The issue of fiction, like everything else, has been heavily questioned or simply ignored despite the clear message left to us in the Bible and, for our times, in the Spirit of Prophecy. Both as institutions and as individuals, immersed in a culture that exalts literature, films, novels, and all kinds of 'imaginative' creations as positive, we end up getting used to the idea.

From a young age, at school, we are 'obliged' to write imaginary stories in Portuguese classes. Not a positive and productive imagination like: 'how different would the world be if everyone always obeyed...such a commandment.' This type considers possibilities and implications, like a scientist analyzing facts and developing theories to understand and explain a law or event.

We hear again and again that this type of writing is essential, creating rich and elaborate imaginative characters, events, and scenarios.

I myself am guilty of this. We taught literature in the classroom, discussing the text in depth, and from there, children created their own texts within the theme. I loved working with that. I already knew the texts about literature, but I learned about children's literature in college, and it seemed so profound that I convinced myself that if well-chosen and guided, it would be good...

The wisdom of man... Stimulating, yes, but according to divine guidance? No. Once the taste is developed, who can hold these children back? Who says they will have the discernment to make good choices? And even if they did, we are told that such readings excite the mind and diminish the pleasure in what is natural.

The superficial type of reading used in storytelling, the elaborate and detailed descriptions of feelings that make us live with the person, think their thoughts, and even speak their kind of language, is almost a loss of individuality. We begin to live inside another person, in their life, their mind, their heart. We enter into the character, and the character enters into us. We become one with them, in an intimacy that belongs only to God.

And as I said before, who are these writers? Recently, a Harvard professor of mental health issues was talking about a famous writer who wrote wonderfully well, but when his problems arose—serious problems that required hospitalization for the safety of those around him—during this phase, he would change from a gentle and respectful man to one who brazenly and publicly cheated on his wife, becoming rude, aggressive, and impulsive. And he wrote with great creativity. He knew and admitted that his material and inspiration came from his episodes of madness.

What about Christian authors who write novels or fiction? Aren't they conveying the message? It's like evangelizing with rock music. People do that today, as if the message isn't altered by the medium used. Water carried in a toxic container becomes toxic...

I'm not saying people don't have good intentions when they do it. But 'good intentions'... Why use falsehood or make-believe to preach the message of truth? True stories are so wonderful, showing the real power of God, that they surpass human imagination. But for those accustomed to fictional stories, true testimonies, however wonderful, don't make the same impression because they are used to 'anything can happen'...

I discovered this in an incident I mentioned before, when I gave a girl a book full of miracle stories, and it made no impression on her because she was used to 'fantastic' things. Furthermore, we lose our taste for 'simple food' like the Bible.

But above all, there's a more basic problem: how can we tell our children about the need to always be truthful when we buy them lies that they live with for hours, days, weeks, while they read? And after that, for years in their minds?

Truth is from God; deception, in all its manifold forms, is from Satan; and whoever, in any way, deviates from the straight line of truth, is surrendering to the power of the evil one. It is not, however, a light or easy thing to speak the exact truth; and how often do preconceived opinions, peculiar mental dispositions, imperfect knowledge, errors of judgment, prevent a just understanding of the issues we have to deal with! We cannot speak the truth unless our minds are continually guided by Him who is the truth. – {MDC 68.3}

“They (Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount) teach that no one who seeks to appear what they are not, or whose words do not express the real feeling of the heart, can be called truthful. – {MDC 68.1}

God's ideal is high but possible for those who follow the path He indicates. Every time we deviate, even with the best intentions, we are heading downwards, with dangers that our finite minds cannot foresee.

There is so much that is true and good... We don't need to spend our time on what doesn't truly sustain us...

This topic is strongly related to the issue of character development, as we know that “by beholding, we are changed.”

While we don't give much importance, thinking this is a minor detail, Satan is evangelizing the world and transforming people into his image through fiction in books, TV, films, and music. Through fiction, he does the same work he did with the angels in heaven, presenting his distorted view of God and reality, whether openly or in the form of a seed that will surely bear fruit.

God had to destroy the world with the flood because “the imagination of man was evil continually.” Do we think that the imagination of people today is any better?

In the United States, there's a cultural radio program where, from time to time, writers, composers, etc., are interviewed. Knowing their values, their lives, their objectives, we would never bring them into our homes to speak to us or our children. But through their compositions, which are so 'attractive' and often 'innocent,' we listen to their 'lectures' with attention and interest and learn their lessons without suspecting.

I am impressed by how divine principles protect us from evils that, on our own, we could never detect in time.

His guidance is simple and clear for those who wish to obey. But often we think we can discern so well that we can eat from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil… I can go into the forbidden territory and only take the good part.…

There is good in fiction, of course there is! If it weren't mixed, it wouldn't be attractive or dangerous.

For those Bereans who would like to study for themselves, I suggest:

The Ministry of Healing, Chapter 37 – The False and the True in Education

Counsels for the Church, Chapter 31 – The Choice of Reading

Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, Chapter 15 – What Shall Our Children Read?

Fundamentals of Christian Education, Chapter 20 – Mental Drunkards

Fundamentals of Christian Education, Chapter 10 – The Danger of Reading Fiction and Infidel Authors

The Adventist Home, Chapter 68 – Reading and Its Influence

Mind, Character, and Personality, Vol. 1, Chapter 13 – Food for the Mind

Mind, Character, and Personality, Vol. 2, Chapter 63 – Imagination

Some texts are repeated, but it's still worthwhile for the quotes that bring important points not seen before. And, of course, one can search for 'fiction' in the EGW app and do a complete study if we read the context.

Silvia Martins

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