Guest Post: Why should Christians write?

Greetings! I am Elvira Martin.

Before I begin, I would like to thank the resident writers of this blog for graciously allowing me to write this post. It was one of my wildest dreams come true!

So thank you, Auriel, Kamama, Serena, and Evelyn!

And now, we come to my topic for today:

Why should a Christian write?

If you are reading this, I am guessing you have already resolved to write. Whyever not? Indeed.

But why do you write? What--or whom do you write for?

I didn't answer this question until I had been writing for three years.

Three years ago, my answer would have been: "I write because I can. Because I enjoy it."

And, although I would not have said it, I wrote for self-fulfillment.

I enjoyed writing! Nothing was wrong with it.

Right?

God gave us gifts so that we could use them for whatever we want.

Right?

…yeah, no.

I recently came across a note I had written when, one year, I had to stop writing for two months.

"You can't stop me from writing," It said. "It is a part of me. I can't stop. God has given me a gift, and I intend to use it."

Looking back on that, I cringe. Yes, God gave me a gift.

Yes, I used it.

But what did I use it for?

At that time, my parents had requested that I refrain from writing for some time. They recognized a bad habit that I had not the sense to see. But what did I do? I disrespected them. I rebelled. I justified my rebellion against my parents by appealing to my gifting.

I was using my gift. But I was using it because I wanted to. Because it made me happy. It gave me a sense of fulfillment.

Writing was my idol.

I took God's gift, turned it around, and used it to give glory to myself.

Using this tool for the wrong reasons led to many bad decisions. I found myself writing things that I would never be allowed to read. I found myself hiding my works, lying about them.

This sin made room for other sins. My life fell apart.

God gave me a gift for a reason. But the reason is not so that I can use it for my purposes.

So what is the reason?

God has given us a gift. We can use it for good or for evil.

If we use it for evil, we will become corrupt.

We must use it for good.

But using it for good is not all. We must give it to God.

In thinking about this, I recall the band Theocracy's song The Gift of Music, in which Matt Smith sings: "And so, my child, I give this gift to you and all the nations so you can give it back to me one day."

While the subject of this song is music, the principle applies to all of God's gifts to his people.

God gave Matt Smith the gift of music, and he used it to worship and glorify his creator.

We have the gift of writing. We must use that gift to God's glory.

We must give our writing to God.

Sometimes, I wish I had been told this as a younger writer. I wish I had been told exactly what writing as a Christian meant.

I was a 'Christian writer.'

If I had been asked if I wrote for God, I would have said that I did.

But I did not submit my writing to God. When I sat down to write, I did not consciously write for anyone but myself.

I wish someone had been keen enough to recognize my selfishness and bold enough to rebuke me and show me the right path.

But I learned the hard way. I learned through venturing down the wrong paths and undergoing the consequences. And I do not wish that upon any other.

If you haven't already, it's time to surrender your writing to God.

I am aware that I may sound harsh.

But a story, an essay, a song, a poem - anything you write is nothing without God behind it.

Without the God of hope at your shoulder, guiding your pen, it's worthless. You might get a sense of satisfaction out of it. But nothing will come of it.

So please, if you have not, give your pen to Christ.

I wish you, writers, to take this as a warning and an encouragement.

As a Christian, writing to glorify God is crucial.

As writers, it is our calling.

Be wary of using your gift for evil.

Always remember whom you write for.

- Elvira R. Martin