By Dr. Dwight David Croy
Life-changing events are priorities to be told. As a Christian writer, my first priority is to tell how I was saved by Jesus Christ. When invited as a guest speaker at a church, I often start with how I came to Christ because that is my authority for speaking. A book is like a platform that projects a priority or concern. This is driven by the author’s personal history, convictions, and life-changing events.
As a Biblical historical fiction writer, I solve the first priority of my testimony of Jesus Christ by putting a presentation in the back of my books. That is not to say others are not wrong to do their presentation differently. There is an approach to evangelism in other books that need not be so direct. Examples are “Chronicles of Narnia,” “Pilgrim’s Progress,” and “The Tower of Geburah,” by Lewis, Bunyan, and White, respectively. It seems like the interest in how a book came to be is only if you happen to write a bestseller that hits records.
Some writers are like teenage boys striving to play in the National Football League when, in reality, only .05 percent will make it come to pass. My circle of writers is much more realistic. American Christian Fiction Writers is a safe place for godly conviction. Writing with the prompting of the Holy Spirit, a steady influencing or a book that changes one life is worth all the effort in the saving work of Jesus Christ. I still consider myself new as a writer, figuring out retirement and how God can use me on a writing platform.
“If they won’t write the kind of books we like to read we shall have to write them ourselves.” – C. S. Lewis
So far, I have written a total of three books and working on a fourth. My first book, non-fiction, was from my Doctorate, “God’s Focus on the Fatherless.” My second
and third books are “God’s Gracious Killer” and “God’s Illuminating Blindness.” Although I did not start out to write a series, it ended up pushing me forward. I call the series “The Way of Aram.” My first book was driven by a desire to help local churches reach out in their communities. My Biblical Fiction Series, based on the stories of II Kings chapters 5-8, is driven by a desire to show the gospel and to show Jesus Christ through the Old Testament.
Since writing, I have learned that many sharks circle you to stroke your pride, take your money, and present you with “opportunities” that you just cannot live without. I’ve been bitten by a few. Enough to keep alert and stay away. It is a wonder that the word delete has not worn off. It has only gotten worse with AI, which gushes over your books more than a human does. Fortunately, God keeps me away from such things. In the words of my son, “Dad, you are the worst self-promoter I have ever seen.” In today’s world, that is a great compliment.
This is my short testimony of writing to this point in my life. At 70, I am on the exit ramp of life, looking forward to seeing my Savior. Scripture says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10 is a good passage for us as writers to dwell on. It highlights the pitfalls that we could fall into. Writing is a great outlet and a feeling of contentment when I keep it in perspective. My prayer for my fellow writers is that contentment will be their primary experience as they write.
Dr. Dwight David Croy, US Army Chaplain Retired, DMIN, George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Spiritual Leadership and Formation, MDIV, Denver Seminary with an emphasis in Christian Education, BRE, Multnomah University, is a Pastor, Teacher, and author of “God’s Focus on the Fatherless,” “God’s Gracious Killer,” and “God’s Illuminating Blindness,” and contributes to the body of Christ by writing, teaching, and speaking to promote Jesus Christ, our one and only Savior.