The Sequel - Revenge of the Blog

Well, it seems I am still on this "beware of the blog" kick. In addition to what I said yesterday (click here), there is so much that needs to be said; to encourage believers to approach the blogosphere with discernment as well as with love and humility.

I am not one to reinvent the wheel so when I was sent a link to a blog site concerning the “redefining of the church” and followed it, I was most surprised and refreshed at a different article, published by an SBC pastor, concerning conduct and attitude in the blogosphere, particularly among believers. Please bear with me as I quote from some of the thoughts of Trevin K. Wax, minister of Education and Missions at First Baptist Church in Shelbyville, TN.

“(I sometimes wish I weren’t Southern Baptist…) when I see the arrogance of some bloggers who assume that because they have a high speed internet connection and strong opinions, they are God’s chose instrument to bring renewal to the SBC (what better way to break up a power base than replace it with a new power base)”

Now, I would have to say that what was seen in the SBC is really a problem in the entire Evangelical movement – too many see themselves as God’s chosen instrument to bring renewal to Evangelicalism simply because they have an internet connection.

Here is a bit lengthier quote, but one that does us well to consider. Remember to simply inject “Evangelicalism” for “the Southern Baptist Convention” and “believer” for “Baptist”

In the Southern Baptist Convention, the blogosphere is both promising and threatening. To have a voice in Convention life ten or fifteen years ago, you had to climb a ladder of committees, be in a prominent parachurch ministry, pastor a growing church, or be a seminary professor or author. Not today. Any Baptist with internet access can start a blog, publish their thoughts, cause controversy, and gather a following.

Blogs feed egos. The more brash, bold, arrogant you can be - the better. Of course, there are some really great, growing blogs that haven’t followed this path. But generally, arrogance and pride is the way to get a base of readers.

After visiting some different Baptist blogs and reading the self-righteous rhetoric and outright mockery of other believers, I feel compelled to ask: And who are you? What have you done for the Kingdom that gives you the right to criticize so heartlessly your brothers and sisters in Christ? Furthermore, bloggers overestimate their importance.

He then ends one of his posts with these words:

The missing ingredient in the blogosphere today is humility. We need a good dose of reality. Just because see ourselves as hip and technologically savvy does not mean we automatically deserve a platform for whatever ideas we have or pronouncements we make. Godly influence cannot be manufactured. It comes with maturity and wisdom. And usually, the people who most deserve to be heard are the ones who refuse to participate in biting criticism and attacks on other believers. The blogosphere is here to stay. Now let’s hope humility makes a comeback.

Truly the blogosphere is here to stay. I am not sure how the Christian community can effectively keep this thing accountable and humble. On Wax’s blog he did site from another individual who gave the following items as his advice to would be bloggers. Such advice may not be new to some, but yet very relevant and needed to hear again and put into practice:

A. Bloggers need to regularly pray about their blogs. Pray that God will help them to blog with integrity. Pray that God will bring sinful motives to light. Pray that God will use blogs for his glory.

B. Bloggers need not assume they are smarter or godlier because they are more tech-savvy.

C. Bloggers need to guard against negativity.

D. Bloggers need to admit that Bobby Welch is right… Bloggers need to not let their hobby take the place of things that really matter, which includes evangelism.

E. Bloggers need to remember that sometimes the better part of wisdom is not posting about everything you know.

F. Bloggers need to remember that if this little revolution ever becomes about SBC political power, they will become the very thing they gripe about the most: a power base.

G. Bloggers need to remember that blogging communities are only pseudo-communities; as fun as it is to dialog in the comments, real community can only exist in real, face-to-face relationships. [i.e. a local fellowship].

H. Bloggers need to remember that change will only come to the convention as local churches change. Even the most influential blogs ultimately play a small role in convention life.

I. Bloggers need to be willing to quit.

If you would like to read the entirety of Wax’s posts on this matter, please click here.

May we put into practice the art of “encouraging” – parakaleo – “of coming along side to promote godliness.” This is certainly an imperative of Scripture:

Hebrews 3:12-13
12 Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 10:24-25
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

May our attempts to “stimulate, provoke, egg-on” one another to love and good deeds be a positive experience to the glory of God. Just some more "food for thought."

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed