One of the primary functions of the Young Calvinists is to publish a blog specifically targeted at the Protestant Reformed youth. To furnish this blog with content, we generally search for young adults and young people who are willing to share their writing with their peers. However, our well of articles is often dry. What follows is a plea for writers. If you are willing and able, please contact us at youngcalvinists@gmail.com. If you would like to recommend a friend, send us their name and email.
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
The Calling to Write
The call to write is based on the Scriptural call to be God’s witnesses. This call comes not only to ministers and missionaries, but to every member of the church. You, though you be a high school freshman or a busy college student, are called to declare the glory of God to those around you. Sing of His might! Speak of His glory! And if the opportunity arises, write!
This biblical calling is not limited to our interactions with those outside the church. Your best friend, even the one who sits next to you in school and across the aisle at church, needs to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. You expect the pastor to preach and teachers to teach, but sometimes the Word of God works most powerfully when it comes from a fellow young person. And as more young people share, the sharing becomes easier.
Writing spiritually edifying articles is profitable for others, but also for yourself. Writing forces you to think. One author said, “Writing is thinking. To write well is to think clearly. That’s why it’s so hard.” It certainly is difficult, but in an age when convenience is king, it is most important to do something that is hard. Perhaps your article takes much research and several drafts. Perhaps you struggle to express yourself clearly because the thoughts are all jumbled together in your brain. But once you write them down, you start to see how to fit them together like pieces of a puzzle. Through the process, you gain a depth of understanding so that the Bible verse or concept about which you write becomes imprinted on your heart and mind for future benefit. And the more you write, the easier it gets not only to write clearly, but also to think clearly.
Excuses Answered
It is natural to be a little hesitant to have your own written work published for all to see. Yet this hesitancy is often unfounded. Here are several answers to the most common excuses.
“I don’t have anything to write about.”
Do you have a favorite verse? A favorite song or a favorite book? Are you interested in church history or current events? At the Young Calvinists, we are interested in hearing your Christian thoughts on any number of topics. You have a unique perspective, and we want to hear it!
“I’m not a good writer.”
It is true that God gives to each one of us different natural abilities, so that it’s possible an aptitude for writing is not one of your talents. Yet we urge you to think twice. Writing well does not take big words or great eloquence. Often, the simplest article is the most profound. After all, the central doctrines of God’s Word are remarkably simple, and yet deeper than we can ever search out.
Also, there are always resources available to help in your writing. Ask a friend or your parents to review and suggest edits, for no successful writer writes alone. The Young Calvinists also have an editing process for every article we receive in which revisions are suggested and sent back to you for review.
Finally, the Young Calvinists blog is a great place to start improving your writing with very little pressure. Your fellow writers and readers are generally young people just like you, so your article is never going to be read with an over-critical eye.
“I don’t feel qualified to write.”
We already established that every Christian, even a young person, is called to be a witness of the gospel. Graciously, God who commands also gives the power whereby we obey. The Holy Spirit is that power, and He is poured out upon every regenerated child of God. You now hold the office of all believers, so that in a sense you are a prophet of God, and thus you are qualified to write even about spiritual things.
“I don’t have the time.”
One suggestion is to make writing a part of your daily devotions. Write down your thoughts as you work your way through a Bible text or a devotional, and after a week or so, you might just be half-way to finishing an article.
It is true that writing takes time, and writing well takes even more time. But as pointed out before, it can be immensely profitable, and therefore it is worth making the time to write.
The Young Calvinists needs more writers for our blog. But really, it is the church as a whole that needs more writers, because the church needs young people who take an interest in spiritual things. The church needs young people who are able to think and to express their thoughts clearly. We hope that you have been encouraged to write for your own spiritual benefit, the good of the church, and the glory of God.
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