Dear fellow creative,
Not long after last year’s ACFW VA Royal Writers Conference, I read Ezekiel 13 in my morning devotions. This passage held the verse that has since formed my mission statement as a Christian writer.
Context: Ezekiel was a prophet to God’s people, the Israelites (Jews), during their exile in the land of Babylon in the late 500s BC. Israel had lived in chronic rebellion against God, so, per His covenant, God had delivered them into captivity under the ruling superpower of Babylon, until they repented of their sin and He restored them to their homeland.
In chapter 13 specifically (which my NKJV Nelson Study Bible titles “Woe to Foolish Prophets”), God commissions Ezekiel to “prophesy against the prophets of Israel” (vs. 1). Throughout this chapter, God lays several charges against these so-called prophets: they prophesied out of their own heart (vs. 1), they didn’t support or aid the Israelites (vs. 5), they weren’t sent by God (vv. 6-7), they promised peace when–at this point in God’s chastisement–peace would not come yet (vs. 10), and they led the people astray with false, magic charms out of greed and perversion (vv. 18-19).
Not a conventional passage for a writer’s mission statement.
Christian Writers Are Messengers Too
What struck me was the end of the chapter:
“‘Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against [you] . . . Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.”
~ Ezekiel 13:20-22
In verse 22, God explains why He is against these false prophets: because they told lies, and their lies worked damage in three ways:
- They didn’t encourage God’s people
- They didn’t discourage wickedness
- They didn’t turn the wicked from death to life
Conversely, then, we can understand what God DOES want His prophets (those who represent Him) to do: He wants them to tell the truth.
We may not be prophets (or pastors), charged to share God’s Word with His people as our vocation. Yet as God’s children, we are messengers, ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20), charged to represent Him and share His words to those around us. And as writers, we are driven to share a message–a story–with our generation, our world.
What is this message?
The truth.
The truth of what this world is. The truth of what evil is. The truth of what (and who) good is. The truth of hope in Jesus. The truth of our eternal soul and its destiny.
Christian Writers: One Message, Different Messengers
This truth will manifest differently for different writers. For some writers, telling the truth looks like writing Christian fiction, whether contemporary or historical or fantastic, centering around characters who are or who become Christians–complete with prayer, Bible verses, and spiritual growth. Bonus points for a gospel presentation. 😉
Examples: Something I Am Not by Cher Gatto, the O’Malley series by Dee Henderson, The Tethered World Chronicles by Heather L.L. FitzGerald
For other writers, telling the truth looks like writing allegory, presenting spiritual themes or realities through parallel, symbolic characters and events. Some allegory is easy to discern; some is subtler.
Examples: The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, the Soul Mark Duology by J. J. Fischer, The Songkeeper Chronicles by Gillian Bronte Adams
For yet other writers, telling the truth looks like writing stories of any genre that portray evil as evil and good as good, that condemn evil and elevate good, that follow characters through positive changes (or show the consequences of negative changes), and that include themes, qualities, and realities that point to the Great Story.
Examples: The Green Ember series by S. D. Smith, the Redwall series by Brian Jacques, The Krillonian Chronicles by Annie Douglass Lima
The Power of the Truth in Christian Storytelling
And why does God want us to write the truth? Because the truth–His truth–does three things:
- It encourages the righteous
- It fights evil
- It turns the wicked from death to life
As I work on a four-book YA series of non-magical fantasy, these tenets have become the bedrock on which I craft my writing.
Encouraging the righteous
Does my work show good as good? Does it promote what is good? Does it present characteristics and themes that readers should emulate and live (e.g., sacrifice, loyalty, kindness, perseverance, etc.)? Does it encourage readers to pursue what is God’s design for their lives and this world? Does it cultivate readers’ affections for what is good, noble, etc. (Phil. 4:8)?
A great example: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Combating evil
Does my work show evil as evil? Does it condemn evil (such as bad character choices) rather than glorify it? Does it demonstrate the consequences of evil in a way that would deter readers from making those same choices or loving those same things? Does it clearly differentiate evil from good?
A great example: The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander
Turning the wicked from death to life
Does my work include some element or elements that will challenge readers to consider eternity? Does it show–or suggest–that there is more to this world than what we see and know in the present? Does it leave readers hungering for something deeper, something bigger, something permanent? Does it echo the Reality we all know?
A great example: Whether or not by a Christian author, or intentionally, I thought All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr did this well
These questions are vague on purpose, because Christian writing is as broad as the human imagination, and I don’t believe we can–or should–pigeonhole it to one genre or style. God gave us our imaginations and the ability–more than the ability, the calling–to subcreate. And not just subcreate, but co-create: to invite Him into our creative process as we use the gifts He has given us and use them in a way that brings honor and glory to Him.
(Listen to S. D. Smith’s interview about his writing on The Thinklings Podcast, Brian Brown’s presentation “How to Live Like a Narnian” on the Imagination Redeemed Podcast, or Matthew Clark’s presentation “The Art of Subcreation” on the Believe to See Podcast.)
The thing is, every human is different. Thus the human imagination is different, and the gifts we have are different, and the ways we use those gifts are different.
God doesn’t call all of us to write realistic Christian fiction. Nor does He call all of us to write Christian allegory.
Yet He does call all of us to tell the truth. And for some of us that means writing clean, high-quality fiction that points readers to reality–God’s reality.
(Sub-thought #1: Standards such as whether or not to include profanity, how explicit to get with violence or sexual content, or what kind of ending to give are a different discussion. While I believe we all are called to uphold a testimony as Christian writers that sets our work apart from non-Christian writing, this discussion focuses on the heart of story, not its body or skin. This heart of story–truth–is the most foundational way that Christian fiction should be different from non-Christian fiction. Individual standards and convictions will vary.
Sub-thought #2: Can non-Christian writers tell truth in their stories? Absolutely. Many do, whether or not they mean to. Christian writers, however, are obligated to do so; it’s all our calling and part of our stewardship of the truth God has given us.)
My Mission Statement
So, as a Christian writer, this is my mission statement: to write truth that will encourage my brothers and sisters in Christ in their pursuit of righteousness, will expose and challenge the evils contrary to God’s design, and will stir in the souls of the lost a desire to be found.
It’s why I’ve signed Story Embers’ Christian Storytellers Manifesto, holding myself accountable to and joining the ranks of hundreds of other truth writers.
It’s why I’m passionate about supporting and helping other Christian writers fulfill their calling to be lights in this world. It’s why I read, review, share, beta read, edit, and proofread many of the stories I do.
It’s why I write my own stories with real, deep character journeys through brokenness toward redemption. It’s why I write in favor of righteous themes such as integrity, forgiveness, courage, and loyalty. It’s why I write against evils such as racism, pride, trafficking, and tyranny.
I can’t wait for you to read these stories and be encouraged and challenged even as I have been.
In the meantime, fellow creative, keep writing your own stories.
Write the real. Write with the Creator. Write the truth.
For Him,
Melissa
Melissa J. Troutman 