Thursday, November 09, 2006
Why We Blog
A short time ago, it was my priviledge to moderate one of the plenary panels at GodBlogCon. As I did so, I framed much of the discussion around this post at Common Grounds Online. The post is about the necessity for human and face-to-face ministry. An excellent point, and one that is made in the Godblogosphere often. We talked a bit about that at GBC. But I looked at the concluding paragraph from a different angle:
Let's consider the church first. Why should people have to turn to blogging to find the kind of appreciation and encouragement that they should receive from their local congregation? Well, if your congregation is the size of the crowd at the average high school football game, and so seated, there might be a pretty apparent explanation. Also if you run your service like a play or movie where everyone looks forward and never side to side, you might have another explanation. But mostly its because we don't do church very well. We do worship, but we don't do church. We build audience, but we don't build community.
The world is full of insecure people, people that need a "family." I lived in Southern California for 15 years as a single person, 2000 miles from my nearest living relative. I had to build a family for myself - church seemed like a logical place to do it. It was hard, hard work. I ran into many barriers - which I consider a shame on the church. But I succeeded. Which brings me to the second point - about us.
Dear friends, blogging is no place to turn for affirmation, or appreciation, or encouragement. In general it ia a place of competition, of beat down, of elbows, and cheap shots. Sadly, that is true even of the Godblogosphere. I think it is true because we are largely a bunch of insecure, under appreciated, desparate people that think hit counts and audience can give us the kind of affirmation we desire.
Well guess again folks. Other people cannot give you that, either in blogging or in face-to-face relationships. Only God can give you the security and affirmation and encouragement you need on a daily basis. You want proof? Just look at the lives of any of the so-called "celebrities." Literally millions hang on when they visit the potty and yet they behave as the lonliest, most desparate individuals on the planet.
If you are lonely and inseucre and need affirmation - please don't look for it here in blogging. You will only end up hurt and disappointed. You need to look for it in your local congregation - and you need to work hard at finding it. It will not be apparent at church - it will not be looking for you. It is not here at all in blogging, but it is there in your church, you just have to dig for it, you have to ask. That's an indictment of the church, but at least it is there somewhere.
And turn to God - He loves more than the rest of the planet can combined.
Related Tags: blogging, affirmation, encouragment, church, security, love
Is there any plausibility to the possibility that we are so inept at loving one another face to face that we have to create things like blogging to insure some pathetic measure of appreciation or encouragement or value or identity or worth in these tangled and wrecked lives of ours?That quote, I think makes two very important points. One concerning the church, and one concerning us.
Let's consider the church first. Why should people have to turn to blogging to find the kind of appreciation and encouragement that they should receive from their local congregation? Well, if your congregation is the size of the crowd at the average high school football game, and so seated, there might be a pretty apparent explanation. Also if you run your service like a play or movie where everyone looks forward and never side to side, you might have another explanation. But mostly its because we don't do church very well. We do worship, but we don't do church. We build audience, but we don't build community.
The world is full of insecure people, people that need a "family." I lived in Southern California for 15 years as a single person, 2000 miles from my nearest living relative. I had to build a family for myself - church seemed like a logical place to do it. It was hard, hard work. I ran into many barriers - which I consider a shame on the church. But I succeeded. Which brings me to the second point - about us.
Dear friends, blogging is no place to turn for affirmation, or appreciation, or encouragement. In general it ia a place of competition, of beat down, of elbows, and cheap shots. Sadly, that is true even of the Godblogosphere. I think it is true because we are largely a bunch of insecure, under appreciated, desparate people that think hit counts and audience can give us the kind of affirmation we desire.
Well guess again folks. Other people cannot give you that, either in blogging or in face-to-face relationships. Only God can give you the security and affirmation and encouragement you need on a daily basis. You want proof? Just look at the lives of any of the so-called "celebrities." Literally millions hang on when they visit the potty and yet they behave as the lonliest, most desparate individuals on the planet.
If you are lonely and inseucre and need affirmation - please don't look for it here in blogging. You will only end up hurt and disappointed. You need to look for it in your local congregation - and you need to work hard at finding it. It will not be apparent at church - it will not be looking for you. It is not here at all in blogging, but it is there in your church, you just have to dig for it, you have to ask. That's an indictment of the church, but at least it is there somewhere.
And turn to God - He loves more than the rest of the planet can combined.
Related Tags: blogging, affirmation, encouragment, church, security, love
