Writers have a responsibility to use their pen to guide the people.
If God has given you the gift of written gab, then now more than ever is the time to use. During tumultuous periods, people begin to look for voices of reason to calm their fears and give them hope on which to cling. And whether they know or acknowledge it, writers are those voices.
Writers have a civic duty to use their influence for the best interests of those around them. If you’ve been given privilege and agency, you cannot idly hang back hoping someone else will champion the cause YOU are called to champion. YOU ARE THE VOICE YOU ARE WAITING FOR.
Here are three reasons I believe writers must use their agency and influence in times of trouble:
1. Our ability to communicate through writing is not necessarily for our own enjoyment
The gifts and talents that have been placed in us are not for us to simply sit with them and do nothing. And, if we choose to use our gifts, they are not for us to simply collect a paycheck. We have been tasked with the honored responsibility that has been bestowed upon us to serve others and make the world a better place.
2. True change agents stand up for the voiceless and writing allows us to do that
This concept is also biblical (see Proverbs 31:8-9). If you’ve been granted privilege and agency, it is because you are meant to use it to grant agency to those who are not as fortunate.
3. Through literature, we are able to learn about the past to better prepare for and navigate the future
History books are filled with journals from oppressors and the oppressed. We use these words as a moral compass to gauge our ethics pendulum. Rest assured that the times we currently navigate are unprecedented and historical. In 30 years, our grandchildren will read all about them. And the writers of this day will be included.
Everyone has passions and human plights for which they feel they must contribute. Authors give voice to those issues and raise awareness, especially in times of trouble. How are you using your voice?
Featured photo by Darius Bashar on Unsplash