What's our distinctive? by Deborah Jenkins
A while ago, I was telling a friend that I belong to a national writers' group called the ACW. She asked what that stands for and I said it was the Association of Christian Writers.
"Wow, what's that?" she said, "I mean. how is that different to any other writers' group?"
"Well, we're all Christians," I explained.
She nodded. "So...you all write about Christian stuff?"
"Oh no!" I replied, "We write about all kinds of things. It's just that all the people in the group are committed Christians."
She nodded but this time more doubtfully. "How does that make you different to any other writers' group?" she asked, again. I waffled along for a while about having similar values and a common world view and used various other phrases that you would perfectly understand. But she obviously didn't.
It got me thinking. How are we different? What's our distinctive? In principle, are we like any other group of people who have both work and faith in common? How would a group of Christian plumbers or builders or teachers be different to their non-Christian colleagues? Would they stand out as being different? Indeed, should they?
Let's use plumbers, as they are currently close to my heart for a number of reasons. If I used a Christian plumber, what kinds of expectations would I have of him/her? Well, I think I would assume the person would be honest, hard-working and care about providing the best possible service. I would hope he or she would be positive and respectful, keep his/her word and show integrity. Of course, we're all human, so if this didn't happen 100% of the time, I wouldn't throw a pink fit. But if it were generally the case, I'd be happy.
I wonder what non-Christians would expect from Christian writers. If my friend is anything to go by, not every much! What would other Christians expect. Similar things? That we'd be honest - doing our research properly etc - hard working, care about producing the best possible writing. At author events and when interacting with others, to be positive and respectful, show integrity.
In some ways it's harder for us because our currency is in words and human beings use these all the time, not only when writing books. We use them when writing emails, posting on social media, taking part in discussions on Facebook or Twitter. We use them when making a complaint or making our political views known on on-line platforms. Should we hold ourselves to such exacting standards there too? Of course, whether we write for publication or enjoyment, each word is chewed over, analysed, cracked open. When we speak, email, post our thoughts, should we be as careful?
I'm scaring myself now. This seems such a lot to live up to. But if not, then I'm genuinely interested to know - what in your opinion is our distinctive? And how would you explain it to my friend?
Deborah Jenkins is a freelance writer and school teacher, who has written articles, text books, devotional notes and short stories. She also writes regularly for the TES. She has completed a novella, The Evenness of Things, available as an Amazon e-book and is currently working on a full length novel. Deborah loves hats, trees and small children. After years overseas with her family, who are now grown up, she lives in East Sussex with her husband, a Baptist minister, and a cat called Oliver.
Thanks Deborah. There isn't much in the New Testament about Jesus writing - except when he wrote with his finger in the dust in front of the adulterous woman, whilst her accusers slunk away. But there were times when his words cut straight to the bone, giving offence. I sometimes lack courage when I know what I should put on the page but hang back for fear of giving offence. Maybe there are some people out there who long for straight talking, for someone to write what many are thinking but few are bold enough to express?
ReplyDeleteEileen's point is well made, and I think it relates to the point I was going to make, which is that one of our potential distinctives - not for all of us but for some - is the expectations of our readership. We need to be aware that with some kinds of writing produced by Christians (eg theology, spirituality, 'Christian fiction') our readers expect to be 'safe' from things which might upset or disturb them. Is this a fair expectation though? All the prophets (and Jesus was among other things a prophet) said things that offended and shocked their audience. God is not tame!
ReplyDeleteVery good points. Thank you both. So, do you have any thoughts about what our distinctives are?
ReplyDeleteOne of our distinctives is surely to be able to produce great writing but without having to resort to sex, violence and mega-swearing to make it 'popular'. In the writing, I mean ;)
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely!
ReplyDeletePerhaps part of our distinctiveness that this is something we have been called to do and we know Who has called us. It's not just something we enjoy/are good at/have a talent for (hopefully!) but we know Who has implanted that in us and are therefore working to fulfil that God-given potential.
ReplyDeleteMy son, who is a musician, and I talk about that sense of being truly ourselves when we are creating but I think the difference about being a Christian artist/writer is that we know why.
Agreed with all of that. We should be careful of our language and the lifestyles of our characters e.g. I read Josie Silver's 'bestseller' recently 'One day in December' which was basically about casual sex, plentiful swearing and fun getting drunk. It was no bestseller for me. I also would like to think that my writing is 'to make a difference' in the world in some small way. But it is also a like-minded group. I am also a member of the Romantic Novelists Association but don't feel quite the same connection as with the ACW.
ReplyDelete