Christian novels exist in a world of their own. Like Christians themselves, they tend to be "in the world but not of the world." I'm often amazed when an LDS novel sells hundreds of thousands of copies yet hardly causes a ripple in the world of literature, just as I'm amazed when novels by other Christians sell millions, yet still slip through the cracks of mainstream American culture.
I'm thinking here of the "Left Behind" series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, a collection of apocalyptic thrillers from two authors known for their "fundamentalist fiction." So far, the series has sold 20 million copies, which puts it in Harry Potter territory. "Left Behind" hit the top of the New York Times best seller list, and the upcoming video movie based on the books has pre-sold more than a million copies on Amazon.com.
Have you heard of it?
Probably not. Surprisingly few people have.
The books only came to my attention a couple of weeks ago, and I write about religion for a living.
In short, the "Left Behind" books follow reporter Buck Williams as he unravels the miracles and madness of the last days. The authors, loyal to the visions in the Book of Revelation, find clever ways of playing out the Apocalypse. (The Antichrist, for instance, turns out to be a U.N. diplomat who corners the market on the world food supply). The Rapture, the belief that the faithful will be caught away to heaven in the final day, is a cornerstone of evangelical and fundamentalist teaching and gets the royal treatment.
The series of novels is up to eight volumes now, with plans to push on to 12. But not having time to go through them all, I did what any red-blooded American would do. I got a copy of the video.
Let me say here, I don't know how you approach "inspirational movies," but I tend to approach them with two minds. The trained critic in me winces a little when someone delivers a hokey line or the plot slides dangerously close to melodrama. The spiritual person inside of me gets misty over heartfelt Christian moments and cheers the filmmakers for taking spiritual chances. I tend to watch with one eye dry and the other eye moist — with a Kleenex in one hand and a scorecard in the other.
It's usually best for everyone if I watch this stuff by myself.
My impressions of the "Left Behind" video? It doesn't win by a knockout, but it probably comes out ahead on points. The scenes and characters are hip enough to keep kids from calling the film "lame," though the humor and "love interest" may be judged too sweet by secular society, where comics and romance writers have developed an unholy taste for red meat.
I liked all the scripture quoting.
My guess is Roger Ebert will not.
For Christians, of course, the irony is if a harsh, jaded world scoffs at "Left Behind," it will be just another "sign of the times," an indication that end times in the film are much closer than we think.
Finally, in a unique marketing ploy, Cloud Ten Pictures is releasing the movie on video first, then opening it in theaters next February.
In other words, the first will be last and the last will be first.
And the story isn't as frightening as you might think. I have one fundamentalist friend who tells me she reads the books at night to help her relax. But then keep in mind many hard-shell believers look forward to the end of days.
They expect to be caught away to heaven, where they'll have a ringside seat.
The books are out there now. The video will go on sale Oct. 31.
Pick up one or the other if you'd like to know what other Christians are buzzing about.
Then get out a handkerchief — along with your scorecard.
E-mail: jerjohn@desnews.com