So Cheryl, does this mean that we as brothers and sisters in Christ should not judge the act and exhort each other to walk in holiness? I do not know where I would be without the family of God lovingly calling me out when I had ventured into dangerous ground.

It is the world’s way to watch each other go over the edge and care not one whit who loses his soul. We are warned in the scriptures to be open to instruction by those we hold in holy esteem, to discern truth and walk in it. How can we learn that we are in error if we never give place to wise counsel from the body as well as the word of God?

It was a trust issue with me, that I didn’t believe God would deliver what I needed emotionally and spiritually, so I went looking for it in fiction. I think it is a dangerous thing when we use anything temporal to substitute what we should be receiving right from the throne of grace.

Inspiration is fine coming from a book, but when we use the book as a counterfeit of relationship with God, that should be a warning sign that we need to draw closer to God and not fiction. Life is way too short to be getting lost in someone else’s fictional life when we should be living abundantly our own adventure.

This is of course a secondary issue to that of whether fiction itself is “untruth” and thus wrong for a Christian to enjoy. But no, the Potter books don’t endorse the actual witchcraft that Scripture condemns. A passing resemblance does not make something a sin. Thinking it does is itself (well-intended) mysticism. Moreover, Scripture does contain many injunctions against dishonesty, which unfortunately I have seen many Christians practice in their fervor to oppose certain books and movies (while others on the other side, of course, are dishonest in saying “it’s just fiction” as if stories don’t affect our minds). Just something to consider.

Some more questions for some Potter critics (if Moore and/or his assistants don’t/doesn’t mind the link!) are here. (The column references “legalism,” but please don’t assume my intent is to be “legalistic” myself against perceived “legalism”! :-) )

Why should a woman love a “lump on the couch”? Good romance novels are like any other kind of good fiction–they have well-rounded characters, with both strengths and flaws. Kind of like real people. Watch out, ladies, if you enjoy stories about interesting characters trying to resolve their differences or overcome an obstacle, you might like romance novels!

Dr. Albert Mohler got people bent out of shape with his yoga article.

Now daring Dr. Moore kindly and compassionately presents research-based information that targets one of Christian women’s most sacred cows.

Some may say, “How dare they?”

I say, “Thanks to each of you for your faithful and loving service to the Body of Christ.”

I’m also thankful that God knows your heart, just as He knows the hearts of all my Christian reader/writer friends.

I only have two things to say:

Romans 14:4-6

4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand.

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.

John 15:16-17

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

To remove it, would cause a further implosion of the culture.

Mr. Moore, are you aware that Christian authors have been banned or shunned by literary groups and societies because of their faith? You have no idea some of the persecution Christian authors have experienced because we refuse to write literary porn. We don’t mind the persecution and we have dug in our heels against the culture.

Livi

It isn’t enough to say “I’m not equating it with pornography” after quoting a study that says just that (about MAINSTREAM romance, then making an assumption that Christian romance is built on the same foundation, which is an assumption one ought not make). It isn’t enough to say “If it doesn’t draw you away from your spouse then *maybe* it’s okay.” That’s like me saying, “Maybe if your pastor doesn’t dive into the cultish than he’s not harmful.” “Not harmful” doesn’t give that pastor the credit he deserves for the hours of prayer, the mountain of good, the souls saved through his words. Nor does saying “not to equate romance novels with pornography” give Christian authors their due.

When will the leaders of the church acknowledge that this may not just be “not evil” but that it is in fact a ministry?

Imagine how upset a missionary would be if a pastor got up and said, “I’m not saying ALL missionaries are evil, but have you heard about what some of them did in this place over here? I mean, they have a sexual position named after them. Ask yourself–do these people ever do harm?”

Would you be outraged on their behalf because the pastor focused on the harm of a few? I sure would be. I know missionaries who have poured their heart and soul into their calling, and if someone spoke like that from a pulpit before introducing them, you can bet they’d be rightly upset. I bet you would be too–or would you say, “He didn’t say they were ALL evil! Why are you people upset?” Somehow I doubt you would defend such a pastor in the face of a missionary who’d been hurt by his words.

Please consider that before you defend a position that attacks a ministry God has called thousands of His people to.

If we were discussing the books you’ve mentioned and other secular books, I would agree wholeheartedly with the article, but we’re not.

I don’t think that the description above is anywhere near the truth of most Christian fiction. The author’s that I read have been given a gift by God to guide readers towards Him…that He is the only place to find all that they need. There is no alpha male or perfect woman…we are all sinners. But by the grace of God redeemed. These stories are about redemption in all the various forms that God uses in everyday life to help us find Him.

I find that reading about these characters not only brings me closer to God myself, but gives me a little insight, helping me to be more understanding and accepting when I can’t comprehend the thoughts, feelings or motives of others.

I’m not saying that it’s impossible to find books that will prove the above statements, but they are not the norm in Christian fiction and I believe that this article does a huge dis-service to people, the authors, and mostly to God by suggesting this all in such a negative light.

I recommend reading a few…maybe God will bless you through them as well.

there’s the comparison to pornography:

pornography doesn’t enhance intimacy, but allows the person entrenched in it to escape to an artificial illusion of intimacy.

