Balancing Good and Evil in Christian Fiction

Photo by Chris Barbalis on Unsplash

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Christian fiction can present unique challenges for authors. How do you balance good and evil in a manner readers will believe and relate to? How much darkness do you portray in your novel? Does showing the reality of darkness in the lives of the story’s characters honor God?

These are all questions Christian authors must wrestle with. And while the answer is subjective, I believe that the Bible is a great measuring stick.

God portrays evil in Scripture because it’s a reality of our existence. Therefore, showing the same struggles in Christian fiction may be just what your readers need to see the hope of Christ.

So, how do authors do that realistically and authentically?

Let’s take a look at some of the challenges Christian authors face as they prepare a novel that honors God, meets the expectations of their readers, and sells more books.

Should a Christian Novel Avoid Evil?
One challenge Christian authors face is whether their story should contain realistic elements of the evil we encounter in this world. Most Christian fiction I have read would largely fall into this category. The characters are all happy. They have minor conflicts and dilemmas, but overall, the story world they live in is a very cheery place.

For readers looking for a feel-good story, this is OK. However, for readers who want a story they can relate to, this type of story isn’t going to deliver. And the market for readers who want a story they can relate to continues to grow.

The truth is that evil is real.

There are battles in the spiritual realm that impact us.

There are temptations from the enemy that affect our everyday lives.

There are conflicts in our relationships—even with those we love.

The battle between good and evil is very real, and trying to depict a story without it is to create a story with a gaping hole in the plotline.

Bitterness, sinful anger, pride, lust, greed, and gossip are only a few of the ways we open the door to evil in our lives. Not to mention our own sinful hearts tempting us to act in any number of selfish, impatient, or unkind ways.

We need a Savior.

And a story that doesn’t whitewash sin but reflects our desperate need for Jesus will portray an accurate and God-honoring reflection of our true existence, connecting with readers through authenticity.

How Much Darkness Is Too Much?
Conversely, Christian authors may also be tempted to write a story that leans too hard on the dark or gritty side of life without the light of Christ to balance it out.

Scripture portrays the truth of evil in this world, however, it doesn’t describe a grim, dark world void of hope. Rather, it describes our world as fallen—a world cursed by sin and in need of a Savior.

Allowing fiction characters to be impacted by the sin of this world in authentic ways must always be balanced by the hope found in Christ.

That’s the truth of Scripture.

That’s the truth we want to convey to our readers.

Do Your Christian Characters Always Make the Right Choices?
An authentic story begins with authentic, three-dimensional characters. Readers expect characters to act and react in believable ways. Nothing will land a book on a DNR list faster than characters they can’t relate to, empathize with, or cheer for.

So, when writing your Christian fiction story, watch out for characters who act or react in a way that isn’t genuine to how real people would behave. If your character is always doing the right thing or saying the right thing, that should be a red flag that your character isn’t acting true to human nature. Even the most mature Christians still sin.

And your characters should reflect that humanity.

Another example is portraying your villain with no redeeming qualities.

Again, a three-dimensional character will have both good and bad traits. A villain can demonstrate loyalty to a particular friend or family member even while acting in evil ways toward the protagonist. Perhaps their own backstory could even demonstrate the evil that was done to them, allowing the reader to empathize with their pain.

There are countless ways to give your antagonist authentic traits, but if they are always doing only the most evil and vile things, you may be missing something.

Keep in mind, this challenge may pop up in a particular scene or throughout the story as a whole. You want to evaluate each scene objectively to determine if characters are acting and reacting in genuine and believable ways.

When you encounter this issue, there are three solutions you can consider.

Revise the Character
The first option is to revise the character. Take some time to think through why the character is making that particular choice. Perhaps their response to the conflict is authentic, but you need to take the reader through your character’s thought process to make it more believable. This can help readers understand why the character is making that choice.

Character profiles can be exceptionally helpful in times like these. Digging deeply into who the character is, where they came from, and what they believe will help you ensure that their words and actions are delivered realistically.

Revise the Scene
The second option is to revise the scene. Can the conflict be changed so that the character’s response makes sense in light of the scene?

Maybe the conflict written isn’t the best option for conveying your character’s three-dimensional beliefs and authentic personality. It doesn’t allow your protagonist to show their faults and humanity. Perhaps an alternative conflict could offer the reader an opportunity to connect with your character or empathize with them on a deeper level, one that is more relatable and believable to their own human nature.

Revise the Response
The third option is to revise the character’s response. This means taking out the original response and replacing it with something that feels more authentic. Would your protagonist really turn the other cheek? Or would they allow their pain and anger to prompt them to hurl hurtful words in return? How would that change impact the rest of the scene? The rest of the story?

Oftentimes, this decision results in a stronger, more honest, or more interesting story.

Are the Christian Characters in Your Novel Authentic?
The second challenge that Christian authors face is evaluating whether their Christian characters are portrayed as sinless and perfect, while their unbelieving characters are portrayed as selfish and sinful.

When creating characters, your worldview as the author matters. Do you believe people are predominantly good or that people are predominantly broken and in need of a Savior?

If you believe people are predominantly good, you may struggle to write a protagonist who struggles in authentic ways with their own sinful nature.

If you believe that people are broken and in need of a Savior, you will likely be able to see that all your characters have qualities born from their God-given strengths and qualities born from their inherent weaknesses as sinful humans. Both should be portrayed in your story to create relatable and interesting characters.

Does Your Story Leave Room for Consequences?
Another issue Christian authors can face when creating an authentic story world is presenting a world where, anytime characters do the right thing, success or positive consequences follow.

We know that following Christ and doing the right thing often results in positive outcomes, but we also know that sometimes, after doing the right thing, hard times still result.

The truth is that God didn’t create a world that rewards good choices. This world is marked by sin and evil, which is why we long for something more.

If your story consistently shows the protagonist achieving success for their right choices, you are missing some of the obvious challenges they would be facing in a given situation. These challenges not only produce authenticity in the story but they heighten the tension and conflict, making the story more interesting for readers.

Conclusion: Balancing Good and Evil in Christian Fiction
While it may be tempting to lean heavily one way or the other when portraying light and dark, the truth is, we should see both facets of reality presented throughout the story.

There is good and there is evil.

There is darkness, but there is hope in Christ.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach; rather, both should be present in some capacity throughout the whole book.

Perhaps the majority of the book is heavy with dark times that the protagonist is treading through. You can still show relationships in their life that point to goodness and light. Characters who make the protagonist feel safe, loved, accepted, and comforted.

And when the protagonist does encounter the hope at the end of the story, ensure the light that is portrayed is significant and impactful enough to balance the rest of the story.

Finally, you want to consider what details of darkness are actually necessary for readers to feel the struggle and emotional weight the protagonist is experiencing.
Obviously, the level of darkness depicted in an adult novel should be different than what is depicted in a young adult or middle grade novel. However, necessity should be judged by the story’s goal and what’s needed to achieve that.
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Ultimately, you, as the author, should be asking yourself: By the time the story ends, do my readers believe that the light is more powerful than the darkness?

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