A Christian’s Guide to World-building: Considerations for Writing a Redemptive Plan

A Christian’s Guide to World-building: Considerations for Writing a Redemptive Plan

One of the bedrock concepts of Christianity is not only that we are sinful, but that we lack the power to overcome that nature ourselves. In lockstep with this idea, like petals on a bike, is the idea that restitution must be made to restore the relationship broken by sin. As we lack the power to overcome this sin ourselves the restitution must come from the injured party or not at all. In short, only God is capable of restoring the relationship.

Now, what is the direct impact of this on us as Christian writers? Obviously, not every work of Christian fiction needs a redemptive plan. In low fantasy settings, the actions of Christ might be sufficient for the characters. There is no need to reinvent the wheel if your human character needs Jesus specifically.

Rather, I want to talk about stories involving creatures that aren’t human, or perhaps stories that are allegorical such as Aslan’s work in the “Lion the Witch, and the Wardrobe”. There can be no doubt that if: 

A. A race has elements of sin

-Then-

B. They aren’t capable of overcoming those societal/emotional issues on their own power

-And so- 

C. They need a redemptive plan created and enacted by God.

So then, what are the necessary components of writing a redemptive plan? Must they all involve physical sacrifice, or is conveying the need for restitution sufficient? Whenever possible I try to tie my “Speculative Theology” to the pattern God has laid out over the biblical recording of his history interacting with humanity. So I will walk you through a series of important considerations for a redemptive plan for the characters in your fiction.

Limited Atonement

Now, to be clear, the term ‘Limited Atonement’ is a term used to describe the idea that God decided to save those who believe and follow the Son, not universally save the whole world. I won’t wade into that debate, though it is certainly an area worth studying. Rather, I want to point out that while God sent his Son to die for the world (however you interpret “world”) he did not die to redeem all life there, specifically Demons. In addition, there is a sin called “Blasphemy of the Spirit” that is said to be unforgivable. God does not necessarily forgive everything, nor should he if his claims to be ‘Just’ are true. The reason this is important is that for your Fantasy/Sci-fi race, it’s worth noting that there may not be a redemptive plan. Why that is, how it jives with a view of a forgiving God, is an area worth exploring (indeed I do so in my articles on speculative intelligent races in my cosmology series.). What is important is that we acknowledge two things. First, a redemptive plan does not necessarily address more than one subject (I see no reason why it’s impossible that it might address more, just that ours didn’t). Second, while you don’t need to construct a redemptive plan for every sinful race, it is worth asking yourself why you aren’t and what aspect you will be communicating about God’s nature if you do not.

Inciting Incident

What happened that made a race/species sinful? This is not something you always need to include in your story, yet as a Christian writer, you ought to take the time to ponder it. Were they deceived as Adam and Eve were? Did they rebel, seeking power and glory, as Satan did? Did it affect the whole species because it was from the progenitors of that creation, or only a section of it because it was in a later part of their history (such as the angles remaining unaffected by the sin of those who rebelled). Whatever you choose, keep in mind that it should not be an accident, but rather a willful act. After all, God does not punish or seek justice over accidents, he seeks to mature and correct. What he seeks justice over is an open act of disobedience. So whatever happened, make sure that they know who it affected and why, and make sure that it was an act worthy of restitution.

Foreshadowing

This is incredibly important if your redemptive plan is focal to your story. God spent thousands of years carefully building a people, implementing a sacrificial system, being active in affecting the consequences to sin, and being responsive in their attempts to seek righteousness. Jesus did not just show up and start from scratch. If God has an original redemptive plan for your speculative race, then Its subjects will have to know that it is coming. Further, they must be capable of understanding it when it has taken place. Returning to “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’, the Talking Beasts have stories about Aslan and a prophecy that his return will make things right again. Consider what the act that provides restitution is, and how you might implement a foreshadowing for it in the history of your people, or else generate the beginning of one depending on where your story is in the race’s timeline.

Divine Patience

Much like how we progress in school subjects at the completion of certain understandings, God allows time for his message to sink in. He foreshadowed the substitutionary atonement with Abraham and Issac, then waited some 400-500 years before using Moses to implement the sacrificial system, then hundreds of years more before the construction of the temple, and then thousands of years more before coming as Jesus to die for us. Yes, this was foreshadowing, but more than that it was God slowly revealing his plan in an understandable progression. God is patient, and he allows for periods of adjustment as his creatures learn. Bear in mind, we are ourselves in a period of adjustment as a race. The plan has been revealed, and we are left with the choice of accepting or rejecting him on a personal level. Consider where your creation is in its redemptive stages.  If you are before their ‘Jesus Event’ then they should perhaps be waiting on an answer, if after then they might be evangelizing. Consider the importance of ‘gap’ or ‘quiet’ periods.

Love, Justice, Judgement, and Mercy

The final element I will be discussing is perhaps the most important, as it reveals the heart of God to the reader. God is love, he is also just, willing to judge, and merciful as well. He cannot be merciful without being willing to judge, and he cannot judge if he is not in a place to determine what is just. He also cannot be just without being loving (or else he could be vindictive). These four things are simultaneously possible, necessary, and indicative of his character. As a result, your redemptive plan must account for them. Is the plan (or lack thereof) just? Where might it allow for mercy, and when would mercy be appropriate? Does it allow space for judgment, without which there would be neither justice nor mercy? If we mistakenly treat mercy as a given, then it would not be the undeserving grace we know it to be! If we fail to show that judgment is not only real but deserved, then we portray the God of our bible as a creature of only wrath, thus seemingly elevating your own speculative god above him moralistically. You cannot avoid judgment, It must be addressed. If it is not, then you are left with a God who does not love victims enough to intercede, does not have the will or power to enact justice, and finally is defaulting to mercy through weakness. Most importantly, you are robbing a redemptive plan of its purpose, where God accepts the need for judgment on himself and endures in their place. If you plan to avoid the need for judgment, then you ought not to be writing a redemptive plan at all.

The redemptive plan of God for humanity is perhaps the greatest, most vital, summation of our faith. As such, it can be daunting to even attempt to mimic. Again, I do not think that every attempt at Christian fiction needs to have it be a focal point of the story. It does not even need to be a focal point for your character. However, you as the writer, as the world-builder of your fiction, have a responsibility to consider the ramifications of your creations. Much like how, when writing your character bios, it is important to have certain answers even if they never come up, you also need to ask how active God is in the lives, history, and plan for your people. This is your opportunity to create a race that is not only original but has a history that reveals any number of God’s characteristics. Just by consideration, you have achieved some level of evangelism or edification for your readers. 

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