TO WRITE OR NOT TO WRITE
by Dr. Forrest L. Keener

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

(2 Co 5:9 - 11)

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It is not my purpose to expound the above verses, but to call attention to the words, “I wrote, ... but now I write.” The conjunction “but” clearly implies some kind of change in, or qualification of, Paul’s first instruction as compared to the next one. I expect there is no indication of error in the first writing, but rather that additional information he had gained, or a consideration of the possibility that his first instruction might be misinterpreted or misapplied, caused him to feel the need for further qualification of his original instruction. I suppose that some such modification is necessary for everyone who by writing puts themselves on record of what they have said, unless of course, they are quoting the very words of God, which cannot be improved. Nineteen years ago, a good man, and a good friend of mine, a good Bible student, and a fine godly preacher, gave me some personal advice. I think it was unsolicited, nevertheless, he said “Brother Keener, never write anything down, when you can communicate it audibly. There are too many men who will purposely misunderstand, and use your own words against you. He was not speaking of all writings, but communications such as letters, which concerned controversial issues, or issues which might well become controversial in the future. However, I have since then become convinced that the truth of this will, to some extent, apply to anything we write down.

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I have been thinking lately how we as preachers, and by no means we alone, will make more of an issue over what we consider to be the errors, even of our favorite writer’s words, than we will make of their truth. Consider how we do this concerning the writings of such men as Gill, Henry, Pink, and on I could go. I have noticed how good men will labor in the defense, or explanation of an issue, and their critics will totally depart from the intended issue to find fault with incidental details, that neither prove nor disprove the particular issue under discussion. I have been poorly and ignorantly writing for more than forty years, and find it to be very demanding, indeed, exhausting work. I have gotten some good compliments from many people, from time to time, and often received assurance that my work had helped someone to better understand some principle or doctrine. This is, of course, gratifying. But as thanks for my efforts, I have also been criticized, lied about and lied to. I have lost friends, and have been called names that the critics probably could not even define. This, of course, makes us wonder at times, why should we who write even go to the trouble?

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The answer is simple. Almost all of the education that any of us has received comes through the writings of someone else. From the first little books our parents and siblings read to us, to the hundreds of volumes we read and digest during our entire life’s education, everything that can be read must have been written. It is true that today we have, and are developing, many other forms of communicating data. Nevertheless, most of that is coming from data originally saved on the printed, therefore written, page. Consider the lifetimes of hours spent writing, and recopying our Holy Bible. Consider the untold value of recorded history. Consider the mathematical and geographical information that has been passed on to us, without which business as we know it could not exist. I could go no with other examples but the point is obvious.

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Let us pause frequently to thank the men and women of the past who have contributed to our lives, if only a little by each. They were historians, philosophers, theologians, researchers, architects, geographers, mathematicians, professors, novelists, musicians, etc. Some were like Gill and Surgeon, who each contributed hundreds of volumes, and others scribbled only a few lines, which finally became invaluable threads, connecting facts of history. None of our lives could be what they are, if those who have written had not written. So let us who can write, even if ever so poorly, leave behind us what we can. It may improve a life, or help preserve a soul saving truth. It is my prayer that my tiny contribution within this activity may improve and enhance a life, and above all, that it may guide some soul to faith in Jesus Christ.

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Dr. Forrest L. Keener is a Missionary/Evangelist out of Sherwood Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, OK. He can be reached by email at flkeener@cox.net.