Mark Roberts (US) at Theologica:

How Shall We Then Blog? Part 2

In my last post on this topic, I raised the question: How shall we then blog? Since then many have offered comments and e-mails, as well as two Theologica posts related to this topic (by Warren Kelly and Mike Russell). I think this is an important conversation, not only for those of us who participate in Theologica, but for all Christians who seek to communicate through blogging and other electronic media.

So, how shall we then blog? My basic answer to this question will sound like a children’s Sunday School lesson, but so be it. Our blogging should be consistent with our calling as Christians. It should reflect who we are in Christ and who we are called to be through Christ. In particular, our online communication, whether as bloggers, commenters, or e-mailers, should be consistent with biblical teaching on how we ought to behave as Christians.

Now I realize this sounds terribly obvious. Surely all Christians, at least all biblically-committed Christians, would agree with what I’ve just said. And let there be no question about it: there is plenty in Scripture that is relevant to blogging and other sorts of e-communication.

Ephesians 4:1-3

Take Ephesians 4:1-3, for example:

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3)

How do we live in light of our calling to be God’s people? Here’s a quick rule of thumb: Live humbly, gently, patiently, bearing with each other in love, making every effort to maintain unity and peace. So, how shall we then blog? In light of Ephesians 4:1-3, blog humbly, gently, patiently, bearing with each other in love, making every effort to maintain unity and peace.

Falling Short of the Standard

Unfortunately, I don’t think Christian bloggers always live up to this standard. (I know I don’t at times.) Some, it seems, don’t even aspire to reach the standard. As I’ve surfed around Christian websites, I’ve seen some very harsh and unkind communication. Believers on all sides of issues sometimes blast away as if their true battle was not against the powers of darkness, but rather against fellow Christians with whom they disagree about some matter of theology. They engage in hyperbole and obfuscation that seems more suited to American political campaigns than to Christian conversations about sacred truth.

I’ve been blogging for 21 months. During this period of time I’ve received several thousand e-mails in response to my blog posts. The vast majority of these have been polite and respectful, even when the writers are objecting to something I’ve said online. But I’ve also received a couple dozen zingers, full of vitriol and spite. People have questioned my integrity, my faith, even my salvation. Without exception, the nastiest e-mails I have received have been from people who claim to be Christians. (A couple were from people who are regarded in some circles as Christian leaders.)

By far, most god-bloggers will tell you the most difficult email they receive is from supposed believers. I’ve lost count of the number of emails I’ve received from god-bloggers all over the world that have have received the same kind of email and who want no part of the the debate or the anger.
My own experience has been limited two a few evangelicals, frustrated or angry at my posts about US politics and faith. The US faith community is deeply divided on many levels - including politically. The emails have come from Republican Christians, or Christian Republicans.
The Republican aspect seemed desperately important.
Certainly important enough to fire off emails.
Oddly enough the fact they were addressing a Canadian, (and therefore a not-Republican) didn’t even slow them down. Why is that?

I think it’s human nature. We need institutions and beliefs bigger than ourselves. We are a sum of many things.
I think ignorance has a place - a lack of knowledge of historical faith and lack of knowledge of other cultures. I believe many of us have a deep a desire to learn and be heard.
I think there can be a misguided sense of loyalty, patriotism, unacknowledged and unaware entitlement, ego, and absolutely genuinely feelings of being attacked, misunderstood and put down. I believe myths are involved. I believe we attempt to speak over great cultural divides, and what is common can be lost.

Sometimes myths are simple such as Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and the citizens in the UK, Philippines, Malaysia…in general are anti-american self righteous socialists.

Pushing myths aside, what is left that we share in common?

The first time or two I encountered Republican wrath as a new blogger, I was set back on my heels.
I didn’t realize the person was requiring approval, not critique. The anger was very personalized. In their view I was attacking them, their country, their politics, moral values and therefore their God, and how dare I!

Three years of blogging later, I’d barely blink.

Recently I criticized an upcoming regional god-blog conference that is billing itself as the first one ever.
I added a bit of silliness in the post so people (especially bloggers) would go to the site, have a look and draw their own conclusions. My intent has been to promote what could be an opportunity for bloggers to meet each other. But that is not how it was received. A few incorrect facts in my post were addressed. I really was not quite prepared for the frustration and sarcasm in the comment section by an organizer.

So I called for help to a couple of media people who I respect for in the US. They were blunt.
“This conference is political, back off, or address the politics, it’s your blog.”

The comment section took different trails as comment sections wonderfully do, and a question from a organizer deserves a clear and honest answer.

I’d brought up the facts in a post that in the months of planning for this regional conference, only Republicans were leading the blogging panels.
I brought up the fact the focus on politics and ministry might not be something many bloggers would be interested in. There could be many reasons for that I don’t understand. Organizers invited evangelicals, the requirement for attendence is adherence to a statement of faith. That became the perception.

So, why is this conference so political? Why was the organizer frustrated?
There are any number of factors, as I have noted, and I don’t think they all come into conscious play.
Two I wish to address are manifest destiny and dominionism.

I see manifest destiny creeping into conversation whether we wish it to or not.
The first assumption is that I care what political party you belong to.
I don’t. I really don’t.

I care that a GodBlogCon has the appearance of a political event featuring activist Rebuplicans, and I don’t understand why it has to be this way.

And I know a regional conference has nothing to do with me.
But I put my foot into it, so a final response is in order.

I’m interested in what goes on in the god-blog or faith blog subdivision, but this has not been worth it. If I could go back and erase every post on this event I would. The initial proposal was interesting and the initial response was enthusiatic and fairly high. That piqued my curiousity.

Over the past months as I followed the evolution of the organization on this convention, it became apparent misundertanding creeped in. My poor attempts to give it attention have been perceived in an increasingly defensive way.

In a comment section essential communication can fall apart quickly.
**Bene: Are we wandering into Manifest Destiny territory?
Commenter: Okay, you’ve lost me there. What the heck are you talking about?**

Good question!

Fredrick Clarkson (US):

If You Think the Religious Right is a Problem…

There are lots of things to be done.

One of the first things to do — is to learn more about it.

The Christian Right is one of the most successful political movements in American history. Yet people’s level of literacy about the subject is often, well, shockingly low. The Christian Right is the dominant faction in the GOP. There are reasons for that. But few seem to know what those reasons are. If we are going to have intelligent conversations about all this, let alone be able to have coherent discussions about what to do, we need to have more people who share a common base of knowledge and the language necessary to have meaningful conversations. After many years, I know that useful knowledge and conversation in this area can be hard to come by.

I have a lot to learn too.
The next post will look at manifest destiny and the creep of dominionism in US evangelicalism.
I want to do what Mark Roberts suggests: speak about manifest destiny, this conference, Republican Party activism while commending those that have worked hard to put this together; those attending, those leading, those uncomfortable and feeling unwelcome - humbly, gently, patiently, bearing with each other in love, making every effort to maintain unity and peace.
That was always my intent and it became apparent reading feedback here at my blog that once again I failed to do so.