Christ and the Christian Writer

As an aspiring novelist and a member of the “Aspiring Writer’s Forum” at the Chino Valley Community Church where I attend, I am always looking for opportunities to flex my writing muscles and craft a piece of written work that has the potential to be noticed. Yes, I desire to be a published author and hope to one day make it my career, God willing. I believe in the minds of most writers, publication stands as a continual, if not also an allusive, goal. As a Christian author, however, bringing glory and honor to our Lord and Savior should remain first and foremost, my priority.

I have been blessed to discover an assortment of writing critique groups and support networks within my local community. With the strong desire of publication common to all in such groups, you might naturally expect to see a competitive spirit at work. I have found just the opposite to be true. To date my writing experience among other struggling authors has been refreshingly punctuated with both support and encouragement.

True, most of my exposure to this world of writing has been within the body of believers. Still, Christians aren’t perfect and conflict abounds in the world, even among the saved. Never the less, the support I have enjoyed feels common, even if heaven sent. Writing opportunities are shared readily with others, group members meet to assist and offer guidance. Promoting and up lifting each other is the norm, rather than the exception.

Most of the writing opportunities that I have been exposed to have come in the form of contests. Local and on-line writing contests seem to be on the increase, held for a variety of purposes. Sometimes a topical collection is being assembled by a publisher. Quite often contests are held by self-publishing or publish-on-demand houses to market and generate exposure for their editing and publishing services. Occasionally a writing contest has a root cause, such as a political slant or theme. Because of the interest they generate, writing contests are effective marketing strategies for products and ideas.

Opportunities for exposure and publication abound, in and outside of the “Christian marketplace”. Obviously there are many more opportunities for a writer outside “the church”. The narrow way has relatively small shelf space in most of the world’s bookstores. Sorting through writing prospects can be difficult. When should a particular writing topic be considered as inappropriate for the Christian?

That question should be approached wisely with a discerning heart. I believe that Christians should always engage the world as His ambassadors, armed with God’s word. This is true for writing as well. After all many subjects can be equally served by both Christian and secular authors. You might never discern your favorite sports writer’s faith by reading his column each week. Yet again you might.

The issue is two fold. Certainly as Christians, we have an obligation to promote His Kingdom. Care must be taken in our craft to reach the lost with Christ’s redemptive message. If the ugliness of this world is to be explored, it should be portrayed only to boldly display His love and saving grace within that setting. Unlike other writers, we have so much more to offer the reader, for we write from a place of hope.

Recently I was presented with the prospect of writing for a soon to be assembled “Christmas Anthology”. The publisher stipulated that he doesn't want the stories to be too "religious", more inspirational, for a crossover market. This stipulation, gave me pause to think. It is easy to see how the decision tree quickly splits and becomes more difficult. “Too religious” sounds bad, yet “Crossover” brings with it thoughts of outreach and mission fieldwork.

Each Christian writer obviously needs to make a myriad of decisions in addition to topic. The use of colorful language can be argued at length. In the interest of “capturing the authentic language” of a character some Christian writers include less than wholesome dialogue in their work. I am making the conscious decision not to. I believe that God will be honored by this.

It will not be the language I chose to use that provides the relevance of Gods message to my readers. If I do my job right, it will be the work Christ did on the cross that reaches out and touches their hearts. I pray that the topics I chose to write about and the voice that God gives me to share will bring Him all the glory