J. I. Packer died last Friday at the age of 93. He was a skilled writer and many of his works have become classics, such as his most famous work, The Knowledge of God.
In my interview with him in Vancouver, I asked him for advice on writing, or more precisely, what I would say to a writer who was starting a career in Christian literature, and offered three points:
Explain and develop these points in this 9-minute video
First, I would say: Deepen your understanding of God, in His will, in His ways, and in the spirit of worship because you must constantly express these things in all the texts you write.
Second, you as preachers must understand that communicating with people is just as important as presenting them with the truth and wisdom of God’s Word. There are writers who believe that by making orthodox formulations about the truth and wisdom of the Bible, without seeking any application from the reader, they are fulfilling the role of Christian writer and that nothing more is required. from them. I do not think it is like that? There are already many writers who can verbalize orthodoxy on paper, but we do not have many writers who can unite the truth and wisdom of God from the scriptures, with a personal communication that reaches the heart of the reader, what makes him understand. that this writer is a person who talks to other people, that this writer is looking for something in me to help me, and I have to let him do it. There is a certain art and skill in writing that touches the heart of the reader. Sometimes I think that God allowed me to do this in things that I have already written. Wasn’t it an accident? This is something I have tried to do and will keep trying to do.
So, for the novice writer, I’d say it’s a job you have to learn. Journalists learn (except those who tend to stay on the surface of things) and are experts at making readers feel that, “Does this guy tell me what he writes?”It’s personal communication. So I think all Christian writings should be like this.
At this point, Puritans are of great help because Puritan literature, for the most part, is written sermons, and aims, from the beginning, (and you see that in the first paragraphs of puritanical works) enter people. . way they can make some sermons that God has blessed. And all the design of this material shows us that, and I have nothing more to say, but I’m just saying it helps us choose the best patterns, through which you can shape, and learn to do them like puritans did. , not necessarily those who imitate, especially since the way they arrange their materials, placing many points in an orderly manner, subdivisions and things like that, is not relevant. a great help to carry out communication?Two or three subtitles in a full chapter is usually the most the reader needs, more than it makes you feel:?This writer is incredibly didactic to me, and this insistence on repeating certain points or trying to do so, does not immerse me in the book but gets out of it ?.
So the second point is: learn to write for people, that is, to write in a way that people appreciate. I think modern writers are the ones who do it best, maybe?That wouldn’t be the right word, but read J’s books. C. Ryle, who was liverpool’s first bishop in the late 19th century. JCRyle was an excellent communicator. Most of his works are sermons, but even when he’s studying historically, he never lets the reader disconnect?You always feel, “Are you talking to me?” Of course, his language dates back to the 19th century, and I’m not telling you to imitating him, but so you can see what he’s doing with words and how it reaches readers’ minds and hearts. only with respect to the 21st century.
The third thing I would say to a novice writer is that you shouldn’t try to be a writer unless you have something to say about how you feel and what you need to put on paper, and you’re asked to do it. words, writing is as vocational as preaching Do you feel a call from God to do this, and the writer who does not have God’s call, even if he is technically competent, will soon annoy his readers, and make them feel:?It’s shallow, I don’t need to read this book, can I get on with my life without it?
Would you pose this as a challenge to anyone who wants to be a writer?Make sure your writings are important and that God Himself asks you to write.
Having said that, I think I would tell a novice writer everything that could be said in a first conversation, that he could come back for more advice, but I have to say it was one?Full meal? From exhortations, to encourage those who want to be writers, to become true writers of God.