Blogging and the Church

fredtgreco · #1 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 10:30 AM

I have been wondering lately whether blogging is a worthwhile cause at all considering the internet hijinks that Johnson mentions.

[Edited on 6/2/2005 by fredtgreco]

Ivanhoe · #2 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 10:55 AM

I only blog via xanga to keep up with old friends from college. I never get "polemical" on my blogs, not usually anyway and not related to calvinism. Mine's more of an update of what's going on in my life.

fredtgreco · #3 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 11:22 AM

Jacob,

I am not referring to that. I am referring to the use of a blog sort of as an unprinted theological journal (not diary, but in the scholaraly 19th century sense).

Ivanhoe · #4 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fredtgreco
Jacob,

I am not referring to that. I am referring to the use of a blog sort of as an unprinted theological journal (not diary, but in the scholaraly 19th century sense).

Ah, I see.

BobVigneault · #5 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 11:36 AM

A board is a 'community of faith' with a set of distinctive boundaries. A blog is a 'personal profession or even, a personal confession of faith. A board is more presbyterian, a blog is more baptist.

turmeric · #6 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 01:32 PM

I've been using my blog to work out what I believe about certain things, nobody reads it much, which is probably good, I'm probably going to quit soon anyway as it's nearly served its purpose. Nonetheless, I had my pastor vet it recently to make sure I wasn't doing the sort of stuff Phil's talking about, it passed muster.

fredtgreco · #7 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 01:37 PM

My concern is that people (myself included) often write on the internet in such a fashion that they never would speak. Or at least they believe they can do so with impunity.

Here is a good comment from my good friends Revs. Timothy and David Bayly:

http://timbayly.worldmagblog.com/tim...es/014865.html

Quote:

Sunlight on the Internet

Lack of light leads to germs while nothing cleanses more thoroughly than the sun. For these reasons Tim and I publish valid email addresses along with contact information on this blog. We also try to remain actively engaged in the comment sections of our posts rather than just on the main blog page.

We do so because we believe as pastors we must approach all of life pastorally. This medium is not the Christian equivalent of Berkeley´s Free Speech Zone. It´s a medium to be claimed for Christ. Which means, first, that Tim and I are responsible for what we say here; and second, that this blog is intended to be helpful spiritually to others, not just to burnish our writing skills or public reputations.

We hope those who participate actively or inactively in this blog benefit from the thoughts expressed here--and that the sum of all our words is glory to the Father through the Son.

As part of the discipline of approaching this blog pastorally Tim and I are committed to explaining--and at times defending--what we write in our posts. We want our readers to know who we are, the churches we pastor, how we can be reached and the theological commitments we bring to the table. We do so recognizing that sin is crouching, seeking to devour those who are not just as careful to obey God on the internet as they are in more personal areas of life.

We have seen the effect over time of the anonymity and pseudonymity in the closed discussion lists that are increasingly common on Reformed sites. Even when discussion is open and moderators are identified many Reformed sites degenerate into virtual ghettoes.

The smug, self-referential nature of discussion in such groups produces closed communities where arrogance and vitriol dominate. And because the internet lacks the inherent accountability of communication with a personal dimension, Christian internet users too often ignore such Scriptural commands as:

Ephesians 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.

Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Corinthians 1:11-13 For it has been reported to me by Chloe´s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, "œI follow Paul," or "œI follow Apollos," or "œI follow Cephas," or "œI follow Christ." 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Timothy 5:17, 19 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching"¦.19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Many Christians appear to believe blogs and discussion forums are morality-free zones. Suddenly, because we're not speaking face to face, we're freed from Biblical standards of conduct. Thus internet anonymity is no longer a trap only for Christian men dealing with lust. Lack of accountability also has led participants on Christian blogs and discussion boards to sin in tragic ways.

I recently ran across a post on a Reformed discussion board by a twenty-something-year-old in a major metro area accusing his pastor of heresy on the basis of the pastor's words of instruction given just prior to the the sacrament of baptism. Though the writer used a pseudonym, regulars on the discussion board clearly knew who he was"”and thus the church he attended and the pastor he was attacking. A pastor in our own denomination, the Presbyterian Church in America, was moderating the board yet no one called the writer to account.

