The Christian sub-cultural marketplace allows you to purchase everything from Christian films and Christian books to Christian office supplies and Christian breath mints. One assumes that the role of faith is the penultimate concern. Faith in all its struggle and frustration and indomitable hope. After all, isn’t that what all the products are for? To encourage faithful perseverance in a world where such conviction is severely deficient. Where else are you going to find movies that portray steadfast dedication to the virtues of goodness, love and belief? In what other books will you encounter characters that hope in the mercy and unconditional grace of an almighty God? How else are you going to keep your breath minty fresh so the minister doesn’t recoil when he’s serving you the body of Christ?
Honestly, I never could fathom the breath mints or the hundred other trinkets and impulse buys that have been Christian-ized. But you can imagine my surprise when, like a lost sheep, I wandered into a state university literature classroom and began reading *gasp* secular books, only to find that the faith of those flat, stock Christian characters from the books of my youth look pathetic when compared to some of the characters you encounter in mainstream literature.
Characters like…
#10 – Owen Meany
The intriguing thing about John Irving’s novel A Prayer for Owen Meany is that the first few pages reference the narrator’s struggle with, but committed adherence to, the Christian faith. All of this, the narrator claims, is because of his childhood friend, Owen Meany. Owen is very small in stature and remains this way throughout his life, which only serves as a juxtaposition to his copious amount of faith. Over the course of the novel, Owen remains steadfast in his devotion to God, and despite the narrator attempting to rationalize things, Owen persists in the belief that he is a bona-fide instrument of God – that there is a divine plan for his life to which he has no choice but to surrender.
What makes his faith real?
It is no surprising thing in literature for a character to believe God has a plan for them. In pleasantly formulaic Christian fiction, these characters are a dime a dozen. What makes Owen Meany different is that he observes plenty of evidence that should convince him he is mistaken, but he remains tenacious and does not let God off the hook, doing everything a tiny human can to effect the providence of the Almighty. And it works…
The lesson in faith?
Faith includes learning to be confident in the promises of God, and, like the patriarchs of old, trusting in God even when things don’t work out the way you expect.
#9 – Atticus Finch
In 1962, Gregory Peck won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the mild-mannered yet determined Alabama lawyer. Forty-one years later, a vote by the American Film Institute deemed Atticus Finch the greatest hero in American film, above Indiana Jones, Luke Skywalker, and Ben-Hur. All of this comes from Harper Lee, who created one of the all-time great literary examples of temperance, solicitude and courage. Atticus resolutely defends a wrongfully accused black man even when doing so threatens his family and his own life. But he is also a loving, attentive father who is careful not to miss an opportunity to help his children see the importance of compassion and understanding. His humble attitude and his committment to the truth make him a fitting embodiment of the words of the Book of James: “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? … Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do” (2:14, 18).
What makes his faith real?
Action and attention. Not only is Atticus willing to do what is necessary to live out the ideals of kindness, tenderness and charity, but he seems to be in complete awareness of these virtues. It is through these lenses that he views the world.
The lesson in faith?
Those whose faith in the purposes of God is strong are concerned more with quality of life now rather than security of life later.
#8 – Samwise Gamgee
There are a lot of noble heroes in Tolkien’s epic, The Lord of the Rings, not to mention plenty of spiritual and theological threads woven into the overall narrative. However, one character stands above the rest for possessing both a sincere faith and the occasion to press on with no other guide but it. While Sam is not without his flaws, when it comes to supporting and serving Frodo, he has no equal. He is concerned for his safety, rightfully suspicious of Smeagol the betrayer, and surrendered to the mission at all costs. What makes Sam’s faith so remarkable is that, toward the end of their journey, when the horrific terrain of Mordor is taking its toll on the weary travelers, it is Sam’s dedication to the task at hand, rather than Frodo’s, that brings the pair to Mount Doom. Sam believes that good will triumph over evil, but that even simple hobbits must do their part to make this happen.
What makes his faith real?
When put to the ultimate test, Sam remains loyal to his friend and convinced of the importance of their quest. His character’s unwavering allegiance reminds us that the sometimes the difficult work of obedience is made more bearable when we are supported by the faith of others willing to make the journey with us.
The lesson in faith?
The Book of Hebrews claims that faith means “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Considering Sam’s case, the reason for faith comes not from outward circumstances but from inner fortitude.
