Consecrated Writing

So here we are…poised between the season of sacred beginnings and the season of personal beginnings.

In just such a frame of mind many years ago I determined to consecrate my life to God, and my writing is a part of my life, so it’s consecrated too.

Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines consecrated as “dedicated to a sacred purpose.”

I’d invite you to consider making a similar commitment.

Scripture is full of good reasons:

“We are God’s workmanship, created for good works which He has prepared in advance that we should walk in them.”

“We are not our own. We were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body.”

“Therefore walk in a manner worthy of your calling…”

I could go on, but you get the idea.

If our writing is dedicated to a sacred calling, what does that mean? Do we only write Sunday School lessons? Only religious non-fiction? Only inspirational fiction for religious publishing houses? Not necessarily. “Christian fiction” is a relatively new field. It’s not the publishing company nor the book that has a Christian worldview–it’s the writer. Writers such as C. S. Lewis and Earl Hamner, Jr. conveyed godly messages within secular stories. It may be that your audience does not shop in the “Christian” section.

What it means to be consecrated will look different for each author, but for me it means that I write to shine the light of God’s love and grace into the darkness of human lives.

Exercise:

• Spend some time thinking about why you write. For some, it’s a calling. For others, it may be merely a hobby. Either is fine, but it’s good to be honest with yourself.
• If you identify yourself as a Christian, integrity requires that we “write what we know.” Your writing should align with your deeply held beliefs.
• If your faith is based in scripture, consecration implies a responsibility to become more and more familiar with scripture’s teachings.
• Who is your audience? Do you write to strengthen, encourage, or instruct other believers? Or is your writing intended for an audience who may not know Who is missing in their life?
• Whoever your audience is, determine to write for them with genuine respect and grace. A story is not a sermon.
• Why not commit to consecrate your talents to the One Who gave them to you?