Style & tone for clear, charitable writing.

Purpose of Truth Takes

Truth Takes is not just "Christian hot takes." These posts are meant to help believers think biblically about culture, news, questions, and everyday life. Each piece should:

• Start from Scripture, not just opinion
• Aim to build up the reader, not just score points in an argument
• Move the reader toward Christ, not merely toward your viewpoint

Truthfulness & fairness

Truth Takes is built on the conviction that truth and love belong together. Before you submit, ask:

• Am I describing opposing views in a way their supporters would recognize?
• Am I distinguishing between verified facts, reasonable inference, and my opinion?
• Am I using Scripture to illuminate, not to weaponize?

We may request revisions when a piece relies on misquoting, straw-manning, selective evidence, or overheated framing.

Tone & posture

We are looking for a blend of conviction and gentleness:

• Convictional. Don't be vague about what is true and good. Let Scripture speak clearly.
• Humble. Assume you don't see everything. Acknowledge when an issue is complex or when faithful Christians may disagree.
• Pastoral. Write as if you are helping a real person in your church or small group, not an abstract internet opponent.

Avoid sarcasm-as-default, mockery, and anything that treats people as enemies rather than image-bearers.

Structure of a Truth Takes

Most Truth Takes should follow a simple structure:

1. Hook / setup (1–2 paragraphs). Briefly name the situation, question, or tension. Keep it concrete and accessible.
2. Biblical lens (2–4 paragraphs). Bring one or two main passages to bear. Summarize the passage, show how it applies, and avoid proof-texting.
3. Application (2–4 paragraphs). Help readers see what obedience, wisdom, or hope looks like in real life.
4. Landing (1 paragraph). Close with a clear takeaway, encouragement, or next step.

Using Scripture & references

Every published Truthful Take should be anchored in Scripture.

• Be specific. Refer to actual chapter and verse (for example, "James 1:2–4" instead of "the Bible says we should have joy in trials").
• Honor context. Don't use verses in ways that ignore the surrounding passage or the author's intent.
• Cite clearly. Use a consistent format for references (for example, "ESV – James 1:2–4").

Our editorial team may add, adjust, or clarify references to keep things consistent across the site.

Working with news & sources

Many Truth Takes will interact with current events, news stories, or other media. When you do:

• Name your sources. Mention the outlet and link it in the "Source / Context" field in the editor.
• Summarize fairly. Represent the other side in a way they would recognize, even if you disagree.
• Avoid rumor. Don't build a post on unverified claims, screenshots with no context, or hearsay.

Voice, clarity, & length

We're aiming for clear and readable, not academic.

• Write in the first person when appropriate ("I"/"we").
• Prefer short paragraphs and concrete examples.
• Use plain language; briefly explain any necessary jargon.
• Most posts work best between 800–1,800 words. Shorter or longer is okay when the idea truly needs it.

Things to avoid

We generally will not publish posts that:

• Turn into personal attacks against individuals (especially laypeople who are not public figures)
• Rely on shock value, clickbait, or outrage without substantive biblical reasoning
• Treat fellow believers as enemies rather than family (even where there are sharp disagreements)
• Offer confident conclusions where Scripture is either silent or only lightly suggestive, without acknowledging the limits of our certainty

Civility, safety, & respect

We don't allow harassment, bullying, or dehumanizing language on Truth Takes. Keep your words sharp toward ideas, not toward people made in God's image.

• No doxxing or sharing private identifying information.
• No targeted harassment, threats, or pile-on campaigns against a person.
• No slurs or dehumanizing labels for any ethnic group, nation, or category of people.
• Do not celebrate violence, abuse, or harm toward any person.
• Handle sensitive topics (abuse, self-harm, trauma, politics) with care and without sensationalism.

Evidence, attribution, & formatting

• Distinguish facts from your interpretation or opinion.
• Link to reputable sources when citing data or news.
• No plagiarism—credit quotes and ideas clearly.
• Avoid ALL CAPS and excessive punctuation (!!!!!).
• Images should be lawful, relevant to the post, and respectful of the people depicted.