Vonda here: I can’t believe it, but here we are already, at Part 4 of author, speaker, and threat to society, James Watkins‘ keynote at Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Of course, you don’t want to read the last of the series without reading the first of it, so here are direct links to Parts 1-3: “Your ‘Write’ Role,” Part 1, “Your ‘Write’ Role,” Part 2, and “Your ‘Write’ Role,” Part 3. This four-part Parting Words Fridays is unlike anything you’ve ever seen here, or probably anywhere else for that matter!
So pull up a chair, put on your creative-thinking-and-real-life-application-hat, and hear Jim’s heart for Christian writers and speakers, Part 4, taken from 1 Corinthians 12, as paraphrased by the New Living Amplified Paraphrased King James Watkins Version for Writers.
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Your “Write” Role, Part 4
By James Watkins
4. You have an incarnational role in Christian writing
I’ll give you a second to let that truth sink in until I see whiffs of smoke coming out your ears.
I’m not diminishing the role of preachers, but writers have exponentially more influence and longevity! The average church in America runs less than 100 people. As a magazine writer, you can reach a thousand times that number with just one article.
And, unless the sermon is recorded and posted online, it stops reaching new people after the last amen! But as a writer, your work can last for years in waiting rooms and bathroom magazine racks. Thomas a’ Kempis’ Imitation of Christ is still in print over 500 years since he wrote it and continues to be a best-seller, second only to the Bible!
And even if your book goes “out of print,” it doesn’t go out of existence. It lives on until Jesus comes in homes, in church libraries, in garage sales!
I recently received this email:
I cannot tell you, how much reading the three chapters that i did just before writing meant for me. I am so thrilled with the way the Lord has gifted you not only in your writing; but primarily your love for Jesus and the deep Spirit filled way you have written this book.
It was from India . . . concerning a book that had long gone out of print . . . on a day I was feeling especially un-important!
God uses our words to communicate his Word!
Without the written word, Christianity would have never made it past the first century. The writing of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John preserved the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The writings of the church fathers, such as Augustine, gave us a systematized theology and kept heresy at bay.
And as the relationship with the living Christ slowly devolved into a religion of works, legalism, profiteering and politics, Catholic writers like Thomas a’ Kempis reminded us of the pure, intimate relationship with Jesus in his The Imitation of Christ. Martin Luther’s 96-Point Thesis reminded us that salvation is by faith and faith alone.
And today, holy men and women are using pens and pixels to write the love of God on the hearts of followers and seekers as well. So, you and I are a part of the parade of published writers who have kept the Word alive for over 2,000 years. I’ll probably be in the tiny clown car.
For me, writing is an act of worship.
It’s acknowledging the important, indispensable role in writing that God has entrusted to me.
It’s fellowshipping with other writers, agents, editors, and publishers as an interdependent part of this eternal work.
It’s rejoicing in my individuality that God has personally, uniquely, lovingly crafted me into a writing instrument for his glory.
And it’s shaking with holy joy and fear that I am an incarnation of the Word of God!
Copyright © 2015 James N. Watkins
Vonda here: Wow, Jim. Wow. Thank you for your powerful, encouraging reminder that we truly are “…His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)
Jim, thank you for sharing His heart through the lens of His hope and your humor. We love and appreciate you! And friends, if you appreciate Jim message, I hope you’ll visit his site and support his work as he walks the journey God created him to do!
Bio: Jim wears more hats than his Aunt Luella!
*Associate acquisitions editor for Wesleyan Publishing House
*Conference speaker throughout the U.S. and overseas
*Director of programming for St. Davids Writers’ Conference
*Editorial advisor for ACW Press
You can reach Jim through his site at or
Thank you for Tweeting…Sharing is sweet!
Don’t miss @JamesWatkinsCom final fun–but real–writers’ take on 1 Cor 12 -Part 4 via @VondaSkelton #amwriting (Click to Tweet)
I pray God’s blessing on the work of your hands and your hearts,
Vonda
