I have spent several days pouring through dozens of Christian blogs – subscribing – commenting and praying! Wow!
What a tool to reach the masses! The definition of Godcasting on Wikipedia is evolving daily.
(Fellow godcasters unite and help add to the definition!) A Godcast is a podcast with a religious theme. God-bloggers and godcasters are exploding through the Net.
However, I have been bothered by the uncivility that crops up, particularly between supposed Christians. (Of course, I believe there is a difference between Christians the the religious — I prefer to be called a Christian.)
All of these debates, labels, and anger!
I am reminded of 1 Timothy 1:3-4,
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work which is by faith.”
I would like to propose
four rules for God-casting and God-blogging!
1 — Is the doctrine I post true — is it backed up by Scripture? (1 Timothy 1:3)
So many supposed Christian theology website posts have not even one verse of Scripture. The definition of theology is a “reasoned discourse about God.” The Latin prefix “the” or “theo” means God.
When one leaves Scripture out — Theology without the “The” is just “ology” — plain and simple.
2 – Am I devoting myself to myths? (1 Timothy 1:4)
I also tire of seeing posts and responses to “he said” when “he” didn’t really say!
Good godcasters will get their facts straight and quote their sources — NO MYTHS!
I just came across an article at rereason that also points this out — don’t go off half cocked and check your sources.
3 – Is the relevance of my site becoming trapped in my own vocabulary and intelligence and missing the point? (endless genealogies – 1 Timothy 1:4)
The gospel is relevant and it is up to us to speak in relevant ways. Jesus spoke in the most simple dialog with stories the children could understand.
A former pastor whom I loved dearly had his own love — the word “propitiation.” That’s a great word rife with meaning — but in the rural setting I live, the reading level is far lower than that of his PhD classmates. As a teacher I know, “When folks’ eyes glaze over their ears are asleep!”
Intelligent men and women choose the words for their intended audience. Ultimately every true Christian must remember that we all must be devoted to the Great Commission. How do you know if your website may not be the ONLY Christian website a person ever peruses – so therefore every Christian blogger should know that their intended audience may be the world — include understandable information — not just high-brow rhetoric.
“Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Some blogs are so “up there” William Webster would have difficulty understanding them!
“But God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is our righteousness, holiness , and redemption. Therefore as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.'”
1 Corinthians 1:27-31
If you are breaking one of these three “rules of Godcasting”:
- Is it true and backed up by Scripture?
- Am I devoting myself to myths?
- Is the relevance of my site becoming trapped in my own vocabulary and intelligence and missing the point?
Then I believe that you may be “promoting controversies rather than God’s work which is by faith.” (1 Timothy 1:4)
I read an article last night trying to prove the infallibility of God’s word — in human terms!
Habakuk 2:4 says “The righteous will live by faith.”
— Not by proof, debates, or quarrels — faith!
He led me to a place in a book I’m reading Life Lessons from the Hiding Place: Discovering the Heart of Corrie Ten Boom by Pam Rosewell Moore.
In Appendix 1 there is a discussion of the influence of Isaac Da Costa on the Ten Boom family and their decision to harbor Jews during the war. (Moore 195-196) Corrie Ten Boom was quoted as saying
“He [Da Costa] was a brilliant lawyer and a famous poet. As a result of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, Europe and put reason above the Bible. Consequently there was a general relaxing of godly standards in all levels of society. Immediately after his conversion, Da Costa wrote a book titled Objections Against the Spirits of This Age. The basic theme was taken from Scripture.”
His book was about spiritual warfare to an unreceiving audience and “immediately a storm of protest and contempt broke loose upon the courageous young lawyer. He was mocked and scorned in the press…” This “clarion call” from Da Costa meant the “beginning of a new revival movement that left its mark on the whole spiritual atmosphere of nineteenth-century Holland. For many, the Bible was restored to its place of authority as the Word of God.” (Moore 195-196)
So with this in mind, I have revised my thoughts about the flame wars that erupt after the posts of many Christian god-bloggers and have added what I propose to be rule #4.
#4 We do not retaliate or act unkindly to those who criticize our beliefs. (Ephesians 4:29)
But rather, like the Good shepherd whom we emulate — He opened not his mouth at His blasphemous accusers.
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29
Continue to God-blog (Glog?) and Godcast with prayer!
___________________________
Bibliography:
Moore, Pam Rosewell. Life Lessons from the Hiding Place: Discovering the Heart of Corrie Ten Boom. Grand Rapids: Chosen, 2004.
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