What Makes Christian Writing Unique?

Is it just preachy prose, or is it something more grand?

What makes Christian writing unique? Is it just preachy prose, or is it something more grand? That’s a key question each Christian writer must answer.

The Two Paths

This question was sparked by a person in my Facebook feed. Essentially, he was attacking Christian fiction, which he thought was straying from his particular doctrinal purity.

He was an advocate of preachy prose. He thought doctrinal correctness was the most crucial aspect of Christian fiction. Hit them right between with systematic theology, then let the chips fall where they may.

That’s one path. I believe it’s the path the world, pseudo-spiritual fleshiness, and the Devil expect. This type of writing is often little more than Christian propaganda.

And if there’s something people don’t need, it’s more propaganda. Our world is awash with it, whether it comes from politics, cultural activists, or commercial advertising. Yet, humans crave something different. People crave authenticity wherever they may find it.

There is a second path.

Songwriter and music producer T-Bone Burnett gave us the perfect map to follow. He said, “If you believe Jesus is the Light of the World as I do, there are two kinds of songs you can write. You can write songs about the light, or you can write songs about what you can see from the light. That’s what I try to do.”

I’ve quoted Burnett many times because he has captured, in my mind, the very essence of how to write for Christ.

Be True to God and Yourself

The issue is not about doctrinal purity, as my Facebook friend suggests. No, I’m not saying Christian writers should deal with falsehoods. That is a betrayal of faith. But, a writer must be faithful to God and self, which often means exploring the borderlines of thought.

It recognizes that the Christian faith can sometimes be messy. It cannot be reduced to something like the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Life is complex, and stuff happens.

How Can We Be True to God?

The answer to that is both simple and complex. However, the simplicity of Colossians 3:16 cuts through all the fog of spirituality: “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly….”

If Jesus Christ has transformed your life, you cannot help but be true to him. Yes, you may have times of confusion and doubt and even write about them, but our Lord understands that.

How Can We Be True to Ourselves?

C.S. Lewis wrote a book, An Experiment in Criticism, just two years before he died. Lewis is well-known for writing Christian books. Yet, he also wrote many other books that were not on Christian topics but emerged from his Christian worldview. An Experiment in Criticism is one of those, and although not written for Christians, it speaks to the heart of Christian writers.

Here’s what Lewis said about being true to yourself:

“The great artist — or at all events the great literary artists — cannot be a man shallow either in his thoughts or his feelings. However improbably and abnormal a story he has chosen, it will, as we say, ‘come to life’ in his hands. The life to which it comes will be impregnated with all the wisdom, knowledge, and experience the author has; and even more by something which I can only vaguely describe as the flavor or ‘feel’ that actual life has for him.”

And that is how you can be true to yourself as a Christian who is a writer. You are filled with the Holy Spirit, and that reality guides your mind no matter what you may write.

The Role of a Christian Writer

Your role as a Christian writer is to live a Christian life. It is a Spirit-filled life. You need to understand what it means to live that kind of life.
It is not being self-righteous. It is not a matter of spouting platitudes. It is not of needing to win every debate.

It is being connected to the Holy Spirit. That is the essence of spirituality. It is being kind, patient, loving, and coming to all topics with the Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). This is reflected in why and what you write, no matter the topic.

How do you stay connected to Christ even though you write on topics that don’t fit the usual Christian classifications? By having a genuine relationship with Christ in the first place. Then, maintaining that through Bible study, prayer, and acts of service. See your relationship with Christ as a bridge to the world, not a barrier.

It’s a matter of being transparent enough, in your own being, to allow Christ to shine through you. “For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6 NLT).

What Kind of Christian Writer Are You?

Too many Christian books are loaded with preachy sentimentality, posing as literature. The guilty parties are not only the authors of Amish bodice-rippers, abuse revenge books, or apocalyptic thrillers but also those who rant under the guise of modern “Christian apologetics.”

Look at your writing with a new perspective. A Christian article or book can be on any topic. The single element that makes the writing different is that it is written by someone who believes and lives the Christian worldview. This has been my personal mantra for decades:

“A Christian writer is not necessarily someone who writes on Christian topics but someone who addresses all topics with Christian values.”

You do not need to parrot the shibboleths of “old-time” Christian writers. You do not need to pander to the expectations of those Christians who only expect their prejudices to be reinforced. You have the power to share the message of Christ in new ways with people who need to be made new.