Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD (07/23/20)
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TITLE: The Matt. 25: 23 Writers' Award | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
07/29/20 -
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The answer to this question is best determined by the fruit produced (Luke 6: 45). Depending on the content of the written material produced, readers can be evangelized, edified, informed, entertained, inspired, motivated, encouraged, misinformed, enticed, deceived, horrified, and/or otherwise led astray.
Satan (Luke 4) has mastered the art of quoting Scripture and then putting his own spin on its application. When dealing with those who DO know God has said, Satan has the audacity to dispute it (Gen. 3: 3, 4), and/or to offer an appealing (Gen. 3: 6) explanation (Gen. 3: 5) as to why one should question God what He said. A clever writer can do the same.
In place of (or in addition to) Scripture, writers who are Christians often incorporate their personal opinions and the human viewpoints of others they quote in the material they produce.
This can be done directly in the form of a presentation (e.g. sermon), or through fictional characters in such things as short stories or novel. When the target group involves children, the characters are often animals or inanimate objects who are given human attributes.
Christian writers are on a slippery slope when incorporating their own opinions, and should make it clear when they are doing so. Beginning such inclusions with the words, “I believe,” or “It is of my opinion,” can help the readers distinguish between what can be Biblically substantiated and what are the opinions or conclusions of the author or quoted sources in the presentations.
Christian writers are on slippery slopes at whatever point they choose to go beyond what can be Biblically substantiated (Acts 17: 11). These additions include denominational teachings and practices that do not have the support of Scripture.
Should one's opinions later prove to be off target, one's future credibility has been compromised. If one's doctrine later proves to be false, the resulting damage is even more severe. When one slips on a slippery slope, the ones that were following close behind are going to be impacted as well.
Old Testament prophets lived or died (Deut. 13: 5) based on the accuracy of the words they spoke as God's spokespersons. One false prediction and their credibility was gone and their life was in jeopardy. Old Testament prophets took great care never to add to or take from what God had to say (Prov. 30: 6).
Christian writers in some parts of the world risk life and limb for promoting the unadulterated Gospel Message and accurate Bible Doctrine. In less hostile environments, Christian writers will be subjected to isolation, personal, social and familial rejection from those who embrace false Gospel messages, false doctrines, and accompanying practices.
All writers like to receive an encouraging pat on the back from time to time, but Christian writers should take notice from whom their praise and support comes. When it comes to spiritual issues, the majority is usually wrong (Matt. 7: 13). When all is said and done, the only “writer’s award” that I do hope to receive is the, “Well done…” of Matt. 25: 23.
Human viewpoint measures the “success” of a writer by how much (if any) of the writer's material is published, the size of his readership, and by the financial prosperity that his/her efforts generated. Such “success” is often maximized by identifying a specific target group and giving them what they are looking for, no matter what that is.
Divine viewpoint measures the success of a writer by the degree to which God (John 15: 5) used the material written to save the lost and/or wandering souls of Mankind.
Business has ONE objective in mind. That objective is to make money by producing a lucratively marketable product or service that can hold it’s own with it’s competitors. Christian writers face a great temptation to compromise their material and individual style in order to secure the financial benefits and popularity that come from the backing of secular editors and publishers.
You can’t serve (Matt. 6: 24 ) or please (Gal. 1: 10) two masters.
To serve and please God to the maximum in any given activity, one must learn to put his/her “best” foot forward.
For a Christian writer, putting his/her best foot forward begins with developing a Bliblically-edifed soul structure. Then, through the enabling (John 15: 5) power of God, others are evangelized and/or edified through the written material he/she produces.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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