Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Vox Apologia II - Digital Salt
Razorskiss hosts Vox Apologia II, the subject of which is "Digital Salt."
This, I imagine is an obvious reference to Jesus telling us:
Matt 5:13-14 (NAS)
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
The question I find in the subject is, "How can Godbloggers be salt and light to the world?"
This is a fascinating question indeed. I think Godbloggers can and are bringing critical thought back to the church. I think Godbloggers can and are affecting public opinion concerning religion in general and Christianity specifically. I think Godbloggers can and are being an effective force for reformation and renewal in the church. What I do not know with certainty is if Godbloggers can spread the Good News. Can blogging be a tool for evangelism?
To be honest, I don't really think so. There are two words that I think vital to the spreading of the gospel -- incarnation and indwelling. God Incarnate came to us to prepare the way for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. These are very personal things, and they are far more than ideas.
The Old Testament is all about God trying to deal with people through words and ideas. In the end it became necessary for God to come for a visit (Jesus) and take up residence with us (Holy Spirit) for things to get going. I have yet to figure out how to visit, let alone live with someone on the Internet.
The ideas that surround Christianity are vitally important, but in the end, they are not Christianity, Jesus is. I may be able to tell you about Jesus in this blog, but I cannot introduce you to Him.
Blogging is good and Godbloggers need to be doing what they are doing, but it is no substitute for direct people-to-people ministry. We can protect the church from here, but to spread Jesus, we have to get up off our behinds and meet people.
This, I imagine is an obvious reference to Jesus telling us:
Matt 5:13-14 (NAS)
13 "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
The question I find in the subject is, "How can Godbloggers be salt and light to the world?"
This is a fascinating question indeed. I think Godbloggers can and are bringing critical thought back to the church. I think Godbloggers can and are affecting public opinion concerning religion in general and Christianity specifically. I think Godbloggers can and are being an effective force for reformation and renewal in the church. What I do not know with certainty is if Godbloggers can spread the Good News. Can blogging be a tool for evangelism?
To be honest, I don't really think so. There are two words that I think vital to the spreading of the gospel -- incarnation and indwelling. God Incarnate came to us to prepare the way for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. These are very personal things, and they are far more than ideas.
The Old Testament is all about God trying to deal with people through words and ideas. In the end it became necessary for God to come for a visit (Jesus) and take up residence with us (Holy Spirit) for things to get going. I have yet to figure out how to visit, let alone live with someone on the Internet.
The ideas that surround Christianity are vitally important, but in the end, they are not Christianity, Jesus is. I may be able to tell you about Jesus in this blog, but I cannot introduce you to Him.
Blogging is good and Godbloggers need to be doing what they are doing, but it is no substitute for direct people-to-people ministry. We can protect the church from here, but to spread Jesus, we have to get up off our behinds and meet people.
