J. B. Phillips on God in Fiction #3

In his 1966 book, Your God is Too Small, the Oxford educated clergyman and translator J. B. Phillips wrote, “There are three main ways fiction can mislead us, and in consequence profoundly affect the idea we unconsciously hold of God and His operation in human life.” He goes on to list 1) the tacit ignoring of God and all “religious” issues, 2) the willful misrepresentation of religion, and 3) the manipulation of providence. I am taking a post to comment on each of these, as we readily see them in modern fiction.

Fiction misleads us with…”the manipulation of providence.”

We don’t want or expect fiction to be a work of theology; however, we do obtain instruction from fiction. The best fiction serves as a mirror of humanity and a commentary on how we live. When we ingest fiction we are subconsciously seeking to better understand ourselves and our world, and story has the power to do this. For these reasons, Phillips’ concern rings true.

An author is in complete control of how the story is told. If he decides to be inclusive of deity, God, or “providence,” he remains in control as to how these are represented. This representation of the nature of God is an opportunity to lead or mislead the reader on the truth of who God is, and how He manifests himself in the affairs of man. We don’t design God and His work to our specifications. He is independent of us, and so are His works. Our fiction, as it reflects the mysteries of humankind, must also boldly reflect the mystery of God among us.