How Do You Handle Writing on Purity and Other Sensitive Subjects Without Being Explicit in a Way that’s Tempting to the Reader?

I never create any mental pictures that could tempt, as I have strong convictions against that. My book The Purity Principle is widely used by men’s groups calling upon people to take radical steps in changing their media-viewing habits. I believe there is nothing in the book that would tempt anyone toward immorality. Certainly Scripture is far more graphic than I would ever be.

I am careful in my fiction writing as well. For example, when writing fiction that deals with drugs, I determine to portray drugs in such a way to show their addictive nature and dead end death-bringing consequences. My style in my novels is to, within biblical limits, make the stories gritty enough to show the sinfulness of sin and to be sufficiently authentic and “unchurchy” to resonate with a secular audience, not just Christian, to reach them with the gospel.

Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixty books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries

Topics