I was recently requested to review a book—my unique blend of a love of fantasy AND of purity causes people to either stay away from talking about literature with me or to investigate my opinion. The particular author of this fantasy book attempted to create a unique world by contrasting the human-realm of morals and rules of nature with a fairy-realm without morals or the constraints of morality. Murder was not wrong; truth was relative; power was attainable by loss of morals. The writing ended up failing because this is impossible. It was an interesting experiment, but without the basic laws God installed in the universe the novel just did not make sense or feel real.
Beyond the poor skill of the author, I was struck by how wrong the book was. Books like that are the reason so many Christians are opposed to fantasy. It puts wonder in the unchecked hands of creatures summoning it by demonic sources. Correctly written Christian fantasy is the polar opposite of this. It returns wonder into the hands of the believer. This power is not summoned by demonic forces, but by the God of all power.
In Eden animals really could talk, life was granted by a fruit and there was a tree of knowledge. Throughout Scripture food fell from the sky, prophecies were told, seas moved and axe heads floated. These things could be defined as magic if seen in a book of fantasy. Witnessed in the Scripture we are amazed at the might of God.
The demonic definition of magic is not godly, but Christians should not be opposed to the concept that there is power in Christ! Christian fantasy done right is not about selfish, man-attained power; it is about returning to the wonder and blessings of Eden by the might of Christ—things God always meant us to have. In the Xsardis Chronicles, the word magic never appears. Fantastical ‘powers’ were granted by God at the beginning of time. Is that such a stretch for the God who raised Christ from the dead?
My viewpoint is controversial. I have had a very time gaining acceptance in church circles because of the word fantasy. Examine the Scripture for yourself and determine what the truth is.
LOVE this post! Thank you so much for tackling this issue! There is really a huge market out there for speculative fiction, and sadly a real lack of it written from a Christian perspective. I so appreciate authors like you who step up to write books to fill that void. It makes me very glad that my kids will have more of a selection of wholesome fantasy for them to read!
Great post! Totally agree!