From season five of the television sitcom Seinfeld, a revealing quote from the character George Costanza:
“It all became very clear to me sitting out there today, that every decision I’ve ever made, in my entire life, has been wrong. My life is the complete opposite of everything I want it to be. Every instinct I have, in every aspect of life, be it something to wear, something to eat…. It’s all been wrong. Every one.”
My guess it never dawned on George Costanza to teach a workshop at a Christian writers conference, but the principle above might be great advice to every Christian writer.
Writing a Christian book is easy. Just look around you, listen to what the world is saying, and write the opposite.
As the entire world devolves into a hell-bent mess when things previously unthinkable are now promoted and anything connected to a biblical worldview is considered ignorant and foolish, Christian writing will become easier. The gray areas and nuances are all but gone.
What many people in our world are saying these days is not only wrong by a little bit, but in many cases it isn’t even close to being biblical, in a way God intended. In fact, it is fully 180 degrees off.
Humans are made in God’s image. Jesus Christ paid the price for sin, and Christ-followers no longer live for themselves but are literal temples of the Holy Spirit. As a Christ-follower, the ownership to your life changed to Jesus Christ.
The choices are not yours, since it isn’t your body any longer.
Now there’s an opposite opinion which will get you booted from most conversations.
Raising children? “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, NIV).
Antiquated and foolish?
Much of the world does not believe people are sinful by nature. If stifling rules are removed from society, people will do the right thing.
Really?
Climate discussions are devoid of the Creator and his creation. That’s a “180-Degree Mistake.”
And while Christian writers ponder biblical themes for their work, a growing, steady stream of books from secular writers deal with the positive aspects of wicca and demon worship.
There are two reasons to stay involved with unbelievers and pay attention to what the world is saying. First, so you can keep the door open to share the saving grace of Jesus Christ with them. But second, they reveal how unbelievers think and what is important to them. Almost always, it is just the opposite of what a Christ-follower would think and prioritize.
The hard part of writing is making it compelling enough so people will pay money for it.
But take heart, you have a guidebook to help, containing the entire history of the world from beginning to end, given to us by the One who holds the universe in the palms of his mighty hands.
