How entertainment abandoned virtue—and why Christians must rise to reclaim it
Wholesomeness: Once Mocked, Now Missed
If you’re anything like I used to be, you’ve had difficulty relating to the sanitized Christian books, movies, and television. You might have even gone so far as to call it cheesy, predictable, and unrealistic. I know because I’m guilty of all three, plus a few more adjectives too impolite to state here. I’m not proud of it, and I no longer think of it negatively—I actually love the fresh air of a wholesome story.
Of course, some sanitized Christian fiction is, well, not so great. But we’re not going to talk about that today. Maybe never.
But if you’re guilty of this negative opinion of wholesome Christian media, don’t feel too bad; you can’t be blamed for your inability to relate. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’re unkind, rude, or unappreciative of the hardworking Christian creatives who produce this much-needed media. Because make no mistake, no matter what some think of it, it’s just as important as anything any other Christian creative produces—perhaps more so. In the same way that the raw, gritty stuff the other half produces is essential, even if some Christians can’t stomach the unsanitized, dark, and lifelike nature of the storytelling.
While some are over here saying, “Wow, this is so predictable and formulaic,” others are over there saying, “I can’t handle this—it’s way too dark for my tastes.”
And that’s OK. As Christians, we can disagree and are certainly not all bound to the same tastes, but we must support one another in our creative endeavors, especially when honoring God in our work because that’s what it’s all about—at least it should be. All works are needed; every effort must be respected and lifted up, never torn down.
I’ve already written some articles advocating for bolder, grittier, and more realistic Christian-friendly storytelling here and here, but I’ll be the first to admit that I’m also growing tired of writing and reading it myself. While there is a dire need for storytelling that engages with today’s reality, I believe there is also a dire need for Christian creatives to bring back the old-school, wholesome stuff and refuse to adapt to the darkness that society has become.
But it’s an even greater challenge. Let me tell you why…
“And they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
—2 Timothy 4:4
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