Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Jesus Creed

Home
Evangelical
Journalism, Tough Issues, Jonathan Merritt

Journalism, Tough Issues, Jonathan Merritt

Last updated on: July 19, 2017 at 6:53 pm by Scot McKnight

Journalism, Tough Issues, Jonathan Merritt 2017-07-19T18:53:27-05:00 Scot McKnight

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

How to Write About Tough Topics Without Rankling Readers, by Jonathan Merritt

“How we talk about God matters because how we talk always matters: language does more to us and for us than we know.”

This wise warning from Lauren Winner alerts us to the importance of paying attention to what we say. You do not need to convince me that her words are true.

As a columnist who focuses on religion and politics, my job is to write about contentious topics and hot button issues. This vocation makes me something of a target for my many critics, and the bullseye on my back grows larger when the issue du jour is exceptionally divisive.

Having done this work for more than a decade, I am embarrassed to admit that my mouth often tastes like foot. I have made statements in print that I wish I could take back. Comments have slipped out in interviews that I wish I had swallowed. Often, I said the write thing in the wrong way and later wish I could rephrase it.

When you’re in the business of words, sooner or later the words you use will end up using you.

Words can use you to offend.

Words can use you to stir up anger.

Words can use you to inflict pain.

For this reason, it is imperative that writers learn how to write well when covering tough topics. Before wading into murky waters, I often suggest young writers practice the “STOP method”:

S – SIT STILL

As soon as you finish a blog post or article, it’s tempting to push publish and let the chips fall where they may. But rather than rush, sit still for a moment. Ask yourself whether this is really something you’re ready to say and tabulate all who may be negatively affected by it. If you sit with that and still want to proceed…

T – TAKE TIME

Your gut is not a great guide to decision making. We’ve all heard the advice about writing a letter and then putting in a drawer for sometime before sending it. The advice is sound because time has a way of clearing our minds, soothing our anger, and drawing out our better angels.

O – OBSERVE OTHERS

Solomon said there is wisdom in many counselors. You may assume an article is ready to publish, but others may see what you cannot. Hand your article to one or two people you trust and then observe their reactions. If they feel uncomfortable and their reasoning is sound, you can assume many others like them will be too.

P –PROCEED

After you’ve refined your words based on wise counsel, it is time to release them into the world. Take a deep breath and proceed with publishing. Depending on the topic, you’ll probably still receive criticism. But you can defend your work with confidence knowing you’ve done your due diligence.

The need to speak bold words in a wise way is one of the reasons I founded Write Brilliant Academy, a 16-week online course to train aspiring writers who want to live their calling.

I’ve even created a FREE 3-part mini-course called Jumpstart My Writing to help writers start, sustain, and share their work.

But for all of you whose knees are still knocking, here’s a quick video: “What to Do When Your Topic Rankles Your Readers.” As someone who has landed in hot water too many times, I want to help you avoid the mistakes I learned the hard way.

Winner is dead right: “How we talk always matters.”

Jonathan Merritt is one of America’s most popular religion columnists. He is a contributing writer for The Atlantic, senior columnist for Religion News Service, and author of Jesus is Better Than You Imagined.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

July 19, 2017

When the Preacher Has Doubts

Next Post

July 20, 2017 A Civil Disagreement (RJS)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Acts of the Apostles Adam Advent Anabaptism Angels Anglican Apologetics Atonement Baptism BCP Prayers Bible Biblical Studies Birds Blogging Bloglossary Bonhoeffer Books Calvinism Christianity Church Church History Coffee Colossians Commentary Recs Conversion Creation Creeds Culture Death Ecclesiastes Economics Education Embracing Grace Emergent Emerging Movement Eschatology Essays Ethics Eucharist Evangelicalism Family Fasting Fathers Fellowship of Differents Footsteps Tour Fun and Whimsical Gospel Grace Happiness Heaven Hell Holy Spirit Irenaeus James Jesus Jesus Creed Job Justification Kingdom of God Law Lectures Lent Liberalism Love and Marriage Mabanteneni Manhood Mary Miracles Missio Alliance MissioLife Missional Missional Jesus Movies and Film New Perspective Northern Seminary OneLife Origins Project Orthodox Parables Pastor's Spouse Pastoring and Leading Pastoring and Preaching Patristics Paul Paul-John Tour Pharisees Pietism Political Theology Prayer and Formation Preaching Problems for Faith Psalm 119 Psalms Public Issues Purgatory Religions Resurrection Revelation Romans Rule of JCreed Science and Faith Sermon on the Mount Sports Ten Commandments Theology Third Way Top Ten Lists Translations Uncategorized Universalism University Ministry Way Out Weekly Meanderings Wisdom Women and Ministry Work Worship Writing & Blogging Youth Ministry

Select a Month July 2021 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 0000

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Nahum describes the Lord as riding in the whirlwind and storms. What does he say are the clouds?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The dust of his feet His glory His covering His chariot