Blogger: Rachelle Gardner
One of the most common questions I hear about CBA is why it exists in the first place. (CBA means “Christian Booksellers Association” but refers to the entire Christian publishing industry including publishers, authors, agents, bookstores, etc.)
Some are concerned that it means Christians are trying to stay set apart. Others wonder about the value of “preaching to the choir” when perhaps we should be out evangelizing to non believers. Many couch the questions in negative terms, like wondering if the point of CBA is to keep Christians insulated from the world in some kind of a bubble that needs to be burst.
In my opinion, the Christian publishing industry isn’t about keeping Christians insulated, safe, set apart, or in a bubble. It’s not about limiting your ability as a Christian writer to write whatever you want or feel called to. In fact, Christian publishing is about the opposite:
It’s about freedom.
The Christian publishing industry began with companies who published Bibles; then came the need for books to help people understand the Bible. The rest of the Christian publishing business grew out of the need to have a place for Christians to write freely, honestly, and openly about all aspects of the Christian faith.
Rather than look at CBA as a limiting, stifling place, it’s better to understand it as a place of amazing freedom to write candidly about life in Christ, life based on the precepts of the Holy Bible, life lived in pursuit of the God of that Bible. There is freedom to talk about every aspect of life, from relationships to finances to health to business practices, in a way that includes the Biblical perspective. Christian books address the daily, moment-to-moment struggle to live this life of faith.
But we still have questions.
How much freedom? What’s allowed and what’s not? Should we write to believers or non-believers? We can discuss all of those. But the most important thing is how fortunate we are to live in a society in which a CBA is possible. The CBA represents our truly awesome liberty to openly discuss our faith amidst an increasingly secular society.
CBA gives Christians a free and open forum for discussion; and gives seekers and nonbelievers a place to turn for answers to their questions about the Christian faith.
Do we need our own specialized niche?
The fact that CBA exists as a specialized niche within the larger publishing arena makes sense. Everything in our culture is specialized. If I want some basic sporting goods like a basketball or a kids’ bike, I might stop by Wal-Mart. But if I want some new skis or a high-quality mountain bike, I’m going to the ski store or the bike shop. I appreciate the fact that there are manufacturers and stores who specialize in exactly what I want.
By the same token, I appreciate that there are manufacturers (publishers) and stores who focus on the Christian reading materials I want.
How fortunate we are to be able to find a book on just about any topic from a Christian perspective! How cool that’s it’s totally your choice whether to be involved in CBA publishing, or choose to target ABA publishers instead.
What are your thoughts on CBA as part of the larger publishing community?
Image: Our lab Reagan with his head on my Bible.
Rachelle, first…LOVE the picture of Reagan…he could be the brother of our Chris. And also your new ‘thumbnail’; you look like a spirited and enthusiastic college student, the kind that I loved to see in my classes back in the day.
* I see CBA as the well to which we can return and refresh ourselves. We are called to engage the heathens (sorry, I am NOT feeling PC) pagans, and apostates, but fighting on their ground can weaken our own defenses, and we need a refuge in which we can clearly see – and repair – the underpinnings of our faith.
* WWJD famously includes breaking up furniture and chasing people about with a whip; it does NOT include flaccid obeisance to the accusation “You’re intolerant!” But the enemy seeks to shame me with a call to ‘niceness’ rather than holiness, and CBA buttresses the walls from behind which I fight.
Andrew, good point about refreshing ourselves. We may not always have the strength to fight with the world, and CBA helps keep us strong. Thanks for the great words!
Getting noticed is the big problem for a writer. How hard would it be to get noticed as a Christian writer in a secular publishing world?
*Writers cringe at suggestions, edits and changes from publishers. Imagine the dealing with changes to your Christian tome from a secular editor.
*Yes, God can smooth the way, open doors and get his message out in any culture. But I, for one, am grateful for the CBA.
I’m grateful the CBA exists. As our culture embraces more and more of the worldly mindsets, and as secular writers are given the green light to include more “worldly elements” in their fiction, I am thankful for books I can pick up that will not include the elements I’d rather not read about. I prefer to read books that will uplift and encourage, that speak truth to me in a way that challenges me. As Andrew said, Christian fiction can be a refuge.