#7 – The Widow Douglas / Miss Watson
While actually two different people (duh), the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson combine to form a picture of faithful love and support for not only the spiritual well-being of their ragamuffin charge, Huckleberry Finn, but his physical well-being also.While at the beginning of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck laments the widow’s fondness for teaching him Bible stories and “sivilizing” him, if the reader takes a moment to consider the situation from outside the boy’s perspective, it becomes clear that both women are not satisfied with being Christians in name only. They have taken in a directionless scamp whose father is severely abusive and whose mother is dead, and they do a lot more than simply clothe and feed him. Despite Huck’s less than thankful reaction to this charity, the two women continue to persevere in a work that doesn’t seem to promise any reward at all.
What makes their faith real?
The reader doesn’t have the opportunity to learn much about the Widow Douglas or Miss Watson. However, in the pivotal chapter thirty-three, it becomes very clear that their prayers for Huck have been heard. Throughout the novel, Huck struggles with the dilemma of morality in a morally confused and traditionalistic society, but when faced with an extremely tough decision, he opens himself up to God. While his ultimate choice to reject God seems irreverent at first, the reader understands that what he actually chooses is the godly action, the very behavior the two women had labored to instill in him.
The lesson in faith?
Faith means committing oneself to a work in which we rarely see the eventual results. We do not always witness the effect of the love we show to someone else, but resolution is God’s business. As for us, we stand firm in the call to usher in his kingdom.
#6 – John Ames
John Ames knows he is dying. He knows that it will not be long before his heart gives out. He knows his wife and young son will be left alone, and that while his church will mourn him, they will also be a little relieved in the idea of finding a new pastor and getting a fresh start in a time when America is changing in remarkable ways. The spiritual themes and theological ruminations of Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead has no equal, especially in the alternative market of the Christian sub-culture. And the protagonist, Rev. John Ames, rivals Atticus Finch in the depth of love he has for his family. However, it is the richness of his introspection and the inclination to question the ways of God that cause us to joyfully mourn (yes, the oxymoron is intentional) with Ames as he, at the end of his days, pours over the highs and lows of his long, blessed life.
What makes his faith real?
If there is one thing John Ames does not want to do, it is reconnect with his long-lost godson, Jack. A prodigal homecoming, Jack’s return to Gilead dredges up all the past grievances that brought suffering to John’s best friend and Jack’s father, Boughton. And yet, in spite of his displeasure, the goodness in John Ames overwhelms his grudge, bringing him to a point where he can genuinely speak a blessing over this lost son.
The lesson in faith?
As theologian Paul Tillich intimated, doubt is not the opposite of faith, but an element of it. A strong faith comes only when a person is courageous enough to question and examine the undulating operations of faith in his or her life.
#5 – Mother Abagail
Contrary to what many people might think, it is not hard to find people of sincere faith within the works of Stephen King. John Coffey of The Green Mile is a great example, as is Andy Dufresne in “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption” and Father Callahan of The Dark Tower Series. However, one of the most impressive specimens of selfless faith has to be Abagail Freemantle, known to her followers as “Mother Abagail.” In King’s epic novel The Stand, it is she who draws together and inspires the remnant of good people left in the world after a horrific virus decimates the world’s population. It is she who provides direction and acts as the voice of restraint and patience, encouraging peace and endurance in a world that seems to have lost all hope of salvation and restoration. A gentle woman with a calm, contemplative nature, Abagail believes in the power of a good God. Her faith influences everything she says and does.
What makes her faith real?
At one point in the story, Abagail withdraws from the community she has established, exiling herself to the wilderness because of her sins of pride. She is remarkably aware of her own limitations, and she takes seriously those things that she believes can become a barrier between who she is and the purpose for which God has chosen her. This is the reason she is listened to by the story’s other heroes, and why they come to exhibit their own faith in heeding her final call to action.
The lesson in faith?
Having strong faith does not make us invincible. Rather, as our faith grows, so must our humility. It is much like John the Baptist’s assertion, “He must increase, and I must decrease.”
#4 – Prince Myshkin
Prince Lev Nikolayevich Myshkin is not only the titular hero of Fyoder Dostoevsky’s The Idiot - he is an archetypal Christ figure. Throughout the novel, the reader follows the simple-minded Myshkin’s journey through what is unmistakably a cruel and violent society, one that is unforgiving to one with such whole-hearted faith. Myshkin gives himself away to love, only to experience pain. He celebrates the grandeur of the world only find it gnash its teeth at him. He trusts in the good of human beings even though those around him are nothing but villains and scoffers. He says, “Beauty will save the world,” and despite all evidence to the contrary, he believes it as much as he believes anything.
What makes his faith real?
