While many writers set out writing for the sake of writing, without much thought to an endgame, Christian writers have biblical foundations in their lives and work, which affect how they do things.
Today I will look at one chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians as a possible roadmap to being the kind of author that reflects Christ in what you do. In the first three chapters of Ephesians, the apostle Paul recapped the great theological themes that were now part of the post-cross and resurrection world for Christ’s followers. Then in chapter four, he wrote about how Christians should live.
I don’t want to pretend to give any great insight on any of these passages since often the explanation of a passage of Scripture is the Scripture itself. A lot of the Bible requires contextual understanding, connection to other passages to give a better understanding, and a lot of analysis of the original writing to derive meaning. For the most part, Ephesians 4 is what it is.
Like verse two, which urges Christ-followers to be humble and patient and bear with one another in love, it means exactly what it says. There are no obtuse, hidden meetings in the things Paul wrote. You can read Ephesians 4 on your own and make your applications to your specific life and writing, but here are some things in this section that have direct application to Christian writers:
Verse 2 – “Be . . . humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Verse 3 – “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Verses 11-12 – “Equip people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
Verse 14 – Don’t “be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching.”
Verse 15 – Speak “the truth in love.”
Verses 17-18 – Don’t live like unbelievers “in the futility of their thinking.”
Verses 26-27 – “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
Verse 29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what helps build others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Verse 31 – “Get rid of all bitterness, . . . anger, . . . and malice.”
Verse 32 – “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other.”
Foundation laid. You can write now.
Do Gimmicks Work in a Book Proposal?
And now it all is failing,
but I am not alone
as my sloop is sailing
into that Great Unknown,
for at the tiller sits the Christ,
and on His face there is a smile,
that lets me offer this advice:
go ye out in style
in love and soft humility;
put overboard your pride.
Cling not to your dignity,
and then what will betide
is cheerful presence of a Friend
in the dawn of Journey’s End.
Thank you for this Scriptural list – a good reminder of why I write, and what to keep in mind with every word I write. This, begins my first words today. 💜
Awesome … Thank you!
I printed this out. Will keep it by my computer!
Thank you.
This was so good. So so good! Thank you for outlining it in this way, and making the application to our writing. I need to tack that list up somewhere!
Yes!
Thank you. I’ve recently been reading the writings of Clement of Alexander, and he often refers to the humility needed by the Christian author. If our message is truly of God to share with His people, it should be evident from the content, from a foundation wisely laid.
Thanks for this, Dan!
Just… Amen.
Such a wealth of direction in that chapter for the believer, especially the Christian communicator! Not to sin in your anger, to get rid of bitterness and malice, to build others up, be humble, keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. The list goes on and on and informs every word we write! Words have such power. So many tear down and do the work of the destroyer. Let ours do the work of our Lord!
You cannot possibly know how much reading your blog daily gives to me, with your Christian love–do you know how bright it shines?! I am editing my manuscript and find it is kind of like grating cheese one curly strip at a time. I want to make God’s love show in my life because I found Him there, and you all have been just what I need. I am going on 80 years old and am not thinking of a career. I am just hoping to make my little trumpet toot once from the hills so someone can know how great He is.
You got out of the way and let the passage speak for itself. Thank you.
Wise words and a wonderful reminder.
Thanks for sharing this new perspective on a passage many of us have read or heard too many times to count. I love how we can always learn new things in Scripture.
Beautiful, practical chapter. Thank you for sharing it. It never gets old…
This is such a wonderful and easily understood foundation for our lives and writing. Not so easy to follow consistently though! Thanks for the reminder, Dan.
I’m drawn to the stunning simplicity of your challenge, Dan.