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A Kinder, Gentler SBC Blogosphere?
Posted by Les Puryear in Uncategorized
Tim Guthrie had a good post about blogging conduct entitled the “The Wal-Mart Challenge” In his post, he said the following:
“We will be respectful and we will not allow people to attack other people, including Christians without the attack being challenged to a higher level of responsibility. No names and no uglies. We need true Christianity to be seen in our lives and in our blogging!”
A day or so after Tim G’s post, I received an email from a concerned reader of SBC blogs.
“Dear Les,
I have been reading your blog for some time and it brings back much joy to my heart. I had always been a member of a small church until recently. Sometimes I long for a return to everybody knows everybody but that is not why I write today.I have been reading blogs for about a year and recently started making comments from time to time. However, I found that neither ‘side’ cares for comments opposed to their view. They usually are not open to discussion just ‘my way or the highway’. It is a waste of time to even attempt to present a possible different point of view.
I saw your comments yesterday to WB and TR and am wondering if they could be taken further. Would it be possible to ask the blogging world to commit to pray? Pray for the Lord’s will in blogging, pray for each other, pray for good, clean dialog and stop the constant war fare, is that asking to much? The ‘side’ business is terrible. Some bloggers give strength to that old joke about the Baptists think they are the only ones in heaven. Now not all Baptists will even get to heaven, just those on ‘their side’.
If this idea is too far out or does not seem workable just disregard. I appreciate your time and keep up the good work.”
Is civility, integrity, kindness, gentleness, esteeming others better than ourselves too much to ask from SBC bloggers? I don’t think so. I believe we can exchange ideas without belittling each other’s viewpoints. I think we can exchange ideas with a willingness to not only be heard but to defend everyone else’s right to be heard as well.
Frank Page has been an excellent example of a kinder, gentler SBC leaders. There are may other leaders whom I have personally been in contact with these past eight months while drumming up support for the Small Church Leadership Conference. They include Dr. O. S. Hawkins, Guidestone, Dr. Jerry Rankin, IMB, Dr. Thom Rainer, LifeWay, Dr. Brad Waggoner, B&H Publishing, and Milton Hollifield, BSCNC.
To me, SBC bloggers who are models of grace and integrity in their conduct on blogs include my fellow writers at sbc IMPACT!, Paul Burleson, Tony Kummer, Timmy Brister, Alan Cross, Ed Stetzer, Micah Fries, and Guy Muse. The rest of us, including myself, can probably improve in this area.
May we all learn to guard tongues as we express ourselves for the whole world to see. May all that we do and say be done for the glory of the Lord Jesus.
Note: I am still on vacation and will not be able to respond to your comments until later this evening.
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FIrst, I pray you and your wife had a great, restful time on vacation.
I have to agree that the people here at sbcIMPACT have taken the high road in their blogging. As Christians, we are to do things in light of the Spirit’s indwelling and the words of Scripture. When we fail to use these as our guide, we end up showing the world just how shallow our faith is. It is time we head for the deep end of the pond and stop wading along the bank.
Martin,
Thanks for your comment. I loved your post about how God provided a house for you and your family. I hope you don’t mind but I linked to it from my blog.
Les
Thank you Les for this article. It is an implicit reminder about whose we are and how we are to represent Him, even in the trivality of “blogs.” We are also called to “love one another.” Sometimes the shillness of the venue, I don’t see much love, but a bunch of overly agressive Type “A” personality types. Thanks for reminding us. And also thank you for illustrating the purpose we had in providing this forum.
Rob
I hope there is not a gentler blogosphere. Gentle doesn’t seem to be working. As long as there are Sheri Kloudas happening and Dwight McKissic’s the recent trustee fiasco, the women chaplains being ousted, I don’t exactly feel very gentle. And I pray that others don’t either. This has got to stop.
Rob,
You’re a pretty good example of my article.
Debbie,
I respectfully disagree. I don’t think we’ve seen “gentle” enough to know if it’s working or not. Also, I submit that whether something “works” or not is not the issue. What matters is whether we bear the fruit of the Spirit, of which “gentleness” is certainly a portion.
Les
Gentle as in how Jesus spoke to the Pharisees? Or kinder as in not discussing negative truths/behavior at all?
Sylvia,
I have no problem discussing negative truths/behavior. That’s what this post is about.
Les
Les: I want kinder gentler churches, kinder gentler leadership in the SBC.
Exactly! I see that on here (and in the world at large) people want everyone else to act right before they choose to follow suit. That is most definitely not the way we are supposed to lead.
Especially in the SBC, the congregations and constituents are supposed to set the model. Maybe the problem at the higher levels is just a reflection of the hearts in the pews. Debbie, I don’t intend this to be mean, but your comments here and other places tend to reinforce that thought.
Let’s have a heart change in the pew and that will bring the rest of the organization along.
Debbie,
Me too.
Shadrach,
How about if we lead the way on the blogs?
Les
Debbie,
One other point…
Being mean and divisive on blogs does not make one iota of a change in the real world. Sorry, you missed the political connection flight… Most of the movers and shakers that can make the change some advocate do not frequent blogs – or have STOPPED doing so because of the mean spiritedness of most of us. Going to conventions, church business meetings, and associational business meetings could make a change. To those who clamor for change but don’t do those things that will really make a change, well. While it may be cathartic to beat up someone on a blog about their view – it does not make a change for I daresay you convince no one except to further divide the parties. Sorry I burst that bubble. So what is the remedy? “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “Love one another” “Be kind, one to another” “Be humble.”
Debbie, I wish your family and your daughter blessings during this difficult time. May God be with you and yours. Our love we share which was given to us by our loving Lord is worth more than any squabble or disagreement that we have ever engaged in on a blog.
Rob
Shadrach: I do not believe you know me well enough to judge my heart or me. I reserve judgment on those whom I do not know. Your statement is not gentle nor kind nor true. We should be able to discuss things, including the truth of a situation without those kind of judgments.
Rob: My comment is being taken out of context and I could have clarified. I do think we need to stand strong against the issues facing us today in the SBC and that is not always seen as being kind and gentle when things such as Paige’s deposition for example, are exposed. Yet I believe that it’s the truth being exposed and it’s not always pretty. We should look at it, honestly discuss it and remedy things like this happening again. It’s not something that should be shied away from just because the discussion may get heated. That’s walking around it, yet it’s still there and it’s still causing damage. Does that clarify?
Also thank you for your last paragraph. I appreciate it. I wish we could be as united in the things of the SBC as all have been to me during this time. I mean look at it, it was beautiful to me to see everyone writing and asking prayer for me, even those who have disagreed with me in the past. Why can’t we do this even over these issues? Just pray, worship, lead, love, etc. together and not making it a divisive point?
Debbie,
Your last paragraph makes my point. Thank you.
Les
Debbie,
The only way I know you is by your comments on about 3 blogs that we each frequent. I made my summation based on my observations. You can call that judging if you wish, but I think it really proves the point at hand–in everything we say (and type) we should be exibiting the Spirit of Christ who was righteously indignant at times, but in everything exhibited love.
This part really is meant as a jab, but pease take it lightheartedly–when I find myself feeling judged, it usually means something struck me as true that I don’t wish to be.
Shadrach: Such is not the case here I assure you.
Les: Then we agree and I do apologize for misreading.