There really is no question here. It is impossible not to see the drastic contrast between Myshkin and those around him. Having spent time in a Swiss sanitorium for treatment of epilepsy, it is clear that Dostoevsky is exploring how genuine faith would look to a world obsessed with sex, money and power. Thus, our hero would certainly not be considered noble. He is as the title describes – an idiot – and therefore more fit for another world than his own earthly one.
The lesson in faith?
No matter how hard you want to avoid it, living a life of genuine faith will establish a kind of separation with the rest of the world. While it is still important to live your beliefs out loud, Flannery O’Connor reminds us that “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you odd.”
#3 – Harry Potter
Yes, Harry is a wizard. Yes, Harry practices magic. Some would call it divination. Because of this, many Christians spurn J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series as dangerous introductions to witchcraft and devil worship masquerading as innocent children’s literature. Some even liken the novels to marijuana, as if the adventures of Harry and his friends are nothing but a gateway drug that will lead samplers into destruction. The same sagacious advice my mother gave to me to employ against grade school bullies must be applied anew to these critics – “Just ignore them.” Because when I read Harry’s seven-year battle with the forces of evil, the thoughts I came away with were just the opposite of rebellion and wickedness. As I’ve written before, Harry’s plight often runs parallel to the life of a Christian, and the penultimate seventh book is an extraordinary picture of self-sacrifice and submission to the hard work of salvation. Only a person of true, undaunted faith can make the choices Harry must make.
What makes his faith real?
Throughout each book, the reader watches Harry mature. He learns not only the profound truth that our choices are what define us (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets), but that sometimes, even when we make the right choice, the consequences can bring pain, loneliness, and division. Harry’s faith is on display when he does what is hard, when he “hates evil and holds fast to what is good” (Romans 12), even if this means struggle. Even if it means putting his own life on the line.
The lesson in faith?
Faith is not easy. Our way is not immediately chosen because we believe in the goodness of God. Rather, we realize that our choices become even more profound, as does our responsibility to endure until the end.
#2 – The Man
The two main characters of Cormac McCarthy’s award-winning novel, The Road, do not receive names, but the reader journeys with them as closely and intimately as a member of their dwindled, starving family. There is no guarantee that the coast, which is the man and the boy’s destination, will be any different from the desolate, unforgiving road upon which they travel. Yet the man is determined to press on, drawn by a hope for which he has no compelling evidence or practical reason. He has sworn to himself to protect the boy, as if he were protecting the very spark of life itself. At one point, the man thinks of the boy, “If he is not the Word of God, then God never spoke.” With every ragged breath and staggering step, the man remains a steadfast shelter to his child, resolutely “carrying the fire” for the sake of the boy.
What makes his faith real?
As genuinely as anyone can, the man speaks with God. He cries out to him, often angrily and desperately, demanding answers, insisting on the reason for God’s silence in a wasted, dying world. He knows he is fallen, believes he may indeed be outside of God’s mercy. But he takes no thought for his own life – only the life of the boy. For this reason, despite his desperate words (reminiscent of Job’s laments in the Old Testament), he carries on, driven by something much bigger than himself.
The lesson of faith?
We may consider our faith an internal thing, but all evidence of it comes from how we live outwardly. What is important to us is what remains after everything else has been stripped away. If our faith is merely circumstantial, dependent upon our immediate environment or lifestyle, it is not true at all.
#1 – The Whisky Priest
Never in the vast scope of literature has their been a hero of the faith more enthralling, and more heart-breaking, than the whisky priest, the nameless protagonist from Graham Greene’s The Power and the Glory. The whisky priest believes himself to be an apostate, having first rejected true faith for self-satisfaction in his occupation, not to mention alcohol abuse and sex. Now on the run from the authorities (who are systematically destroying the Church in Mexico, forcing the priests to marry or be thrown in prison), the priest is simultaneously penitent before God and assured of his forsakenness. He is a reluctant man of God, not believing himself to be in any way an effective minister, yet he compulsively serves the poor villages in which he hides, administering the sacraments and hearing confessions despite his own sinfulness.
What makes his faith real?
The whisky priest is a man of God not because he deserves to be, or has served the Church under adversity and thus been blessed by God. Quite the contrary. The whisky priest, it seems, cannot renounce his faith in God, no matter how lowly his view of himself, or how destructive his behavior. Toward the end of Greene’s novel, it becomes tragically clear that all the priest has ever wanted is to be a saint. As far as he can figure, it would only have taken “a little more courage and a little more self-control.” However, his life reflects the glorious truth that God does not respond to us according to our limited understanding of him, but according to his great mercy and wisdom.
The lesson in faith?
Even when our faith may falter, God remains perfectly, unconditionally and mercifully faithful to us nonetheless.
