This is the sixth and final in a series of posts on various types of writers worth giving our attention to. Those with military and missionary service in their backgrounds, young writers, creative writers, and humble writers can each contribute to the conversation within the church as they each have valuable perspectives.
Many writers are a combination of these types, and today’s focus can also be mixed with a couple of others. But in the Christian publishing world, mature believers are important in every category.
Often, books that might have weak or even error-laden theology can come from writers who have not been Christ-followers for very long. The sanctifying process of renewing their minds after a lifetime of self-absorbed living is still in its early stages.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2, NIV).
Those who come to Christ and want to write a book about their salvation have good reason to be excited, but maybe they need to wait for a long period to gain some perspective.
Why are mature-faith Christian writers important?
They have more stories. Longer life means more experiences, acquaintances, time spent in study and worship, a greater perspective on the various seasons of life, an appreciation of the brevity of this life, and more refiner’s fire moments.
They know God is not 100% predictable. There are things we know for absolute certainty and things we don’t know:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV).
It’s one thing to memorize this verse, but another thing entirely to know the extent it is true.
They truly understand Emmanuel. “God with us” is a warm and kindly concept, but only mature believers truly grasp the implications of Jehovah taking up residence with us in Jesus and living in us in the Holy Spirit:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1, NIV).
They understand God’s faithfulness. It is one thing to be convinced of God’s faithfulness when He’s been proven faithful every day for three years. Those 1,000+ faithful moments build a believer’s love and appreciation for God. But when God shows His faithfulness for 30 years, those 10,000 proofs pile up like stones of remembrance into an unshakable faith. The confidence exhibited is inspiring.
Mature believers are not exempt from all of publishing’s “requirements” (writing quality, platform, commitment to the craft, and more); but certainly, they have the wisdom, insight, and content to help other people.
For the other posts in this series:
Why military writers are important
Why missionary writers are important
Why young writers are important
