Blogging: Why Do We Continue?

    Several weeks back, my blogging friend, Dr. Bart Barber, wrote a piece that's been hanging around in my mind alot.  In his own internet writing endeavors, he desires to "take even more time between posts [writing] more substantively...giv[ing] even less attention to bickering within comment streams." 

In addition, he wanted to "comment even less on other blogs."  Thank you, Bart.  That stands as not unwise advice.

Another post which more recently stirred my thinking about the matter is a good read as well.  I wish only Godspeed to these young theologians and believe Southern Baptists have a bright future if these guys represent the new generation of leaders.

To think more deeply, offering a broader scope, fussing less and attempting to forfeit the urge to engage every comment seems so attractive to me presently.  But whatever future my blogging practice anticipates, I cannot see as viable the option of shutting down shop.  There are really some vital issues I think are pressing Southern Baptists. 

And while I own no dense illusion that I can impact a lot of folk, I can certainly do my best, under the grace and mercy of Christ, to influence my microscopic piece of the net.

Thus, we continue on.  We blog.  We write.  We even venture into the murky waters of Vlogging, risking everything by allowing an aged face, a deep southern drawl and a tendency to not sit still to run all the faithful readers completely away.

Nonetheless we cannot help it.  We continue to say what we think is the truth and leave the results where they rightly belong--in the hands of a Sovereign, Loving Lord.  And we do so even when those who cross our paths think the worst of us. 

Candidly, if one is going to make it in blogging--keeping integrity and moral health--one must learn the art of knowing when to get mad as you know what, when to stand and when to walk away, leaving another to work out their own salvation.

The series on wine I started and about which I intend to offer at least a few more posts, enlightened me afresh to precisely how hard it is to remain cool, calm, collected.  During that series on wine I put together, I had these particulars leveled my way for the position I advocated on alcoholic beverages: 

• the hyper-fundy blind literalism method of exegesis
• errant legalist doctrine
• superficial arguments
• no logically viable defense for your case possible
• Teetotalitarian legalism being pushed as gospel truth

The author of the above then went to his site and put up a post lamenting the fact that I dared challenge plain Biblical truth about drinking alcohol referring to my position as "redneck theology".  What stuns me most is that my brother seemed oblivious to the fact that he was not just caricaturing my position as "redneck theology"--a term that may or may not be an accurate description of me and my view--but he, by implication, tarred some giants of the Faith with being "redneck" as well.  Whatever our view of Reformed faith might be, the mighty Charles H. Spurgeon  was definitively not a redneck.  That much I know.

My commitment in the past has been to never write anything concerning which I would either regret or would constitute occasion for making apology.  While I would not in a thousand lifetimes imagine I made a perfect score, neither do I think I have failed the class.  Yet I do sense the urge to recommit myself to that ideal, for I deem it worthy of our Lord, of His Church and the vocation to which He has called me.

To that end, then, I recast my initial vision of this blog in the beginning being a venue where those who'd like to dissent may freely do so without the all too common harassment from hyped-up, out-of-control literary cyber-critics who cannot seem to morally discern between posing legitimate questions to propositions and hurling insults toward the person.  The more of the former the better.  Those insisting on the latter will receive only the thinnest patience possible.

May our Lord continue to grant His grace and patience to all.  May we, through His resurrection power, grant the same measure to our Brothers and Sisters with whom we disagree.

With that, I am...

Peter

Comments

[wade burleson]

Peter, you complain over alleged mistreatment of you in the blogosphere while on the same day saying to a brother in Christ "My grievance with you is the documentable skewing of just about any source you attempt to employ." In other words, it seems you can dish it, but you can't receive it. My advice to you is to get some thicker skin. You write, people will challenge you, sometimes with harsh language. I do not know who wrote the things you say were written about you above, but get over it. Concentrate on issues and quit playing the martyr. I can guarantee you that people like Sheri Klouda has suffered ten times more pain than you.

[Ron P.]

Peter,

Methinks Enid has some very thin skin and can certainly likes to dish it out. But man alive, Enid can not take it. :)

God Bless you my brother, and keep the great exegesis and posts coming.

Ron P.

[Ron P.]

Oops. Sorry for the bad grammar. I should have removed "can" from my final edit:

Methinks Enid has some very thin skin and certainly likes to dish it out.

Ron P.

[peterlumpkins]

Dear Mr. Burleson.

Is there a particular point in the post you'd like to engage? If so, you are welcome.

As for my alleged 'pity party', all I can do is smile, Mr. Burleson.

May your day be a good one.

With that, I am...

Peter

[wade burleson]

And since you seem to usually come back in full court defense of yourself, casting aspersions at those who question you, I offer the other quotes in your comment today on Mr. Rogers' blog as an illustration:

Enid’s flow of skewed sources has no end . . .

I’ve never seen such a concentrated pool of pulling quotes . . .

recall Enid’s horrid defamation of Professor Grudem . . .

(they are) manipulating data to make one's case

(you should) allow Enid to wallow in the sty of personal innuendo

Those statements represent an odd way to begin what you commit to do in today's post. You write:

I recast my initial vision of this blog in the beginning being a venue where those who'd like to dissent may freely do so without the all too common harassment from hyped-up, out-of-control literary cyber-critics . .

Uh, Peter, do the words of Jesus regarding a plank and a speck come to mind? Regardless, I'm not asking that you necesarily change your writing style. You seem to be guilty of that very thing which you accuse another blogger of doing in your post - all the while complaining about him.

