Authors who write stories grounded in the Biblical principles of Christianity face unique issues. They write in a specific niche. While there are no set rules, there are several unspoken norms, which readers of Christian romance novels might expect. For example, such readers would expect stories in this genre to be free from profanity and vulgar speech or behavior on the part of the characters.
What about love scenes, however? How much is too much when it comes to passion in Christian romance novels? Again, there are no rules that restrict or prohibit authors from writing love scenes in Christian fiction stories. It goes without saying, though, that the target audience may have certain standards or expectations based on their religious convictions and beliefs.
Christian romance novels should be realistic
Authors of Christian fiction must be careful to avoid portraying false perfection in their storylines. Nothing will lose readers’ interest faster than trying to give the impression that belief in Jesus Christ as Savior equals a perfect life. In fact, most Christians would agree that this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Therefore, writers must be wary to keep their Christian romance novels from taking on a puritanical tone, which might chase readers away.
Fiction is, of course, “make believe” but such stories must be believable in that readers can relate to the characters and events that take place. For Christian fiction authors, this means a story must have a natural, believable flow, without comprising the principles that place it in this particular genre.
Sin without consequence or recourse
Based on Biblical principles, Christian romance novels should never glorify sinful behavior. Adultery, for instance, is not okay. Fornication isn’t either. If an author incorporates such issues into a story, great caution must be exercised. If a character is engaging in such behaviors, are there logical consequences that align with Christian beliefs?
When writing a love scene or scene that includes passionate behavior, Christian fiction authors will want to present the story in a way that captures readers’ attention and provides entertainment without placing them in a morally questionable position. In other words, whatever is written in the pages of a Christian novel should not be a source of temptation. This is not to say that authors are responsible for anything their readers might think, say or do after reading one of their novels. However, authors must realize that their writing affects the human condition and, therefore, should proceed with caution. As St. Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “Everything is lawful but not everything is beneficial.” Keep this in mind when writing Christian romance novels.
Consider the 4 S’s for Christian romance novels
Kellyn Roth, author of historical romance novels with Christian themes, suggests keeping four S’s in mind when writing or reading fiction stories in this genre: saintly, sweet, sensual and smutty. Each writer and author must determine where they draw the line.