Romance novels don’t enhance intimacy, they allow the reader to escape into an artificial illusion of intimacy.

Dr. Moore isn’t saying that if you read/write romance novels that you’re doing something equal to filming a pornographic video. Perhaps the vast majority of people never actually read the article - if for some reason they read this post instead - which is doubtful - and are still infuriated, perhaps you should read the last paragraph of the post:

“This is not to equate morally “romance novels” with the grave soul destruction of pornography. But it is worth asking, “Is what I’m consuming leading me toward contentment with my spouse (or future spouse) or away from it? Is it pointing me to the other in one-flesh union or to an eroticized embodiment of my own desires? Is this the mystery or a mirage?”

Here are some more appropriate questions:
Was romance invented by God? Yes.
Is God pleased with wives’ enjoyment of our husbands and romance within godly parameters? Yes.
Is legalism harmful? Yes.
Can a lost person come to the Lord through a Christian romance novel? Yes.
Does God call certain people to minister through Christian fiction? Yes.
Do Christian romances make me see my wonderful Christian husband in a bad light? No.
Do they create discontent in a godly woman? No.
Do they cause me to yearn for something I can’t have? No.

I challenge you to read one and decide for yourself.

I want to thank you for so prominently displaying Laura Frantz’s book on your website! Its gone on my to-buy list now. :)

On the serious side:

Yes, I was being serious - its a book I hadn’t come across yet and based on what folks have said, it looks to be a good one so I’m getting it.

I will have to say that this whole conversation has made me sad. You all may not see it, but I’m Facebook friends with many, many Christian Romance writers. Writers are already a melancholy lot who continually have to fight against the darkness on a regular basis. Satan and his minions are constantly attacking them through every avenue he can. And most of these women (and men) are already wired to feel emotions at a greater depth than most folks - its what allows them to convey the written word at such a great level to others. And then to have a prominent theologian critique their work and compare it to the darkness? Oye vey.

Can some women read a romance book and be led astray? Of course, but is it the romance books fault? Maybe… maybe not. If the book is written by a Christian who has committed him or herself to God and prayed over the entire process - well that’s completely different than someone who is writing their novel to tantalize the reader. If God is in the process of the writing of the book, and a reader goes astray - its because of their own heart to begin.

The most recognizable name in Christian Romance would be Francine Rivers. Have you read her testimony? You need to if you haven’t. She made a huge name for herself writing the books that you are rightly warning women against. And then she came back to the Lord. She tried to keep writing those books and found she couldn’t. It wasn’t until she gave her writing over to God that He transformed it. The first book she wrote is probably the #1 Christian Romance book of all time - Redeeming Love (whether it actually is the #1 selling book or not, I know it tops the list of many readers’ lists of favorites). Now if Christian Romance Books were so wrong to begin with then how is it that God had the power to stop her from writing secular books but yet apparently doesn’t have the power to stop her from writing Christian Roman? He does - but obviously she is doing the ministry that He has called her to, and so she flourishes in that ministry and lives are changed.

Like everything else - a book is a _thing_ - the heart behind making it and the heart that is receiving it are the conditions we need to look out for. And I think that was the message that you were trying to convey, but honestly I feel you weren’t careful enough in your presentation to fully explain your thoughts.

It is a good and noble thing to warn people of danger. Just as meat offered to idols may be something that some need to stay away from; others can eat it without problem - and it had nothing to do with the meat itself, but had to do with the hearts of those partaking. Let us be cognizant when we warn people to “be careful” to not get carried away with generalizations and assumptions.

I’m fairly certain that I’m speaking for all of us when I say this. We do not object to people doing soul-searching on their own and deciding whether or not they can read a romance. That’s how it should be done.

What we object to is the attitude that seems to be prevalent in many of these comments. The attitude that the gift God gave us and the ministry He has called us to is a grievous sin. We’re not supposed to judge each other, yet that is precisely what’s happening here. Romance authors are being judged for the gifts that God gave us. Would you rather we violate Jesus’s commandments and hide our lights (gifts) under a bushel?

I don’t know what your God-given talent is. But if someone told you that that talent was a sin, how would you react? About the same as us, I’d guess.

No one has the right to tell a fiction writer that the gift God gave them is a sin. No one.

I actually loved the scene where it was explained in the movie of Harry Potter (can’t remember which one) that evil couldn’t touch him because his parents died for him to save him from the evil one. The Bible and fiction are two separate things. The Bible requires more thorough reading with the notes and in context. Fiction allows a different sort of enjoyment. Some may accidentally or purposely allude to God or the Bible.

Yes, we should honor Jesus with our choices and our life, but all of us will fall short and someone will always have an opinion about what we should read or watch on television. A friend of mine with a PHD read everything so she can be better armed to out-debate the militant atheists who want to disprove God. She wanted to be well informed what was out there in the literary world.

I learned a long time ago not to jump on the Christian band wagon, but investigate it for myself. So I see nothing wrong with Harry Potter. I’d be more concerned with those readers of the author of Angels and Demons whom people began believing his stuff was true than silly Harry Potter with its cute characters and enduring plot points and that moving staircase.