Is Building a Writing Platform Prideful? A Biblical Perspective for Christian Writers
One of the most common concerns Christian writers have about building a writing platform is pride. We worry that attaching our name to our writing is prideful, or that marketing our work means we’re really just trying to promote ourselves.
It’s a valid concern—and one worth taking seriously.
But it’s also a question that deserves a thoughtful, biblical answer rather than a guilt-driven assumption. Let’s tackle it head-on.
(If you haven’t already, I recommend reading or listening to the previous post/episode on platforms versus pedestals, which lays important groundwork for this conversation.)
What Does Scripture Say About Pride?
James 4:6 tells us:
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.’”
James is quoting Proverbs 3:34 here, and the Greek word used for pride carries the idea of exalting ourselves beyond what God has provided or made us to be. Another way to describe pride is having an inaccurate view of ourselves.
That means pride isn’t just thinking too highly of yourself—it can also look like thinking too lowly of yourself.
Romans 12:3 echoes this idea:
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.”
Biblical humility isn’t putting ourselves down and saying we have nothing to offer. It’s honesty about who we are, what we’ve been given, and where it all comes from.
So What Does Pride Look Like for Writers?
As it relates to building a writing platform, pride can show up in a few different ways.
1. Promoting Yourself as Something You’re Not
Pride looks like exaggerating your abilities, inflating your credentials, or presenting yourself as an authority you haven’t actually become. In essence, it’s a form of dishonesty—claiming to be someone you’re not.
2. Downplaying the Gifts God Has Given You
But pride can also show up on the opposite end of the spectrum.
There’s a kind of false humility that says, “I don’t really have anything to offer,” or “I’m not that good,” even when God has clearly gifted and equipped you.
False humility can look like:
Refusing to accept a compliment
Deflecting encouragement instead of saying “thank you”
When we insist we have nothing to offer, we’re subtly denying God’s generosity. Saying you have no gifts is, in effect, saying God hasn’t given you any.
What True Humility Actually Is
True humility acknowledges that everything we have comes from God.
We don’t pretend to be what we’re not, but we also don’t pretend to be less than we are.
When viewed this way, promoting your writing doesn’t have to be about promoting yourself. It can be about offering a gift to readers, serving others, and ultimately pointing people to Christ.
How Do We Get an Accurate View of Our Writing?
If humility means having an accurate view of ourselves, how do we actually develop that as writers?
One practical way is through community.
When no one else reads our work, it’s easy to get stuck in our own heads. We can convince ourselves our writing is either far better or far worse than it actually is. A writing community, critique group, editor, or trusted reader helps ground us in reality.
Honest feedback keeps us growing and keeps both pride and insecurity in check.
The Subtle Slippery Slopes of Pride
Pride is sneaky. Here are a few ways it can quietly creep in:
Self-Reliance
Over time, we may forget that our ability to write comes from God. We rely on our own discipline, creativity, or experience instead of remaining dependent on Him.
The remedy: Regular worship, prayer, and gratitude. Ask God for guidance before you write. Thank Him for the ability to do so.
Inflated or Deflated Self-Perception
There’s a fine line between confidence and pride—and between humility and imposter syndrome.
We can drift into believing we have more to offer than we really do. Or we can convince ourselves we have nothing of value at all.
The truth is usually somewhere in the middle.
What About Our Motives?
Another important question to ask is why we want to grow a platform.
Is it to serve others and glorify God? Or is it to feel important, validated, or worthy?
An important thing to remember is this: our motives are never perfectly pure.
As my pastor likes to say, we’re all a “mixed bag of motives.” If we wait until we’re certain our intentions are completely godly before we publish anything, we’ll never share our words at all.
So what do we do instead?
We pray. We remember what’s true about God and about ourselves. And then we move forward in obedience, trusting that the Holy Spirit will convict, correct, and guide us as needed.
God is not limited by our imperfect motives. He is fully capable of using our imperfect obedience for His glory.
A Prayer Before You Write
As you write and share your work, Psalm 139:23–24 is a beautiful prayer to return to again and again:
“Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.”
May we be writers who steward our gifts faithfully, neither hiding them nor exalting ourselves. May we offer our words with humility, honesty, and courage for the glory of God and the good of others.
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