Teaching Through Writing—Writing Against the Grain

by Bruce Brady @BDBrady007

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 29:18-20 NLT).
The command to go and make disciples isn’t restricted to church-related activities. It should be evident in everything we say and do. And though our words may not always specifically direct our audiences to the Lord, they would do well to reflect His truth and desire for each of us. The words we write and the way we use them should always honor God.

“There are enough people around already who can verbalize orthodoxy on paper. What we haven’t got is writers who can join truth and wisdom about God from the Scriptures with personal communication that hits the heart, that makes you realize that this writer is a person talking to other persons. That this writer is trying to search me in order to help me and I must let him do it. There is a certain art and craft in writing in such a way that it gets to the reader’s heart... and I would say to my budding writer, ‘now this is a craft you must learn.” —J. I. Packer

The challenge to write for God above all else demands our attention to honing our craft until we express ourselves without leaning on the crutch of appealing to our readers’ lusts. It’s a never ending quest to produce stories that reach their hearts and point them in the direction of lasting, positive change.

“A divine calling to write is a calling from God, through God, and for God. Until the writing is for God, it is not a calling from God. So we move from truth discovery through writing to creative expression — through writing to the role of a servant in writing — which I described earlier like this: the impulse to instruct and awaken and delight and transform people into obedient worshipers of Christ. Instruct in the infinite expanse of truth, awaken to the glory of God radiant through all that he has made, delight with craftsmanship of poetry and diction and style and story, transform people into those who enjoy God with us and walk in a way that pleases God.” —Desiring God by John Piper

Writing scenes of explicit sex, graphic violence, and profanity can only serve to continue society’s downward spiral toward ever-greater hatred and hostility. We’re called to rise above and show people there’s hope for a better world.

Let’s also remember that while our words may be intended only for adults, there are few things children can’t get their hands on. When the bad guys cuss, children will pick up the language and use it. Plus, villains can better express their intimidating messages through carefully chosen words with greater emotional depth.

I’m not saying the agents, editors and publishers who encourage writing the way people speak are wrong. Their business acumen is borne of experience in a sales-driven world. What I am saying is we need to credit our readers with intelligence and offer them great writing without using words that slap the face of God.

As my friend and fellow writer, Charles Huff said, “Of all who have lived, a miniscule number have their fame and approval last hundreds of years after they have died. But we have been offered the ability to have our acceptance last an eternity. It will happen if we follow Jesus’ example to seek God the Father’s seal of approval instead of men’s.”

What are your thoughts? Please share them in the comments. Let’s keep the conversation going.

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Bruce Brady is an author, writer and playwright. His work has appeared in Focus on the Family’s Thriving Family, www.ChristianDevotions.us, and on stage. Currently, Bruce is working on a Young Adult Novel about a boy who must deal with the death of his dad, being bullied, and helping his mom through her grief. His first five pages took third place in the ACFW South Carolina Chapter’s “First Five Pages” contest.

When he’s not writing, Bruce spends time learning from and helping other writers. He serves as Mentor of Word Weavers International’s Online Chapter, and as a member of Cross ‘N’ Pens, The Writer’s Plot, ACFW’s National and South Carolina Chapters.

“My dream is to entertain my readers and give them hope as they travel the rocky road of life.”