Are You Writing For God's Glory?
What does it mean to "write for God's glory?" I hear that phrase thrown around a lot, probably because I hang out with Christians. But the thing is, I even hear it in my head every time I sit down to write...which begs the question how, exactly, does a mortal man accomplish such a huge feat? I hyperventilate just thinking about it. Who can capture God's glory in a net made of letters and words? Why would anyone try the impossible?
Because God is a God of impossibility. In fact, the more impossible, the better. That's where His glory is really showcased.
But in what format? Must one sit down to write an epic analogy like Narnia? Or should one only write Biblical fiction? Where does that leave steampunk and blogging? Can one write for God's glory by penning a murder mystery?
Yep. Take a look at the Bible, at all the different forms of writing. There's poetry in Song of Solomon. Narratives just about everywhere. Jesus told fictional tales with a truth woven in. Some of Paul's writings read like blog entries and the book of Revelation, if sold in today's market, would classify as a fantasy.
I don't think God is interested in the style or format of your writing any more than He's particularly bent out of shape about what you ate for breakfast today. God's business is heart business, and if your heart/mind/soul belong to Him, you don't need to stress about about how to write for His glory. You will.
"The good man out of the treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart."
Because God is a God of impossibility. In fact, the more impossible, the better. That's where His glory is really showcased.
But in what format? Must one sit down to write an epic analogy like Narnia? Or should one only write Biblical fiction? Where does that leave steampunk and blogging? Can one write for God's glory by penning a murder mystery?
Yep. Take a look at the Bible, at all the different forms of writing. There's poetry in Song of Solomon. Narratives just about everywhere. Jesus told fictional tales with a truth woven in. Some of Paul's writings read like blog entries and the book of Revelation, if sold in today's market, would classify as a fantasy.
I don't think God is interested in the style or format of your writing any more than He's particularly bent out of shape about what you ate for breakfast today. God's business is heart business, and if your heart/mind/soul belong to Him, you don't need to stress about about how to write for His glory. You will.
"The good man out of the treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart."
Luke 6:45