International Reformed Baptist Seminary
The Benefits of Writing for Minsters of the Word of God
Submitted to Professor Unger
in partial fulfillment of ST500 Introduction to Ministerial and Theological Studies
By
John Carter
March 8, 2024
Introduction
The pastor is a man who must be devoted to the ministry of the word of God. It should be of no surprise that the idea of writing is form of the word write (writers, writing, written, etc.) show up over 120 verses in the Bible[1]. A predominate theme of these passages is that there are many commands to write down the word of God. Writing is so important that in Deuteronomy 17:18 even the kings of Israel were commanded to write out a personal copy of the Law for their own study. It follows then that if writing would be of some benefit to the King of Israel, it must also provide some benefit to those who shepherd the flock of God. It will be the purpose of this paper to show that the Pastor who is dedicated to the practice of writing gains benefits in the areas of discipline, clarity, and communication.
Benefits in Discipline
Writing in and of itself is a discipline. Every part of the task, from learning the alphabet, to spelling, learning rules of grammar, and even the skill needed to write neatly requires discipline to do well. As Albert Mohler aptly says, “It takes effort to force yourself to write.”[2] This is because writing, like reading, is not natural. It must be taught. For a pastor to benefit from writing he must discipline himself to do an unnatural task well.. The beauty of that self-imposed discipline is the fruit of greater self-discipline, an increased appreciation for the value of time, as well as an opportunity to develop patience.
Discipline in one area can easily pour out into other areas. Writing is no exception. Sitting still, applying a pen to a page, forcing thoughts to materialize into words on a page are not quaint moments of chance. Rather these events are the result of intentional action. Each step in the writing process is an act of self-denial. Yet through these repeated acts the pastor begins creating habits of self-discipline that then pour out into other areas of his life. This, of course, proves beneficial in every way for the pastor discipline to write.
Even further, through the often slow and grueling process of writing the minster begins to improve his appreciate for the value of time. Some writing projects have no deadline, like journaling or taking notes. But most pastors have deadline to “write a sermon.” It is through regular deadlines like this that the pastor is forced to come to terms with the shortness of time and the pressing demands of life. Each week the minster is reminded that time is limited and therefore each moment must be carefully stewarded. The sermon must be written and a poor use of the week is no excuse to bring into the pulpit. Each sermon written and delivered is a necessary reminder that time is fleeting.
The final aspect discipline that is beneficial is discovered in the opportunity to gain patience. A rushed or hurried email is often unclear. A pastor’s impatient ear is of no use for the struggling Christian. A position paper by the Elders often needs time to mature through countless revisions. A skilled pastor trained by the disciple of writing begins to better appreciate the slowness of writing rather than despise it. Each of these aspects of discipline are a potential benefit to the minister who is ready to learn from the discipline of writing. But writing must not just produce discipline, it must also provide clarity.
Benefits in Clarity
A paper written in modern English following ordinary rules of grammar is not necessarily a clearly written paper. In addition to benefiting from the discipline of writing a minster benefits by learning to write with clarity. For some. Like John Piper, writing itself is an act of clarifying internal thought into coherent words on a page.
Writing became the lever of my thinking and the outlet of my feelings. If I didn’t pull the lever, the wheel of thinking did not turn. It jerked and squeaked and halted. But once a pen was in hand, or a keyboard, the fog began to clear and the wheel of though began to spin with more clarity and insight. And when the feelings that rumbled around in my heart as an introverted, insecure adolescent needed form, I turned to poetry and writing. So along with the disciplines of precise thinking and painstaking observation came a passion for conceptually clear and emotionally moving expression in writing.[3]
Discipline in writing provides opportunity for the pastor to improves clarity in his thinking, analysis, and logic.
Too many conversations are troubled by the lack of clear thinking. This of course leads to unclear writing. Often this is a result engaging a topic for the first time. Yet in many instances the clouded thinking is a result of neglecting to think about the topic in advance. This should be avoided when writing. C.S. Lewis, an excellent writer and thinker gives calls all writers to “Take great pains to be clear. Remember that though you start by knowing what you mean, the reader doesn’t, and a single ill-chosen word may lead him to a total misunderstanding.”[4] The first pain encountered to write clearly is to think clearly. Writing is a mechanism which helps the minister of God’s word to think carefully before he opens his mouth.