Elsewhere the same tendency prevails. I´ve recently read a number of bitingly sarcastic assessments ("œtheological Gestapo" was the comment on one PCA site) of the Mississippi Valley Presbytery´s "œNew Perspectives" Study Committee. The irony is that those who rail against the report typically are unordained men who claim to hold a high view of the Church and ecclesiastical authority. Yet seemingly without compunction they mock the report of ordained men bearing the true authority of a living branch of the Church of Christ.

I've yet to hear of a blogger being the subject of church discipline for something posted on a blog, but if corporations are firing people for what they write on blogs, churches which practice discipline will soon need to consider how to deal with internet attitude problems. At the very least, churches need to make clear to members that biblical standards of holiness don't stop at the computer keyboard, but are just as applicable to blogs and discussion lists as they are to dinner table conversations and elders meetings.

For these reasons, Tim and I wish to acknowledge our accountability to God, and thus to our boards of elders and fellow presbyters, for what we write on this site. We do so in part by clearly identifying who we are, where we come from, how we can be reached, and the authority we are under and possess. We do not write in a vacuum. We are responsible for what we say. We fully acknowledge we are accountable to the elders of our churches and the members of our presbyteries for our conduct. We are pastors and we count it a privilege to write in this medium under the authority of our office.

We urge others, then, to adopt similar standards. Use real names. Write for public consumption. Don´t gossip. Remember that Christian standards apply on the internet. Beware of murmuring. Open your closed lists. Don´t think you´re too important to have to deal with opponents.

crhoades · #8 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 01:54 PM

Good post, Fred. Thanks!

rmwilliamsjr · #9 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 03:12 PM

thanks for the Pastors Bayly blog quote, it deserves wide reading and understanding. makes me glad i decided 15 years ago to use my real name online, despite everyone's warnings. i think it has helped keep my postings politer then they would have been otherwise.

Robin · #10 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 03:51 PM

One thing's for sure....false teaching can spread quicker; be perceived as more authoritative than ever before. This goes for garden-variety sinfulness as well...

My own pastor (an experienced message boarder) rightfully warned me about the perils of blogging/posting, as it can ensnare us in all sorts of "pernicious mischief."

R.

C. Matthew McMahon · #11 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 03:56 PM

Quote:

My concern is that people (myself included) often write on the internet in such a fashion that they never would speak. Or at least they believe they can do so with impunity.

This, I think, Fred, is very importnat. Personally, I woul dnever write down anything I would not say to someone's face. I think that should be a good rule of thumb across the board.

Larry Hughes · #12 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 09:32 PM

Interesting points, though I personally don't blog. I must confess some ignorance there as I always thought they were merely a kind of public opinion page or idea debate type page with little more weight than that.

But I could see where this could be confused or abused.

Related though: I've often wonder, even analyzing myself, do we speak more like our selves verbally/pubically/face to face OR does the true self come out more in writting (paper/electronic/other media)? I tend to think the later is more true. Why? We/people often 'mask' ourselves in face to face dialog. I've found this especially true in formally educated circles (academic secular or seminary). Less formal education tends to operate the other way but is not immune to it, at least in my experience.

Ldh

Legal Caveat: The above written information is opinion based upon limited experience and skewed presuppositions and should not be construed as fact or research.

VirginiaHuguenot · #13 (**permalink**) 06-02-2005, 11:52 PM

This thread is a good and profitable reminder to us all (pointing to myself as I type) to watch our speech for we shall give an account for every word spoken or written. Let us all strive to edify and build up in all that we say and do.

"Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." (Ps. 141.3)

Joshua · #14 (**permalink**) 06-03-2005, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by webmaster

Quote:

My concern is that people (myself included) often write on the internet in such a fashion that they never would speak. Or at least they believe they can do so with impunity.

This, I think, Fred, is very importnat. Personally, I woul dnever write down anything I would not say to someone's face. I think that should be a good rule of thumb across the board.

Bladestunner316 · #15 (**permalink**) 06-03-2005, 01:02 AM

Quote:

"We are the Blog. Lower your shields and power down your laptops. Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated!"

rmwilliamsjr · #16 (**permalink**) 06-03-2005, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by webmaster

Quote:

My concern is that people (myself included) often write on the internet in such a fashion that they never would speak. Or at least they believe they can do so with impunity.

This, I think, Fred, is very importnat. Personally, I woul dnever write down anything I would not say to someone's face. I think that should be a good rule of thumb across the board.

when i first got involved online the advice i heard was don't say anything that you wouldn't want to appear on the local freeway billboard tomorrow morning. it turned out to be sound advice.