I read a few blogs on a regular basis, and, in general, the ones I like are excellent. Insightful, interesting, engaging content. Tim Challies, Justin Taylor, Abraham Piper, Mike Anderson & The Resurgence, the whole team at Evangelical Village… All these guys and so many more do a wonderful job seeking to glorify Jesus through blogging, and for that, they should be commended.
However, I’ve recently seen a very ugly thing happening in commenting habits, that in no way reflects or glorifies Jesus; that being the pushing of agendas that have nothing at all to do with anything that’s being discussed.
Recently, I’ve seen several discussions on a variety of topics derailed into a pro-egalitarianism rant (or more accurately “anti-authority of any kind” rant) on points that had nothing to do with the issue. I’ve seen Christians come out of the woodwork declaring the author a heretic on a doctrinal issue that is a tertiary issue.
My point in addressing this is that it shows a disturbing lack of character in how Christians are engaging the “blogosphere” (I hate the web-speak, so please excuse the quotes).
Our mission in all things is to glorify Jesus.
That includes how we blog.
Absolutely everything we do is under the authority and in submission to Jesus—Our gracious and merciful Savior who died in our place, for our sins. And when we act in a profoundly ungodly fashion in any area of our lives, including our blogging, we blaspheme Jesus!
As Christians, we must engage all of life in a way that reflects the grace given to us.
That means when we blog, we need to be, first and foremost, advancing what we are for, rather than what we are against. We must not engage in futile quarrels and bickering. We must not push our pet agendas because we’ve let bitterness take root in our hearts, but only speak in a way that promotes healthy discussion and debate.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:29, that we are to “let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear,” and in Titus 3:2, “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”
I’m not saying there’s never a time to stand up and say, “This isn’t right.” If I was, I wouldn’t be writing this right now. What I am saying is that we would all be wise to let these words sink in before we click the “post” button. Step away. Check our hearts. Check our motives. Ask the Holy Spirit to guard and guide our words. Meditate on these words:
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
[P]ut off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:1-7, 22-32, emphasis mine).
Let your blogging be to the glory of God today.