Next is benefit of improved analysis of all kinds of communication. At this point it is helpful to make a distinction between hearing and listening. While hearing is a physical activity listening is a cognitive activity. The ability to analyze is found in this later category. Communication is too often hindered hearing without listening. Or hearing without analyzing. Analyzing words is most easily done in the written form and can be practiced through the discipline of clear writing. After devoting time to the discipline of writing, the minister is prone to begin asking questions such as “why did he say that?” “What was the meaning of that word?” “Is this individual staying on topic or drifting to tangential subjects?” But because the disciplined minster is analyzing his own writing, he is improving his ability to analyze other the writings and words of other too.
Lastly, the minster disciplined in writing will likely see an increase in his logical abilities too. Putting together words to form sentences, then sentence to form paragraphs, and then paragraphs into meaningful papers requires the ability to form some sort of a logical argument. Logic and the Bible have this in common, every word, sentence, and paragraph matters. It’s not enough to throw words on a page, but those words must be connected into a logical and systematic order. The Book of Romans is an excellent example of using logical argumentation to prove a point. A minster applying himself to the discipline of writing will most naturally begin applying logic into his writing and into his daily interactions with others.
Benefits in Communication
After observing the benefits of discipline and clarity from writing, the third benefit can now be enjoyed, communication. Writing can produce fruit in private, public, and even pulpit communication. This does not mean that a writing manuscript should be used in each of these contexts. Rather, the natural outflow of thinking more deeply about writing changes how one man communicates to another.
Through the established discipline of writing private conversations like phone calls or texts message are now being filled with new words, improved grammar, and the occasional poetic flourish. Each of these acting as a test to observe the impact of the words used in person. But writing is an even more excellent testing ground. As Albert Mohler notes, “The act of writing helps us learn how to make words work, how sentences come together, and how to make a message come though.”[5] Although not all private conversations should be testing grounds, as a counseling session or a private rebuke will need much more carefully chosen words. Yet words which have already be tested with a pen can ever increase private conversation.
Secondly, public communication is improved as writing frequently precedes public communication. Other than sermons, a minsters public communication is experienced heard though public prayers or presentations given at a meeting. Yet in both circumstances, disciplined writing begins to shape how verbal language is formed. While in private discussions language is more easily tested, public communication gives an opportunity to rightly apply words for maximum impact. Unfortunately, poorly chosen words in public can also have a great impact too. A pastor is often in a public conversation that requires carefulness. Yet carefulness must produce clarity and never an obfuscation of the locution bespoken.
Lastly, a pastor is most commonly known for his pulpit ministry. There is often great debate about whether a pastor should preach with some form of an outline or a manuscript. Either way, a good sermon must have well formulated ideas and be presented in a convincing manner. Therefore a preacher of the gospel should avoid entering the pulpit without having prepared something in advance. Through this disciplined preparation the congregation is better able to receive the word with clarity. The irony, however, is that pastors who preach well will need less and less time to prepare. But stewardship demands that more time is given to craft better sermons. Through this discipline and clarity of writing, the communication of the minister ever increases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the minster dedicated to the practice of writing sees benefits that expand far beyond the pen and paper. In this short essay only three benefits were addressed, discipline, clarity, and communication, but many more could certainly be discovered. At this point a warning must be provided on the subject of writing. Namely, that writing has its limits. The Preacher says, “Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh” (Eccl 12:12 ESV). At some point even the greatest benefits of writing begin to diminish and the pastor must put down his pen to pick up his staff.
Crossway. “ESV.org.” ESV Bible. Last modified 2019. https://www.esv.org.
Lewis, C.S. On Writing and Writers. S.L.: Harper One, 2022.
Mohler, Albert. The Conviction to Lead : 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters. Minneapolis, Minn.: Bethany House, 2012.
Piper, John, D. A. Carson, David Mathis, and Owen Strachan. The Pastor as Scholar and the Scholar as Pastor : Reflections on Life and Ministry. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011.
[1] Word search Crossway, “ESV.org,” ESV Bible, last modified 2019, https://www.esv.org. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
[2] Albert Mohler, The Conviction to Lead : 25 Principles for Leadership That Matters (Minneapolis, Minn.: Bethany House, 2012), 171.
[3] John Piper et al., The Pastor as Scholar and the Scholar as Pastor : Reflections on Life and Ministry (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2011), 29.
[4] C.S. Lewis, On Writing and Writers. (S.L.: Harper One, 2022), 4.
[5] Mohler, The Conviction to Lead, 170.
Musica Theologica 