*I know there are good ABA books, and I’m thankful for that, but there are times when I want to be encouraged to live a righteous life, and Christian fiction can be powerful in accomplishing that.
Jeanne, I agree. It’s so nice to read great resources that encourage us to live a righteous life.
I agree with what others have said. The older I become, the more I am taking to heart Philippians 4:8– “Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.” I do not want to fill my mind with images of sexual immorality, or horror-filled movie scenes, zombies, graphic descriptions, and foul language. I so appreciate that CBA provides well-written books that fill my mind with joy and peace.
The perfect verse for this situation, Toni! Thank you.
I’m thankful for freedom … November is a great month to be reminded of that blessing. Freedom to be able to mention God in my works, or prayer, or anything God-related. My dearest friend is East Asia now … I can’t even name the location (I almost did) … and when we write back and forth, I can’t mention anything spiritual or God-related. I have to say things like, “Will you ask for me?” Instead of pray. And my faith is such a part of me that it’s very difficult to omit it. Sadly, I’m getting better at it when I write to my friend. But the process is enough to wake you up to gratitude. Thank you for this reminder, Rachelle.
I think Christian fiction can be much more than a refuge. The characters in a novel can inspire us to live our own lives more faithfully. We can also share an excellent novel with a friend who is either wavering in her faith or maybe hasn’t thought about how letting Jesus into her life can change it for the better. We honor God when we write those stories, and who knows what He’ll do with them after we release them into the world?
A refuge and so much more! Exactly. Thanks, Carol.
CBA keeps us accountable. We may love the Lord and want to serve Him, but we’re human. Writing within Bible-based guidelines keeps us on the straight and narrow in a very crooked world.
Thanks for the great article.
Freedom. I really love that word in this post. You’re so right. And our Clyde looks like he could be Reagan’s brother. Great pic!
Obviously Clyde must be a very handsome boy. 🙂
Beautifully put, Rachelle! I often get asked about this, especially when I speak at public libraries. I’m going to print this out so I can remember–it’s not about limits, it’s about freedom. That’s how I feel, but I don’t always come up with the answer when I’m put on the spot. Thank you!
Karen, I just remembered something from one of Norman Vincent Peale’s books (I think it was in “Sin, Sex, and Self-Control”) –
“Discipline is the price you pay for freedom.”
Great thoughts. I agree that having a Christian market helps authors. There are some books that would not be published now if not for specific publishers and markets picking them up. And a lot of the secular market would probably want changes to the manuscript to make it more “culturally acceptable”.
As a writer, I appreciate having agents, publishers, etc that embrace and champion the values I want to portray in my writing. As for who we write to, I think there are non-Christians turning to Christian fiction because the stories give hope in a hopeless world. Secular fiction can be so depressing and dark. I think, as long as we avoid preachy-fiction, Christian authors can reach both parties. Goodreads and social media broaden an audience more than previous years.
I set out to write an encouraging book for the masses but scripture and solid truth kept pouring out in my writing. Thank you for pointing out the freedom we have to speak truth, including the source from which we find that truth.
Years ago, when most Americans were Christians (or at least thought they were) the only Christian publishing houses were producing material like Sunday School curriculum. The “regular” publishers published Christian books normally. But our society changed in the 1960s and 70s and those houses stopped doing Christian books, so the denominational houses began including things like novels, and other Christian publishing houses opened. Now some Christian houses have been bought by secular publishers because they make money. In times of stress like wars and disasters more people want to read religious books, but if our society changes again, those big houses will stop publishing Christian things.
What a great question, Rachelle, and so very timely. I love the idea that Christian fiction is not about limiting, but about freedom. I too, have taken Philippians 4:8 to heart and use it to guide my daily choices. I read Christian fiction for all the reasons that are stated here in the comments, plus I believe the faith thread adds so much more depth to a story that cannot be found in secular fiction. I guess it just “speaks” to me.