Most Christian writers are familiar with the phrase “the true, the good and the beautiful.”
Some Christians writers like to set this as a standard to aim for in their work.
But other Christian writers prefer to focus more on being “real” in their writing. They don’t want to sugarcoat the evil and ugliness of our world. They want their fiction to be “raw” and “honest.”
Is it possible for fiction to be “true, good and beautiful” but also “real”?
Here are some questions to ask ourselves as we try to understand this issue:
1. Where does the phrase “the true, the good and the beautiful” come from?
The origin of the phrase “the true, the good and the beautiful” is attributed to Plato.
Plato was a pagan philosopher. He elevated truth, goodness and beauty as ideals to be aimed for, but sadly never found the Source of ultimate truth, goodness and beauty.
Over the centuries, philosophers from different parts of Europe used Plato’s phrase, and it was eventually adopted by Christians.
2. What does the Bible say about it?
In Philippians 4:8, Paul provides us with a statement that is similar to Plato’s, but that is more detailed:
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”(NKJV)
Paul is essentially exhorting us to think about all things “true, good and beautiful.” As writers, we can use this passage as a guide to knowing what types of thoughts we want to put into our readers minds.
Here are some more passages to consider:
Ephesians 4:29: Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (NIV)
2 Corinthians 10:5 “We…take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (ESV)
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (ESV)
As writers, we are putting thoughts into other people’s minds. As Christians, we therefore have a responsibility to encourage our readers to think good and wholesome thoughts.
But does this mean avoiding or even ignoring those dark, ugly issues that confront us on an almost daily basis?
3. What does the Bible do?
We’ve seen what the Bible says, but what does the Bible actually do?
Does the Bible sugarcoat things in order to uphold what is true, noble, just, pure etc.?
Not at all! One of the reasons that the Bible stands out among religious texts is that it’s honest, completely honest, about the fallenness of human beings.
But, it’s important to see that when it comes to depictions of sin, the Bible is frank without giving details in a graphic or explicit way.
There are certain passages that are so veiled that the reader cannot picture what is going on unless they have prior knowledge.
For example, when I was 8 years old, I decided to read through the entire Bible. I did, from cover to cover. (It took about three years.) When I went back and reread some of those passages as a young adult, I was shocked to discover accounts of violence and sexual sin that I didn’t even remember reading as a child.
Though the Bible is honest, it doesn’t use language that deliberately arouses fleshly desires or emotions, or that conjures up explicitly graphic images.
Let me tell you another personal story:
When I was younger, I was extremely sensitive, especially when it came to violence.
We had a Bible storybook that my dad would read to us in the evenings. But the first time he read the story of Jesus’ crucifixion to us from that Bible storybook, I couldn’t cope and burst into tears.
After that, Dad would always read that story directly from the Bible instead of from the children’s Bible storybook.
Why did my dad do this? Because he knew that the Story Bible was written using fiction writing techniques that touched my hypersensitive emotions and vivid imagination.
But the Bible presented the truth of what happened without emotive language or graphic imagery.
4. Who am I writing for?
This is all very well, but Christian writers are not trying to write a bible!
The art form of fiction is a God-given gift that can be used for good. There is nothing wrong with using this form to stir our readers’ emotions and create vivid images in their minds, provided we are doing this in a way that “builds them up.” (Eph. 4:29)
People want (and need) stories that move them. There’s nothing wrong with giving them those stories.
But some readers might be “built up” by things that would disturb other readers. The better you know your ideal readers, the more effectively you’ll be able to serve them with your stories.
In the end, the “rating” of your content depends on your readers and on your own conscience.
As we have seen, it is possible to be “real” and “honest” without being graphic or explicit.
If you’re a writer wrestling with these issues, I encourage you to pray, study what the Bible says about words and thoughts, and study your readers.
May God bless you as you serve Him with your words!