Good Writing as Good Thinking

Writing from a biblical worldview starts with thinking from a biblical worldview. When our thoughts are grounded in truth, our writing becomes a natural extension of that foundation. Writing well and thinking well are like two sides of the same coin—or like peanut butter and jelly, Batman and Robin. They are interdependent. Cultivating a reflective, respectful, disciplined mind that is grounded in the Word of God is crucial for writing well. Like all human expression, writing reflects the inner life and should honor God. Scripture often underscores the importance of wisdom and discernment, as seen in Proverbs 4:7: “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.” Communicating wisdom clearly is a key aspect of good writing. We all aspire for our writing to mirror thoughtfulness and integrity. In other words, innovative thinking leads to intelligent writing, and we’re all striving to avoid looking foolish, right?

Writing is a mirror of the inner life. It’s like opening the curtains to your soul and saying, “Here’s what’s going on in my mind and heart.” Naturally, our writing should reflect our faith and values. Our values become visible once we begin to write. In any text of literature, you can find the author’s worldview. For Christians, Philippians 4:8 challenges us: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” When we fill our minds with these thoughts, they’ll naturally flow into our writing, making it clear, uplifting, and possibly convicting.

But let’s not sugarcoat it—good writing takes work. Hard work. And it starts with sound thinking. Romans 12:2 encourages us to renew our minds and not simply conform to the world. In a world of noise, memes, and fleeting ideas, Christians have a unique and significant calling to offer something different: writing that is thoughtful, honest, and purposeful. We’re not here to manipulate or to take the easy way. We’re here to inform and uplift, convict, and maybe even help someone see that there’s more to life than the latest social media trend.

Here’s the fantastic part: Writing isn’t just a way to express our thoughts; it’s also a tool to sharpen our minds. Proverbs 27:17 says, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Writing is a mental workout that helps us clarify our thoughts and wrestle with challenging ideas. It’s like a workout for the brain—but with less sweat. Plus, when you’re writing with Scripture in mind, it’s like you’ve got the ultimate guide to crafting words that matter. Words persuade, convict, and uplift. So we must be careful about what we are convincing, convicting, and collaborating with others about.

Ultimately, good writing, just like good thinking, should glorify God. We’ve been given talents to use for his glory—whether we’re writing, teaching, singing, or creating in other ways. Our work can reflect God’s creation in truth, beauty, and goodness. So let’s keep writing with purpose. Our words can bring clarity, truth, and hope in a chaotic world, a fallen world. Who will share the gospel and uphold honesty and integrity if we do not? It won’t be most content from X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, TikTok, Reddit, or even presidential debates. It’s up to us as believers.