The panel is having an interesting discussion right now about the challenge of blogging gracefully. We Christians are a very diverse group, theologically speaking. When we spot error, or find ourselves seriously disagreeing with another blogger, how do we react? Is there a healthy balance between being too accepting of false ideas, and clouding our Christian witness by being overly harsh, negative, and argumentative? What does it look like to communicate in a way that is both gracious and truthful?
Much of the discussion has centered around Christian responses to Andrew Sullivan, a widely-read blogger who is a professing Catholic but whose views stray far from the evangelical and traditional Catholic perspective. If you as a blogger feel called to address something that, for example, Sullivan has written, how do you do it? Do you wittily pick apart his arguments line by line? Do you say nothing and downplay the disagreement, however serious it might be? As any blogger or writer will tell you, finding a Christlike balance between the extremes is not easy.
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October 27, 2006 at 14:27
I think it boils down to this verse:
James 1:19 (New International Version)
19My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
I know we all screw up in this at times but it would be good to remember these words when reviewing the views of another. I know I have just flat out not written on a post or two because I knew my words would not go over well and would cause more trouble than good. Choose your battles wisely and remember even though it is the world wide web and to some extent “public domain” you are still treading on the turf of another and those rights should be respected to some degree.
God bless.
October 27, 2006 at 15:32
One of the key attributes of blogging is that it represents the unvarnished voice of the public. Opinions and words that haven’t gone through anyone’s spin cycle. This is why journalists, pollsters and politicians like the blogosphere. Blogging is always about dialog and exchange of opinion.
If we are wondering how we should dialog Jesus is a good model to look at. What I love about Jesus is that He was a full man, an excellent communicator with a complete set of communication tools. If we only had His statement, “blessed are the peacemakers”, we would assume that He was a doe-eyed, soft voiced pacifist. But He also said to those in His religious community, “I came to bring a sword”, and “You brood of vipers”. He used sarcasm, satire, slapstick humor, gentle words, strong words. He cried, He exulted (whooped for joy), He insulted (you whitewashed tombs). Of course, He was not out of control but He was emotional. He is what the fruits of the Spirit look like. He made a weapon (whip), provoked a fight by over-turning the desks of temple bankers. When Peter offered him some loving advice He responded, “Get behind me Satan”. And yet He was always overflowing with love. Whew! Another good example is to see how Paul disagreed with Peter. It was direct, public and pointed.
I know there are some blogmasters on Christian sites that are quick to censure and shy away from controversy or heated opinions, but I would be very careful about that. As it says in Proverbs, “Iron sharpens iron”. We are instructed by God’s word not to use “coarse language”, obscenity or “silly jesting” and our language should always be seasoned with grace. But remember, it’s just a seasoning, you don’t make a dinner out of salt. We are allowed to express ourselves with the full repertoire of communication tools.