by Aaron Kryger
Whether we’re polishing a book proposal, drafting a cover letter, or trying to master the art of marketing, writers are constantly told to sell themselves. The world tells us to ‘play to your strengths’ and ‘build a personal brand’ at all costs. But as creators who follow Christ, we have to wonder: does our approach to persuasion match the latest trends, or does it align with our faith? While the Bible doesn’t use modern terms like ‘lead magnets’ or ‘professional experience,’ it gives us all the wisdom we need to navigate life and ethics with integrity, as we learn in 2 Peter 1:3. Let’s take a look at how we can move from clever manipulation toward honest, godly motivation.
Why Does Motivation Matter?
Motivations reveal our essence. As driving forces, they can be either beneficial or detrimental. Christians are not to be motivated by shame (2 Samuel 19:3), fear (1 Samuel 15:24), or pride (Proverbs 27:2, Proverbs 29:23).
However, what about ambition or appearances?
Ambition
Genesis 3 provides a stark contrast between the seeming goodness of Eve’s motivation and the wrongness of her choice. The tree was good, it was a delight, and it was desirable. And when she discovered it was delightful, she offered it to the one she loved, who stood there with her. What could be wrong? The snake, in his cunning, had introduced ambition in deceiving Eve (Genesis 3:5 “you will be like God”). As a result, both Eve and Adam ate the fruit. While often carrying a positive connotation in the world, James, in his letter, writes that selfish ambition leads to disorder and evil, just as happened after the fall of Adam and Eve. Bad motivation is unacceptable, but good motivation is, in itself, not sufficient. Good motivation must partner with a choice of good action, as we discuss below.
Appearances
Appearance, image and brand seem innocuous enough in daily life, until we consider Jesus’ words about the posturing and concern for externals exhibited by the religious leaders and even by His own disciples. The religious leaders liked to be noticed, they liked when people used special titles for them. As for the Twelve, one topic they frequently discussed seemed to be determining which of them was the greatest (Matthew 18:1–5, Mark 9:33–37, Luke 9:46–48; Matthew 20:20–28, Mark 10:35–45; Luke 22:24–27). Both groups attempted to appear better than they were.
In contrast, John the Baptist was set apart for God’s service from birth in a special way. Yet, we see him willing to serve in increasing obscurity, joyfully becoming less that Christ may increase. When questioned, he refers to himself merely as a voice, a voice proclaiming someone else’s message (John 1:23), not his own.
In the early church, Paul was content to look foolish for the sake of Christ. He purposely eschewed “eloquence or superior wisdom” (1 Corinthians 2:1) as he served to advance the gospel. He boasted only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14). The only brand Paul promoted were the brand marks he received in suffering for Christ (Galatians 6:17).
What About Manipulation?
Let’s consider manipulating others by words. From the secular world, Simon Sinek in “Start with Why” says, “There are only two ways to influence human behavior: you can manipulate it or you can inspire it.” (1) The problem is that manipulation works and is easier in many ways than inspiring or leading the way for others.
It is also helpful to consider the similarity between manipulation and abuse. Wade Mullen defines abuse as, “When someone treats you as an object they are willing to harm for their own benefit…In other words, abuse involves any action that takes power from another in an attempt to use them” (2) In our dealings with others, we are not to resort to forms of manipulation such as the use of deception, encouraging discontent, or creating dependence in others. This allows the preservation of truth and independent choice.
Deception
Consider this: Jesus not only declares Himself to be Life, but also the Truth, and the Way. This addition of way, or means, alongside truth has direct application to deception. While truth is to be the foundation, truth by itself is insufficient.
While we are not to lie, we also should not misuse facts. Omitting information can be deceptive when information is withheld, for example, in a resume or cover letter, or perhaps a book proposal. We can manipulatively push people the way we want them to go by selectively supplying facts, or using biased terminology, instead of letting others draw their own conclusions in the same way we hopefully did while seeking the truth. In this process, we may even deceive ourselves as self-promotion becomes self-deception, creating a vicious downward spiral, until our reality check finally comes in the mail.
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones helpfully said in “Preaching and Preachers,” “we are not concerned just to influence people or to move them; our desire must be that the Truth should influence them and move them.” (3) In contrast to deception, truth brings freedom (John 8:31-32). Every perversion of this brings bondage (Ephesians 5:8-14). Children of light are not to use the darkness of deception to persuade.
Discontent
Most secular marketing thrives on discontent, however we try to pretty it up. Those who belong to Christ are intended to be the most content people in the world and are to help others be content as well. How far are we to take this? Does this mean no cliffhanger chapter endings because that creates desire in a reader? Do we not highlight our strengths that align with a job description? No, it does not mean that, but we are to use caution. Words are powerful and can subtly suggest hidden value, or scarcity that plays on someone’s discontent in a manipulative way.
