Why I Write

I’m a writer. I’m never more at peace than when I’m sitting in a coffee shop with a pen and a pad (or a computer keyboard; provided the battery isn’t shot) writing fiction.

Given my lack of fiction output recently (since 2017, when I released Stranded), you might question my honesty, but it is merely due to starting a 3+ year Master’s program and a family simultaneously (August 2020). The majority of my time has been devoted to those arenas, which for school has involved much “scholarly” research and writing. This is nowhere near as fun as fiction–or even sermon–writing, even though the lengths I go to in my research thoroughness might convince you otherwise.

But scholarship is an extremely important type of writing; in fact the skills are similar between writing a valid, “novel,” compelling scholarly piece, and a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat, keep-you-up-all-night novel. Both require research, planning, and drafting throughout.

As a writer, I’ve often longed–in my most honest moments–to end up famous from it someday. As it relates to my more biblically-focused writing, I’ve caught myself occasionally thinking, “I hope that something I write is as popular 1500 years from now as Augustine’s Confessions are today.”

But this betrays a terrible–lamentable–reality. When I think things like that, I’m subconsciously admitting that I hope Jesus delays His return. But if Jesus delays His return, then it means several things:

1. It means that sin and vice are still spreading (2 Timothy 3:13).
2. It means the Church is still failing to represent Him properly (1 John 4:15-17; John 13:34-35; John 17:21-23).
3. It means that there is still not true “peace on earth” (Isaiah 11:6-9; Isaiah 65:25).
4. It means that God’s will has still not been fulfilled “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-13; see references in #2 and #3).

As such, I must do three things. First, I must actually take the time to write (I’m out of work for about the next 60 days, so I need to schedule writing time as a priority). People can’t read what I write if I haven’t written anything. Second, I must continue honing my craft of writing. I can’t put out garbage and expect anyone to be impacted by it. Third, I must not resign myself to a single genre of writing–fiction or nonfiction. Fiction can serve as a parable to draw in those who would never pick up a nonfiction book (regardless of a person’s religious affiliation); nonfiction can encourage and challenge those who are already on the same faith journey as me. More technical nonfiction works can hopefully positively influence the face of biblical studies and thus the direction of Christianity for the better–resulting in God’s “will [being] done on earth as it is in heaven,” namely: the coming of His Kingdom.

In order for God’s will to be realized, Nicene Christians must focus on living in love. Unity is more important than arguing theology and dividing from one another as a result.

This is what this blog seeks to promote. I covet your prayers in this endeavor.

In this with you.

Soli Deo Gloria

Thanks for reading.