The Marks of a Christian Writer
by Glenn
White
The Christian Writer as a Leader
The mark of a Christian writer is leadership. This means writing from the heart of a leader. Leader is a contemporary buzzword in Christian circles and a qualification for successful ministry. A one-word definition of leader is influence. The one thing every writer wants is to influence the reader. Most writers, Christian or not, have an innate desire to lead through the written word. Writers are, for good or evil, leaders. So, let's take this word, LEADER, and use it as acronym for the qualities or marks of a Christian writer.
The
driving force in every Christian writer should be love. It is said many people
know John
This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down his life
for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.
1 John
This same kind of love should permeate the words of a Christian writer. This doesn't mean you exude gushy romantic love in every sentence, every article, or every story. A simple one-word definition of love is "accept." In every story you write, accept the reader and God's love will come through.
Every Christian writer's goal should be to encourage the reader. There is enough bad news in the world so develop the habit of bringing good news to the reader. Not everything you write will have a happy-go-lucky feel but always look for and write about the good news in everything you write. Be honest and sincere, not phony, and always try to encourage the reader.
As a Christian writer you must have a Jesus-attitude. What is a Jesus-attitude? It is taking the very nature of a servant (Phil. 2:7). Bob Dylan’s song, Gotta Serve Somebody, applies to the Christian writer wanting a heart to serve a particular audience and a specific reader. Identify your ideal reader then serve that reader and you will reveal Jesus in your writing. You can never go wrong with a Jesus-attitude.
Every Christian writer must have a dream or vision. This is what keeps you moving along with anything you write. Sometimes a story runs like a movie in the writer's head. This is not some sort of out-of-the-body experience but a story wanting and waiting to be told. It is the story God has placed in your heart and the story only you can tell. The ability to dream means taking time when you stare out the window and just think. It means you unplug from activity and plug into God and his ways, his thoughts, and even his dreams. Don't be afraid to dream and then write the dream.
The word "disciple" used in the New Testament means "learner." You must be always in a learning mode. Not only in matters of faith but as a Christian writer, you must develop a continuing education in the craft of writing. There are workshops, conferences, books, and resources available to help.
Repent is one of those words that conjures up all kinds of emotion. Repent in the New Testament actually means a change of mind. When you rewrite, revise, and edit you must be willing to change. Let’s be honest there’s only one book totally inspired by God and you didn’t write it. So, be willing to change and improve your stories, articles, and books into the best writing you can.
Writing to Lead
Good Christian writers are needed, more than ever before, to write and lead people. You have what it takes to lead when you love, encourage, have a Jesus-attitude, learn the writing craft, and are willing to change. It is then you will write to inspire.
Copyright 2001 © Glenn White. All Rights Reserved.