I used to be a big fiction reader, especially Christian romance novels, but after getting married I realized how off they were. Romance novels make you think that marriage is this perfect place where everyone says the right thing, and the passion is perfect and the guy always gets the perfect gift and even when the characters are angry it all just works out perfectly and they live happily ever after. YEAH NO!
Marriage is hard.
It's a sacrifice.
Can it be amazing and wonderful?
Absolutely!!
In fact, my husband does a great job of giving those books a run for their money but he's still a human and he still makes mistakes and he's married to me. (...and we all know how difficult that can be.)
I personally believe many of these books make wives and brides discontent with good marriages and makes them wish for a relationship they could never have anyway.
It's a sacrifice.
Can it be amazing and wonderful?
Absolutely!!
In fact, my husband does a great job of giving those books a run for their money but he's still a human and he still makes mistakes and he's married to me. (...and we all know how difficult that can be.)
I personally believe many of these books make wives and brides discontent with good marriages and makes them wish for a relationship they could never have anyway.
I know this because...
I read them before I got married and held my husband to a standard NO ONE could meet. I disappointed myself too many times by expecting something that was not normal.
I've talked to other woman as well who have read and done the same thing. There are also other blog articles about this very thing. So that is the first reason I would say that they are unhealthy.
I read them before I got married and held my husband to a standard NO ONE could meet. I disappointed myself too many times by expecting something that was not normal.
I've talked to other woman as well who have read and done the same thing. There are also other blog articles about this very thing. So that is the first reason I would say that they are unhealthy.
I want to take another step forward and say that many (not all) cross boundaries into what is not pure, lovely, or true. In fact, many of these books are plainly pornographic. Christian Romance Novels. YES! I have had to put more then a few books down because of this issue.
Wikipedia says "Pornography (often abbreviated as "porn" or "porno" in informal usage) is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purpose of sexual arousal." Even though you can not see the couple doing intimate things, many of these books give you a mental picture that can be far more dangerous.
Wikipedia says "Pornography (often abbreviated as "porn" or "porno" in informal usage) is the portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purpose of sexual arousal." Even though you can not see the couple doing intimate things, many of these books give you a mental picture that can be far more dangerous.
So let me tell you what happened the other day. I have not read a romance book in a LONG time for the above reasons, but I was bored the other day while feeding T. So I browsed through the Kindle and found a "Christian Romance." and I started reading it.
Let me just say WOW!
The story line was so typical that it made me want to roll my eyes. His wife died and he had sons and needed a wife and they met through an ad in the newspaper. She thought he was so handsome and said all the right things. He didn't want just a mother for his kids but a wife and I mean I started flying through the book just waiting for something exciting to happen. IT WAS SO LAME!
Let me just say WOW!
The story line was so typical that it made me want to roll my eyes. His wife died and he had sons and needed a wife and they met through an ad in the newspaper. She thought he was so handsome and said all the right things. He didn't want just a mother for his kids but a wife and I mean I started flying through the book just waiting for something exciting to happen. IT WAS SO LAME!
Then they got married and this is were it went bad. The author decided to DETAIL everything. I got a few sentences into it, thinking they would kiss and then we would go to the next chapter, but oh no, I was horrified. There were quite a few pages before the end of the chapter and I skimmed and confirmed that this was NOT pure! It was plain and simple porn.
The Bible says in Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
What is the point of the books you are reading?
Do they have a story line that is interesting, yet pure?
Are they self-help to encourage a better marriage or to help you mother your children?
Do they encourage you to know and pursue God?
Do you find your husband lacking after reading your book?
What is the point?
Check your books, check your heart. Ask God to show you today whether you have pure eyes. - Rejoicing in the Present
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