I see two dominant viewpoints regarding the arts in the Church.
The first is that the arts are a hobby, a past time, maybe at best a therapeutic personal endeavor. Writing isn’t a real ministry.
The second viewpoint seems better, but it’s actually more destructive.
“If you’re called, you’re qualified.”
Some church communities are so supportive and excited for the arts as ministry, they teach that you should just be able to do it.
It’s just not true. This idea leads to 1) a lot of cringey work “representing” Jesus; 2) a lot of burnout, frustration, discouragement, and even crisis of faith when it feels like God hasn’t come through for your calling.
What does the Bible teach us about this?
I see in the Bible that when people are called, they usually go through a training period.
It’s true that God is God, and in exceptional circumstances he can miraculously qualify us. I met an interpreter in Brazil who literally woke up one morning with the ability to speak perfectly fluent American English. But this is not the typical way of things.
Before David fought Goliath, you know what he did? He guarded sheep and he fought lions and bears.
Before David became King he served in the royal house of Saul.
Before Joseph became like Pharoah over Egypt, you know what he did? He managed Potiphar’s house, then he managed the prison. (Interesting how going to prison actually gave Joseph access to a larger organization to manage, isn’t it?)
Before Esther had her night with the king, she went through a year of beauty regimens.
Before Peter became the rock upon which Christ’s Church would be built, he spent three years in training and practice with Jesus.
I’m just getting started. There are many more examples. The Bible is literally filled with them.
So where does this idea come from?
I think this “if you’re called, you’re instantly qualified” idea comes from a misunderstanding of the arts. In those same circles, we don’t apply the same idea to other ministries.
If you wanted to be a missionary, any good missions organization would plop your butt into school or some kind of training first. They wouldn’t say, “It doesn’t matter that you don’t know the language, the culture, or the Bible, you were called! Just go for it.”
If you said “I’m called to be a pastor” they’d say, “OK, go to seminary or Bible school, then work under someone else as an associate pastor for a while, then you’ll be ready.” Even if you were already a talented teacher they would say, “There’s still more you need to learn.”
And they’re right!
If you question whether writing fiction is a legitimate ministry, just look at the fruit! I can make a strong Biblical argument for it (as I have many times before), but for the sake of time just look at the lives changed because of people like C. S. Lewis, Frank Peretti, Donald Miller, Jerry Jenkins, and Pearl S. Buck, just to name a few that I can make out on the shelf from where I’m sitting.
If the Church wants to take the arts seriously as ministry, then we have to take the arts seriously as ministry. As seriously as we take pastors, missionaries, and evangelists.
If you need help, it turns out you might be normal.
Just because God has called you doesn’t mean you should instantaneously be successful at it! Don’t be discouraged, that should come as a great encouragement. If you’re not yet achieving what you expected with your writing, you’re super normal! That doesn’t mean that you’re not called, it means you’re normal.
There is so much to learn! Yes, about the craft of writing, but also about how to be a minister.
That’s what we practice here at The Company with our apprenticeship, and that’s why I believe it works. That’s why our apprentices are doing the stuff when they graduate.
We qualify our apprentices in the craft of writing, we help them develop the professional skills that they need, and we prepare them to be ministers.
When you are called to write, you need to step into the roles of Professional Writer, Entrepreneur, and Minister.
If you miss any one of those three parts, it will take a miraculous work of God for you to be successful. (He may do that, but I think He loves you more than that. It turns out He’s actually way more interested in you and who you’re becoming than He is in what you’ll produce, but that’s a topic for another time.)
Our apprenticeship may not be right for you, and it’s not the only way to develop these skills (though it may be most expedient). Whatever you choose, I want to encourage you today:
- If you’re called to write, expect that you need training.
- If you’re not yet achieving what you want to achieve with your writing, it doesn’t mean God didn’t call you. It just means He has more for you to grow in first.
That training, that development process you need, seems to usually include other people. It seems to usually include healthy community. That seems very much like God to me.
If you’re called, your job isn’t to perform perfectly.
If you’re called, your job is to break yourself before the Lord and do whatever it takes to step into everything that He has in store for you.
And it’s worth it.
Connect with other believers and start your journey with The Company. Join our free e-newsletter:
