Many of you may have read yesterday’s Seekerville post by Francine Rivers. If you haven’t, hop over and read it, because it was amazing! What really struck me was Francine’s explanation of the difference between a Christian who writes and a Christian writer.

Basically, a Christian who writes can write anything, whether it glorifies the Lord or not. They write for a market. A Christian writer focuses their work on Jesus Christ. He is central to their story. Christian fiction is supposed to stir up a longing for the real thing: a relationship with Jesus Christ. Of course, both want to sell books, but it is all about the focus. Not that one is better than the other, but it is a different calling.

I knew from the very beginning that I did not want to preach in my stories. I wasn’t sure I wanted to write conversion scenes. Maybe that stems from being a preacher’s wife and having a wall go up every time I am introduced to people as a “pastor’s wife”. I don’t want to throw up walls. I want to break them down. I want to be real, flaws and all.

But is it good enough to write an entertaining story that is not centered on Christ? Shouldn’t my heart’s desire be to write with Christ in mind? Maybe my focus is not where it should be.

My friend, Pepper, is an encouraging soul. As I wrestled with this line of thinking, she had some wise things to say.  She says, “People are drawn to Him because of what they see in our lives – how they see HIM in our lives. We don’t have to preach with words. His joy in your life will come out in your stories, even if you never quote a Bible verse.”  She went on to say, “Just because a story doesn’t have loads of ‘preaching’ in it, doesn’t mean it still can’t be life-changing. The acts of the characters and their transformation – the way they respond to their difficulties, should reflect Christ. Isn’t that how it is in real life? What is it that Francis of Isisi wrote? “Preach the Gospel and if necessary, use words.”


Isn’t she smart?


I suppose, though, that if the Lord living in me shines through in my writing, then in some small way it IS Christ centered. Whatever we do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord, right?


So what are your thoughts? Is there a difference between a Christian who writes and a Christian writer?