Manipulation distorts choice and is the first step towards abuse. As those who have been abused physically, emotionally, or spiritually tell us, the suppression of their choice and agency is one of the most difficult parts of their experience. For good reason, their ability to make real choices becomes very important. Thus, the opposite of manipulation is to provide others free choice and all the necessary information to make this choice on their own, without being tainted by discontent.
Dependence
Do we desire that people become more mature reading our work? This never places us in a position of superiority over others, but the hope that whoever we encounter can improve and find encouragement through our work.
We are in no way to engender any dependence within others, other than the mutual dependence as members of Christ’s body. Rather, in helping others grow, we are to point them to Christ and increase their dependence on Him, and not on any human. Again, this is the opposite of worldly persuasion techniques that seek to offer exclusive solutions, to create addiction to a system or person, or to otherwise enslave them.
Is There A Better Way?
What is the relationship between our writing motivations and our actions? Let us consider four quadrants that consist of all the combinations of motivations and actions.
In certain quadrants, it is easy to determine the net result. Specifically, a good action from a good motivation is ideal, and conversely, a bad action from a bad motivation produces a bad outcome. But what about the other two quadrants?
Good motives don’t necessarily guarantee good results. Paul provides a striking example in Romans 6:1-7 where he strongly argues that even if we are seeking something eminently good, like making God’s grace increase, we are not to use just any method (sin, in Paul’s argument) to bring this about. This seems to indicate that the result of good motivation and bad action should be considered bad.
For the last quadrant, we can look to Philippians 1:15-18 where we see bad motivation and yet good action. It is clear from elsewhere in the Bible (Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Peter 2:1) that envy and rivalry are not considered good motivations. However, Paul does not comment on the motivation, but only on the outcome, that Christ is preached (verse 18). So, while God is working things for good according to His purposes, this does not give us an “out” to justify either bad motivations (envy, rivalry) or bad actions (sin, in Romans 6). This indicates that the only acceptable combination of motivation and action is one where both the action and the motivation are good.
So how should writers approach persuasion? Is there a biblical way? We have reviewed problems surrounding manipulation and motivation, which deal with our actions and who we are as a person (see Philippians 2:13). In considering alternatives, we should begin with considering who we are in Christ and then think about the ramifications of living as little Christs (literal meaning of “Christian”) in this arena.
In Christ
In Christ, by grace, we are secure, loved and have nothing to fear. Our appearance, accomplishments, and inner self cannot diminish the great love with which He has loved us (Ephesians 2:4). We are daughters and sons of the great King Who meets all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ (Philippians 4:19). Accordingly, we have hope, not only for the future, but in this life as well. These things are true, not because of what we write, or because of what we do, but because of what God has said and what He has done.
As Christ
From this foundation, we can write based on who we are. Pride has no place for those who have done nothing to earn God’s love (2 Corinthians 10:17-18). Fear is to no longer reign for citizens of heaven (2 Timothy 1:7). Shame has no hold on the adopted children of God (Romans 9:33). Concern for appearances, or personal brand, fall away if we can turn others toward our glorious Lord and bring Him even a little bit more honor. Ambition? What ambition does a servant have other than to please his Master, to honor Him in all things, and to anticipate what would be pleasing to Him.
We see these same attitudes reflected in Christ who did not consider His special position something He needed to hold onto (Philippians 2:6) or hold over others (Mark 10:42-45). No, He emptied Himself, He served, He gave of Himself to His own hurt. If we would follow in His steps, as little Christs, we too are to have this attitude in us that was in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). He was secure in His identity, and this permeated His actions, without shame, fear, pride, or ambition, just a desire to please His Father. His persuasion was His life, and His appeal: “Follow Me.”
The ways of the world are all around us and, sadly, have slipped uncontested into the church and influenced our thinking. It is a constant struggle, which requires continually renewing our minds (Romans 12:2), pens, and keyboards to have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Writing to persuade then is no longer about using various methods to gain an advantage for personal gain. Instead, writing the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) we do not use the weapons of the world (2 Corinthians 10:4) to deceive, or to create discontent or dependence. We seek to point others to Christ through our writing, to help them to maturity, fully dependent on God and not on us. We are to constantly guard against the ethical fading into which the allurement of pragmatism seeps. Pragmatism has nothing to do with ethics and the glorious and holy calling we have been welcomed to as the children, and writers, of God.
Bibliography
- “Start With Why”, by Simon Sinek, Penguin Publishing Group, 2011, page 17
- “Something’s Not Right”, by Wade Mullen, Tyndale Momentum, 2020, page 2
- “Preaching & Preachers”, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Zondervan Publishing House, 1971, page 239
BIO: Aaron Kryger is a disciple of Jesus Christ who enjoys serving as well as cultivating his God-given interests from aviation and World War II, to French, linguistics, and photography. Decades after enjoying a high school creative writing class, he has written a novel and uses writing as a means to clarify his thinking on various subjects.
