Writing as Ministry - The Scope and Challenge

I won't ask whether or not you call your writing Christian, but instead, whether or not you call yourself a Christian writer. There's a difference. A Christian writer might write about specifically Christian content, or she might write cross-over content that stems out of her inner ideals, revealing something about the author, but not containing pointedly Christian content. Writing that is Christian, on the other hand, is just that. It is content that is directed at Christians, or at those seeking to discover something more about Christian thought. Occasionally non-Christians might read it and be spurred to look deeper at faith and Christianity. There are places for both of course -- specific Christian content, and Christians whose voices don't preach at all, but their world view is organic to their writing -- and for a wide gamut of style and voice in between.

We writers are unique individuals, and God's calling on our craft is as unique to each of us as we are ourselves. There is no "right" way to write, as long as each of us calling ourselves Christians seeks to honor God in the manner in which He has prompted us to use our craft.

For that reason, I can't be bothered by debate about whether or not a theme or story is "too overtly Christian" or "not Christian enough". There are readers who desire both. Thus, God uses our gifts to fill the needs of all types of readers.

With that in mind, I've decided to create a line of blog posts about what it means to use Writing as Ministry. No matter how far we lean one way or another in our style as Christian writers, it's true that anyone whose heart yearns toward God hopes to create a place in their writing where readers will come to find peace, hope, joy, inspirations, or simply relaxation. We seek to minister, whether subtly or overtly.

Take some time today to think about your writing ministry. How have you prayed about it lately? How do you hope to be an encourager -- or simply an entertainer who offers goodness and joy? How do you feel God growing you, using you, teaching you? What do you feel God might be leading you to do with your ability? Is He nudging you to write a novel, a poem, a feature article, an essay, an editorial? Will you use your ministry to write Gospel tracts, church newsletters, or creative writing lessons for homeschoolers? Will you write a letter to a home-bound elder, jot a note of encouragement to a distant Facebook friend, text a verse to a grand-daughter or nephew away at college?

Let's not narrow ourselves in how we view writing as ministry. Instead, let's be challenged by the scope of the gift and the desire God has given.

Write on!

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