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Mere-Orthodoxy: The potential for GodBlogs...

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

The potential for GodBlogs...

Charles Lehardy of AnotherThink writes: To be effective evangelists, however, GodBloggers must to be welcoming, open and authentic, and committed to building relationships with those who drop by. I see GodBlogging as a translation of historic Christianity into the lingua franca of a techno-centered generation. In that sense, GodBlogging is in the best tradition of John Wycliffe, who translated the Bible into English, and Martin Luther, who translated the Bible into German. The Internet is a new vernacular. GodBlogs are translating the Gospel for a new generation. Just one more reason why I've added AnotherThink to my daily reading. Yet I can't help wonder whether the rise of technology, particularly blogging, is actually inhibiting our ability to effectively transform the lives of Christian youth. By posting short, accessible thoughts, we meet "Milennials" where they are at, but are unable to take them further. What Millenials need is not the accessibility of a blog post--it's the difficulty of reading Scripture. The accessibility of blogging could impair a reader's ability to struggle with a text that is not accesible since they are used to having everything short and easy. Make your blog post over two screens long and no one will read it. But how then will they read Leviticus? Isaiah? I don't think I'm making a false dilemma--either blog posts or the difficulty of Scripture. If blogging actually becomes their lingua franca, then it seems we're in trouble. Maybe we should blog with the intent of pointing our readers back to books...

posted by Matthew Anderson @ 10/18/2005 10:40:00 PM   3 comments

3 Comments:

At 10/19/2005 06:32:00 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Perhaps the comment about translating the gospel into the language of a generation, as an analogy, is a poor one.

English readers can read books about Christianity and about the gospel in any bookstore in the country. Blogs are merely a context. A newly popular context, yes, so we should propound the truth in it, but it should be said: it is not the language, or even the style and form that prevents American non-believers from hearing the word of truth. It is the content. The wisdom of the Lord is foolishness to those who are perishing. His sheep hear his voice and recognize it.

A related comment that this post just brought up in me: i think comparison of Blogs to to the printing press and other "technological" advances in writing is inaccurate.

It can also be said of Gutenberg that he brought groups of people together around books. He made it possible for a wide range of texts to do what texts do well: serve as the locus for conversation between live human beings, all in a room together.

How can we move towards blog-centered conversation? I think GodBlogCon was a good start... It is expensive, however, and narrowly-cast. How can computers, like the ones in just about everyone's home or office, serve as conversation starters?

 
At 10/22/2005 09:23:00 PM, Blogger Theosebes said...

My concern with blogging is the one-sided conversation with the computer screen, lacking non-verbal communication and the very inflections and tones our voices carry when speaking. I stated this on a blog @ Fide-O due to their cutting edge, hard hitting approach. My concern was that the sarcasm found in some blogs, that does make for interesting reading, may in fact deter someone from wanting to find the Truth of Jesus Christ. The response from their site was that their blog wasn't for evangelism, but one of iron sharpening iron spiritual growth and discussion. Can evangelism take place in this sphere? Absolutely. God used an ass to speak in the Old Testament on His behalf, He certainly can and will use what He chooses. We must present Jesus Christ in the brave new world of blog as He is presented Himself to the world 2000 years ago, in the flesh, a living,loving and holy sacrifice, that whosoever believeth...
God can a will use any of us who are willing to speak His Truth: "Jesus Christ" and to be ready to give an defense in season and out, because He is the One who brings the growth, we are only farmers.

 
At 10/24/2005 11:30:00 AM, Blogger Matthew Anderson said...

My concern with blogging is the one-sided conversation with the computer screen, lacking non-verbal communication and the very inflections and tones our voices carry when speaking. I stated this on a blog @ Fide-O due to their cutting edge, hard hitting approach. My concern was that the sarcasm found in some blogs, that does make for interesting reading, may in fact deter someone from wanting to find the Truth of Jesus Christ. The response from their site was that their blog wasn't for evangelism, but one of iron sharpening iron spiritual growth and discussion.

I think this is a good point. It's vital to blogging as Christians that we maintain charity toward all, even on our blogs. While I'm not against a good joke among friends, having this sort of tone in a public forum doesn't, it seems, take seriously enough the reality that anyone can read the post and that humor is incredibly difficult to convey in the written word.

If blogs are simply to be forums for friends, then don't make them public.

 

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