The heart of the CWS

In simple terms, there is a gaping hole in the literary world. A hole, which I feel, as young and courageous writers who posses the truth this world is seeking, have an obligation to fill. 

Colossians 3:17 says:

And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

We have been blessed with imagination, with a love of words and ideas, with an ability to communicate through the twenty six letters in the alphabet. That is a wonderful thing. Our obligation is to use that for God’s glory. 

Stories are powerful. 

The word Bible in the original greek literally means book. God’s book is full of stories! 
Stories of real people, sinful people, people who did the impossible because they had God on their side. Their stories encourage us, change our lives, show how God works in peoples’s lives. They stay in our memories and have the power to shape who we are.

Our stories are not going to be as powerful as the inspired Word of God. But think of all the books you have read in your lifetime, and how they have effected you. You, as a writer, have the potential of impacting another person’s life, someone you may never meet in person. What  kind of message will you leave with them?

Philippians 4:8 says:  

Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, is anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. 

If we are to think on these things, isn’t it only right to write about them as well?

Philippians 1:9-10 says:

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.

One of my biggest issues that I have with the “Christian” literature and media in our day, is simply the mediocracy I have been bombarded with. Anything thing with the label “Christian” seems to instantly fall into a second-rate category, and rightly so. The poor reputation the “Christian” community has in the secular world as far as media output goes, is not because the world is repulsed by the truth that is presented. But by the lack of quality, passion and excellence in their material. 

Revelation 3:15-16 says: 

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm -neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

In the passage’s context the Lord speaking about a certain church, but this principle could easily be taken; that God doesn’t care for “lukewarm” mediocracy either. Most Christian writing neither presents crisp refreshing truth or challenges us with passionate honesty. Anything Biblical or “religious,” if present, is sprinkled on top of a cliched or forced storyline, and generally more of an after thought or watered down as to be palatable to a secular audience. 

I know I am being harsh here. I know there are exceptions to these statements, but in general, I think you would agree that there is a lack of excellence, specifically, in the realm of Christian fiction. 

As Christians I believe that we should hold ourselves to a higher standard then even the world holds literature to. 

We should pride ourselves in a well crafted story, the weaving of truth into a character’s life, a gripping plot that pulls a reader into your writing, creating characters that are genuine and captivating, using fresh and imaginative descriptions that help a reader envision your world, challenging your reader to look with new perspective on life, and giving them a principle to stick in their minds long after the last chapter has ended. 

A story can change a life.  We, as Christians, should know that better than anyone.

And that, friends, is my goal.

If you also have that desire for your writing, then please join us!
The more the merrier.