I’m inquisitive by nature. I’ve been known to spend the afternoon watching an ant hill prepare to swarm, a spider spin its web and fireflies make their magic in the evening warmth. So naturally I follow the links on blogs I frequent. And I’ve noticed a disturbing trend.
A few weeks ago my friend, Joe (whom I discovered through a link on Alex’s blog), posted that he was done blogging about the goings-on in the SBC. Its through his blog I came upon a plethora of blogs of SBC pastor-types and I gotta tell ya, I’m with Joe on this. I’ve not blogged on the issues and politics and power and control crap I’ve seen because it just makes me nauseated to even think about it. But I feel compelled to say something here about what I’m seeing in these pastor-types blogs of late.
I’ve noticed that of all the many things they discuss, and there is no derth of topics, there is something very conspicuously missing:
Jesus.
Even Alex, bless his soul, spends more time talking about "the mystic" or church-planting philosophy than on what God is teaching him right now, or what passionate discussions He and Jesus are locked into currently.
Why is that? Why is it that we are so bent on discussing every spiritual topic known to man except what God is teaching us, working in us, stirring in us right now? As I followed the umpteen-millionth link and read the umpteen-millionth blog, I wondered, where is Jesus in all this?
I’m not saying that every post needs to be "And the Laaahwrd said to me…" (in booming baritone voice). But it would be nice to read posts that are much more personal and Jesus-oriented than what I see on the pastor-type blogs today.
One blogger carries on about landmark-ism. Another rails against the new nominee for SBC president, several others give reports on the latest church-planting conference or missional conference of some sort, still another gives a review of the latest controversial film, tv show or book.
But what did Jesus teach them through these things? Where is He in all of this?
What an opportunity a blog is! People read this space that I will probably never meet this side of the Veil. We have one opportunity to grab their attention and give them a word of Hope before they click on another link and move on. Shouldn’t what we post about somehow point to Jesus?
I’m not saying that every word of our blogs ought to be all scriptural and "religious". That turns people off just as much as if we hit them on over the head with our biggest hard-back Bibles. But what I am saying, what I am convinced of, is that what we are passionate about is revealed in what we write. Our passions will inevitably infiltrate and permeate every post we write. If your passion is church-planting, then that’s what will permeate your posts. If its politics — whether in the secular or denominational realm — it will permeate your blog.
What are our blogs, our daily/weekly/monthly posts, saying about our passions? What does our writing reveal about our true passions?
And where is Jesus?
I like Jesus. Wanna read something that just rocked my world the other day? Check this. Man that’ll make you think.
On a brighter note, I’m teaching myself how to cook this summer. The summer’s goal? Apple cheesecake. I want it so good people are begging me to make it.
Amen, Sistah Lu-Yah!
I quit blogging on Voxtropolis for just this reason. I saw a lot more about church mechanics and airy theory than practice. Not all, but the majority. And the design of the place makes it hard to find things. Including my Vox, which got lost in the shuffle. My quiet little stories just made no impression. I kept it up for a time but nobody read, nobody commented. So, I quit. Not many people read Last Exit, but I’m glad for the ones who do, and I read theirs. We’ve made our own real fellowship just by doing it. You can’t do fellowship by fiat, I’m afraid.
Thanks, Lu.
Right on, Larry. It’s nice for me to finally have brought my Xanga, my Blogger, and my Vox all under one page. Ahhh, it’s so comfortable. Next up- redecorating my online home.
Yeah, I still post on Vox occasionally (I posted this one there). Mainly because Shaun Groves linked to my Vox blog — not that I get any traffic from him, but still. I feel the need to keep it up. But I mainly just copy and paste from here to there. And occassionally a few others see it. And find their way over here.
By the way, Joe, I did finally comment on Wade Burleson’s blog tonight. I just felt I needed to let someone in the conversation know how I was feeling — and he seems the most reasonable of the bloggers.
Its hard. I feel such a history with the SBC, because of my dad being an SBC Chaplain and from growing up in SB churches and serving with the IMB and working at the SBC offices last year (aaaeeeyyyahh! That’s something I won’t do again anytime soon!!). I see understand what the “rebels” desire to do; and find it a worthwhile cause. I just hate how they are going about it.
And in the meantime, I feel like Jesus’ name is being defiled by all the garbage going back and forth between these folks and the “lankmarkists” and all the others. Honestly, where IS Jesus in all this?? I can’t find Him.
Lu, I think the kicker came when I was told by a good friend that if I push onward, continuing my call for integrity and honesty, that I would push a particular “leader” too far, and he might just go public with all he knows. This, I was told, would cause a civil war in the SBC. (Yes, he was putting a potential SBC civil war and the future of many jobs and the convention on my head.) In fact, I was told that I should OVERLOOK the sins of one man (who was calling for the end of the sins of others) to avoid that same man going public (and potentially starting a war with his words). It was at that moment I realized that I don’t fit in the SBC. When some refuse accountability, yet call for it from others, I see hypocrisy. There’s no honor in dying for a convention. There is honor in dying for Christ. Which is what I will do. My allegiance is ONLY for Christ.
Dang, man. That’s harsh. That a leader would put such a thing on your shoulders. That’s not your responsibility.
Aw, man. Bless their hearts. It’s painfully hard work to hide one’s brokenness behind a mask. I know. I used to live that way. Painful. And exhausting.
Jesus, please help them. They need you.
This is very sad. We’re reaping the result of years of putting our roots down into human idealogy, human effort, instead of the rich loam of the Holy Spirit. Not only does he provide nourishment that transforms souls, but he guides the growth. Instead of the warped, crabbed scrubby trees that struggle out of the human systems, you get beauty… but it’s hard. Hard, slow, painful, and you have the missionary board pushing you for results. Christianity by committee, with goals set out that must be improved every year. Numbers. Christian accountants tracking every move.
God has a better way. Naturally. Still, small voice…