Don't complain about the casserole if you are the one serving it.

[wade burleson]

Ron P.

You and Peter are free to say anything you wish about me, and have done so at will. I have no complaint, assume you will continue, and am a better man for it. I would suggest that the two of you either take the heat yourselves or get out of the kitchen.

:)

Personally, I like the casserole quote above better.

:)

[jasonk]

I agree with you, Wade. The entire time I was reading this post, I thought about the way you are skewered on this blog nearly every week.
It is always with a wink and a smile. What is interesting to me is the time when Peter wrote about how you had called him and asked for his forgiveness for the whole racist comment thing, and he said he forgave you for it. Then he goes on to lambast you for referring to his comments as racist. That doesn't sound like forgiveness to me.
Peter, you need to genuinely do what you say in this post, not just write about it.

[Debbie Kaufman]

No Enid just believes in fighting back. The skin being so thick, bullets can't penetrate it. I hope Enid continues to stand for those who suffer from such thought such as Sherri Klouda and others to injured to want to come forward and endure more injury.

[Debbie Kaufman]

That should be too injured to come forward. Another bad faux pas.

The above will be why I continue to blog.

[Katie]

Debbie said:
"I hope Enid continues to stand for those who suffer..."

We ought to support those who suffer and who have been wronged. However, there is a big difference between standing with someone who has been offended and attacking the person who is perceived as the offender. We cross the line when we begin to attack.

I don't think God is pleased or honored through any of this.

[peterlumpkins]

Dear JasonK, Mr. Burleson and Ms. Kaufmann,

If any of you have some criticism of me personally, I wish to heavens, you'd come right out and say it without being so doggone allusive about it! Clarity is a jewell, you know...

As for my criticisms concerning the frequent skewedness of Mr. Burleson's use of sources, I possess little fear that I'll be found guilty of either empty accusation or hyprocrisy. More than enough evidence I assembled demonstrated such. And, should anyone care to check my facts, they exist on Mr. Burleson's site, here at SBCTomorrow and elsewhere.

Nonetheless, the readers at large shall judge now whether or not I ooze hyprocrisy as will my Lord then. It comforts me too my fate does not decidedly rest with you three here. I get the feeling my future would not fare so well were that the case.

I do intend to keep my word about the 'thinnest patience' though I will tolerate more when the subject is me rather than the other commenters.

I trust all three of you will possess a grace-filled Easter weekend.

With that, I am...

Peter

[volfan007]

peter,

keep standing strong on the truth, bro. dont listen to all the negative nellies and gloomy gus' out there. dont let all of thier negative, overly critical, harsh remarks detour you from sharing the good things of God with us. your blog has been a blessing to me.

david

[Debbie Kaufman]

Katie: Not only do I disagree with you, but it doesn't matter to me what you think.

[wade burleson]

I wish to heavens, you'd come right out and say it without being so doggone allusive

That classic - from Peter's pen no less - is worthy of a reprint.

[Bart Barber]

Peter,

If blogging (or its cyber-successors) are here to stay, then we, the first generation of Christian bloggers, need to learn and model how to do it with substance, with love, and yet with a firm commitment to the truth. May you and I both succeed in doing so.

[Katie]

Hi Debbie,

I’ve waited a few days to write anything back to you. I didn’t want to write something born from my offense at your words. I was offended, but after having read many of your comments on different blogs over the last couple years, it was not unexpected.

I’m just trying to figure out why a woman like you, someone who seems in general to be angry and bitter; a woman with a critical spirit mixed together with an unmovable conviction that her perspective is the only way to look at things; why that woman engages in these types of conversations on blogs? It does not appear that you want to converse, but simply to argue. You are driven to disagree.

I read these blogs because I want to know what other people think. Sometimes that makes me think more about my own convictions and why I hold them. It gives me a chance to compare and consider. Frequently I disagree with comments other people write; but I am not impelled to tell them so every time.

Maybe no one else who reads blogs feels this way, but, for me, this would be a more enjoyable, valuable and edifying pastime without having to read comments like the one above that you left for me.

I wish you the best and hope you are celebrating a joyous Easter Sunday.

[Debbie Kaufman]

Katie: You are not the victim here. Unless you have lost everything in the name of religion or Southern Baptist, I don't want to hear it.

[peter lumpkins]

Ms. Kaufman,

Katie definitively has not played the victim on this blog or any I've read. Consequently, your rebuke is completely unnecessary.

Indeed, Katie followed precisely the standard all of us should follow: when we are tempted to retaliate in our speech, wait it out. This she followed. Perhaps an example for you to consider.

Grace. With that, I am...

Peter

[selahV]

WOW, Peter! a lot's been going on in blogland while I was in Tennessee visiting my dad. Blogging is indeed a tough business.

Katie, I also find myself reading alot and considering matters rather than disagreeing with many folks with whom I could disagree in comment streams. I've found that some things (and often, many things) are better left unsaid. So, no, you are not alone in this aspect. selahV

[Katie]

Thanks, SelahV. I always appreciate your words! Hope you had a good Easter!

[volfan007]

selah,

where does your dad live in tn? and, i wish that my family and your family could have gotten together while you were here.

david

[selahV]

Volfan, daddy lives in Elizabethton, near Johnson City. that would have been great. only I am traveling this time. I'm already in Biloxi area now. Drove down 40 to 75 and on down through Georgia, then Alabama. sorry we didn't get to meet.

Katie, I had a great Easter. selahV