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I have been gingerly working my way through David Kinnaman’s unchristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity. It is a must read book for all pastors and Christians. As I was working my way through chapter 6, “Too Political,” the author makes a point that I believe has application for the interaction that believers have toward one another (ie. blogs, sermons, books). Kinnaman’s point also has implications for how unbelievers see Christians.
…………..As James says, “So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others” (James 2:12-13).
This has special relevance for a number of reasons. First, in an era of mass media, blogs, and viral videos, it is important to remember that your words and actions may endure in the blogosphere, on YouTube, or on some other digital destination. This is particularly important for those Christians who appear in media, because the stakes are high. What you say and how you say it are important issues of stewardship. You are representing Christ to outsiders, even as you articulate a Christian perspective. And in the context of a sound bite or a media interview, this is a tough challenge. We cannot seek popularity, but we also cannot ignore the listeners who may be making spiritual conclusions about whether Christianity rings true or not. Even if we are speaking from the context of a biblical worldview, many will not interpret our comments from that same perspective. So it is incumbent on us to present things clearly, creatively, and without clichés. And particularly among Christians, our calls to action must provoke each other to self-examination, humility and appropriate engagement. With fellow believers who lack a holistic biblical worldview, we have to be particularly cautious not to create attitudes in them or alarm them in ways that give them an excuse to be unChristian.
By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 (NKJV)
The following is an adaptation of James 3:1-16 that provides some application for the current state of the Christian blogosphere:
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the blog is a small part of the internet, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The blog also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the internet. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the blog. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the blog we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same blog come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
