Picture yourself walking into the YA section of your local library. You pluck a book from a shelf at random and flip it over to read the back cover summary. It sounds intriguing. You want to read this book, but you hesitate. Why? Are you worried that while diving into the story between the covers you might stumble into a scene that has the potential to fill your Christian mind with all sorts of unChristian thoughts and ideas?
Wouldn’t it be nice if such books weren’t even on the shelves?
You’re not the only one who thinks that. School boards, governments, parents—even those who are not Christian—have argued over what to do with unwholesome content in printed materials for ages. For some, the solution is banning such books altogether.
I am not a fan of book banning.
Hi, I’m Lauren Thell, author of Christian YA fiction and blogger for teens who are ready to exceed the world’s expectations.
In This Article
Not a Fan of Book Banning—Our Worst Best Solution
Did you know that book banning—the act of removing books from libraries, schools, and bookstores because of offensive content—constitutes the most widespread form of censorship in the United States?
What makes a book “clean”?
I’m not talking about a thing of the past. It still happens today in varying degrees based on your locality. Proponents of book banning typically target books with graphic violence, explicit sex, disrespect for authority, offensive language, exalted evil, or sometimes just complete lack of literary merit.
Banning these kinds of books seems like a good thing, right?
So might surprise you that I, a devout conservative Christian, am against this practice. Let me tell you why I am not a fan of book banning.
Book banning is highly subjective.
What makes a book “clean”? Is kissing okay? Can the characters have a healthy discussion about sex, or should that topic be avoided altogether? Can the narrator describe a drinking-and-drugs party scene in order to demonstrate the dark life her protagonist struggles to rise above? How detailed can a scene of violence be before it is considered too graphic?
Would you call Stephenie Meyers’ Twilight series “clean” even though it contains the occasional swear word, several discussions about sex, scenes of violence, and the consummation of a marriage?
One of my favorite works of young adult fiction—The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (see my review in Clean Classic Books for Teens)—has been the subject of banning debates for years because of its portrayal of gang violence, underage smoking and drinking, family dysfunction, and profanity. (FYI, there isn’t a single swear word printed in the book.) But I love this book because of its strong elements of loyalty, family (despite the dysfunction) and honor.
I found the negative elements paint a realistic picture of the kind of life teens in that situation lived—and had no problem with my son reading it in his literature class at school.
But you and/or your parents might disagree.
On the other hand, I am not a fan of the popular YA novels The Fault In Our Stars and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before because, among other things, they promote physical intimacy between unwed teens as expected and normal.
Christians should always shun graphic sex, violence, profanity, disrespect, etc. in literature. But who decides what else passes and what doesn’t? We humans cannot agree about this.
Book banning could become another form of cancel culture.
When it comes to the negative effects of book banning, this is the big one. Historically, banning happens with books that are perceived to portray or promote sin. As Christians, we can’t argue that we need to limit these types of elements in our media and seek out wholesome literature.
The day may come when any reference to God, Jesus, or the Christian church is forbidden.
But our culture is no longer led by Christian values. The day may come when any reference to God, Jesus, or the Christian church is forbidden. Already, any negative viewpoint on certain lifestyles can be challenged as hate speech. For that matter, who is to say that any book that pronounces anybody’s lifestyle wrong won’t suddenly be banned?
Free speech is something to fight for. If we can “cancel” the other side, they can and will “cancel” ours.
Book banning doesn’t solve the problem.
The heart is the root of the problem.
Banning books that show teen drinking and promiscuity in a positive light won’t deter someone from that life and certainly won’t change a heart. The heart is the root of the problem.
Did you know porn is a $97 billion global industry? And this is even with the availability of restrictive software and parental controls. But think about this: If everyone had a pure heart and a desire to serve God to his or her fullest, that industry would struggle to exist.
If our hearts were not inclined toward sin, we wouldn’t go searching for those kinds of literature in the first place. If there’s no market for it, no one will write it. As it is, there’s a reason Harlequin romances are still going strong.
Better Than Book Banning: Cultivating Pure Hearts
If you truly want to crush Satan’s plans, then concentrate on cultivating pure hearts—starting with your own. Sin is a condition of the heart, not a product of too few rules. That’s why purity of heart is more effective than banning sin. Make the choice today to fill your mind only with that which will bring you closer to God. Become a discerning reader, and encourage your friends to assume a wholesome culture as well.
And never forget your life—your language, your social media pages, the way you treat others, how you react to authority—all these things are tools for cultivating pure hearts and promoting wholesomeness, even among nonbelievers.
Be an example and steer others from Satan’s traps!
Seeking Quality Fiction: What Next?
Back to the YA section, where you’re still standing with that unknown book in your hand….
How do you wade through the piles of explicit literature to find clean young adult fiction? What can you do to make sure your next reading experience is both pleasurable and godly? I offer useful ideas for those seeking quality fiction in my post How to Find Clean Young Adult Fiction in a Dirty Market.
Check it out!
Cultivating Pure Hearts: More Resources for Teens
You don’t have to have all the answers.
But, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
Check out these other articles that put holiness and pure hearts into perspective.
Will be waiting for your next post which answers the “What instead?” question at the end of this writing…..
You are quite the author, always leaving your reader’s wanting more!! Thank you, Lauren! ??✝️
You make some really good points, Lauren. Your boys are in good hands and I thank God for parents like you and Brian. You will instill a love of reading guided by hearts for God. Love you and thank you for sharing your talents.
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