Allowing Characters to Have a Faith Journey: Faith-filled Fanfic, Pt. 4

I’ve seen so many characters take a journey of faith. Depending on the fandom, that journey might not have been inherently religious in nature, but it was always enthralling to witness. Sometimes that journey led the person closer to something good (or to literal Christianity), and sometimes, that person ended up walking away from what was good. In either case, they made a choice.

When writing fanfiction, to take away a character’s agency (ability to make choices) renders the story meaningless.

There has been a long-standing debate in religious circles. It centers on whether humanity has free will (Armenianism) or if everything that happens is pre-ordained by God and cannot be changed, no matter what we, as humans, do (Calvinism).

I believe the truth lies somewhere between those extremes.

Yes, I believe humanity has the ability to make choices. Otherwise, what would be the point in salvation? If humans were pre-determined to either be destined for Heaven or Hell, we might as well have just stepped straight into Eternity and skipped this life altogether. What would the point be in church? In any sort of Christian organization? If each individual person is pre-determined to be either saved or Hell-bound, why write or speak about Christ and His sacrifice? What would be the point of Christians loving God if there was no true choice in it?

I also believe God knows all things and has known them for all Eternity. He knew Satan would rebel, would deceive humanity into becoming fallen too. God knew He would send Messiah to shed His blood in sacrifice for us, to redeem us from the Fall. He knew Satan would struggle against Him in so many ways but would ultimately fail. He knew everything from before the very start.

Yet, He still offers us individual choice. We can accept Messiah’s blood atonement for our sin, or we can reject it. That doesn’t mean God won’t try to change our minds and hearts. But it does mean He will honor our decision, regardless of which choice we ultimately make. Just as there are people who become Christians early in life, some choose vehement and consistent rejection at a young age, so there are those God allows to go their own way sooner than others.

So, what on earth does any of that have to do with writing fanfiction as a Christian?

Just as God gives us a choice, so we can give the people we write about that same choice. Some writers try to force characters into something only to find it impossible to cram that fictional person into the prescribed mold. The person just won’t do what the author wants, no matter what. If that happens to you as a Christian fanfic writer, let the character make that choice. It is their decision, after all.

Very often, writers discover the characters they’re working with are making horrible choices, and the temptation rises to force compliance. But what is the point of a law-abiding drone? Wouldn’t you rather watch the person you’re working with come to understand why you wanted them to do the right thing? Wouldn’t you rather they chose to do the right thing on their own, without being coerced?

Not every character choice will be good. In fact, many will be horrible and result in incredible hurt (for them and others). But those choices will become part of who that fictional person is, and they will inform the character’s thoughts, actions, and beliefs from that moment on. Perhaps, one day, that fictional person will even come to regret their wrongdoing and make amends (if possible). But you’ll never know that if you force them to obey you.

I have written several journeys to faith (some to literal Christianity), and none of them would have been possible if I’d forced the fictional people involved into decisions, beliefs, or actions they did not choose.

Allowing the fictional people we’ve come to love make damaging choices is incredibly hard. But it can also be unbelievably rewarding.