I am indebted to Mark Dever for inspiring today’s thoughts. He had a question in his fine book The Message of the Old Testament for the chapter on 2 Kings about what constitutes a good leader. I read the question and saw that I could substitute “writer” for “leader” and it became a powerful description for knowing the gospel in our writing.

First let’s look at his original quote:

The most important thing that a leader can know is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only a leader who approaches his leadership with the understanding that he himself has been crucified with Christ will be freed from trying to prove himself or achieve his own ends through his position. Only a leader who approaches his leadership knowing that he has been resurrected with Christ will know that all victory, gain, and success in his leadership will be accomplished only through the power of Christ and for Christ’s glory. Unfortunately, not too many books on leadership have much to say about the gospel. How can you begin applying a gospel-centered perspective to your leadership at home, work, or church?

Now let’s look at what happens when we change each of Dever’s references to leading over to writing.

The most important thing that a writer can know is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only a writer who approaches his writing with the understanding that he himself has been crucified with Christ will be freed from trying to prove himself or achieve his own ends through his writing. Only a writer who approaches his writing knowing that he has been resurrected with Christ will know that all victory, gain, and success in his writing will be accomplished only through the power of Christ and for Christ’s glory. Unfortunately, not too many books on writing have much to say about the gospel. How can you begin applying a gospel-centered perspective to your writing at home, work, or church?

So, as I continue my blogging:

•    I don’t have to worry about proving anything
•    I won’t worry about how many followers I get
•    Any victory, gain, and success I get in my blog will be through the power of Christ and for Christ’s glory.