a Biblical basis. These novels are supposed to have their basis from the Bible. Everything the author portrays should point back to the biblical teachings. This shows that the author knows well the kind of book they are writing and does not end up misleading the readers.




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