9:20 a.m. (PT) — I know LBC readers like/love my political rants, but today I’m avoiding it as if my life depends on. 
GodBlogCon (check for updates) is about Christian bloggers talking about blogging as Christians, most of whom happen to be politically conservative. It shouldn’t matter, but it does. This morning we’re listening to a panel of Christian bloggers. David Wayne of the Jolly Blogger, Joe Carter, Evangelical Outpost, and the blogger who instigated the convention, Andrew Jackson (pictured) of Smart Christian (who has a great sense of humor, by the way.)
Dean Peters of blogs4god is “here,” so to speak.
Christians are to do all they do for the glory of God, but I know that not everything I do and write glorifies God. I’ve experienced a certain level of conviction since I’ve been here. I think about my hostile attitude toward some commenters and haters, and my responses have too often been less than “Christian,” at least in my mind. The effort to be Christ-like is part of our struggle, and as long as we’re in fallen bodies, we’ll fall short. It’s in our nature to strike out against those who oppose us.
9:40 a.m. — An interesting topic: As Christian bloggers, which takes priority — Christian readers or our local congregations? Blogging is definitely bringing together people of different denominations. Christian bloggers communicate with one another, pray for one another, and give when help is needed. But God does call believers to gather together. Are some Christian bloggers neglecting the local congregation?
Last night John Mark Reynolds gave an excellent presentation called “Blogging as a Means to Cultural Impact,” and I hope it will be available as a podast today. Christians have a responsibility to lead people to truth as revealed by the written word of God, but we also have authority (freedom?) to live that truth, and this approach takes many forms. Some bloggers (like myself) discuss politics from a Christian point of view, although my purpose may not be explicit.
Secularists don’t understand the connection because they buy into the sharp “separation between church and state” doctrine that represents a profound misunderstanding of what the original founders intended. But Christians know we cannot separate faith from politics, and we know it within our souls, although some Christians suppress it.
10:04 a.m. — Blogging is often compared to the Protestant Reformation. But, says Andrew Jackson, blogging shouldn’t be seen as an agent of renewing the church. The focus isn’t on blogging per se; it’s the people blogging. Says Joe Carter, it wasn’t Martin Luther’s 95 Theses that started the Reformation. It was the critical mass of Christians bringing about the changes.
I met an interesting woman named Denyse O’Leary, and she blogs about intelligent design. Visit her blog, Post-Darwinist.
I’ll try to post a few pics and updates today. Stay tuned.
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I understand your feeling guilty…the Church today seems to indoctrinate guilt, but I think it is misplaced. We all know that Jesus said turn the other cheek, pray for your enemies, things that quite frankly, are very hard to do in the heat moment. However, Jesus himself often would respond with righteous indignation and holy anger toward the hypocrites and pharisees. Jesus was merciful to the downtrodden, to those who desired forgiveness, the broken hearted. And he certainly set the bar unreachably high with the suffering he endured at the end, and the example of forgiveness displayed through in midst of it. But I doubt the hate filled Kos types who attack you, and the people of faith in general are broken hearted souls. They hate Jesus and all He stands for. I see nothing wrong with a Christian like yourself who has a backbone to stand up to the insult hurling left and still boldly proclaim the truth. I certainly am not saying we should hurl insults back at them. I think the Christian culture we live in today equates confrontation with those we disagree as not being Christlike. I believe we need to stand up and passionately defend the truth. I wonder how would Jesus behave if he were in our society today? Meek and mild do not come to my mind. Don’t back down, LaShawn!!
http://www.streetprophets.com
Thanks for the updates, La Shawn; thanks for the photos, too.
I was thinking of starting a blog. How does one get started?
LaShawn, thanks for the updates on the GodBlogCon for those of us who can’t be there. I think the effects of blogging go far beyond the local church. I think it also ties the local congregation, who reads their pastor’s blog, into the larger Christian context as they check out his links and see that his interests lie without as well as within the local church.
Slights, attacks, and a lack of respect aimed at me, personally, require turning of the other cheek. Attacks on truth, other people (especially the defenseless), and on what is right often require strong (sometimes what some would consider rude) resistance.
We frequently get these concepts reversed.
I understand what you go through Lashawn I think all of us have either gone through or at some point in our lives will deal with people like Kos. These folks, if you aren’t careful, will make you lose your Christianity,because of the way they are, but they are controlled by evil no doubt. I’ve had to deal with these moonbats myself, and I do know how to fight back, the problem with these people is they can’t take what they dish out. But we try and rise above our flesh as much as we can, trust me its a daily struggle even here at home but with God’s help I can do it.
10:04 a.m. — Blogging is often compared to the Protestant Reformation. But, says Andrew Jackson, blogging shouldn’t be seen as an agent of renewing the church. The focus isn’t on blogging per se; it’s the people blogging. Says Joe Carter, it wasn’t Martin Luther’s 95 Theses that started the Reformation. It was the critical mass of Christians bringing about the changes.”
Agreed. Blogging and the Protestant Reformation? naw.. Church renewal? doubtful in a broad sense.. At best a tool for like-minded souls exchanging information and encouraging one another, and providing an outlet for expressing some things that need to be said.
I think it is wholly disingenuous to say it is too hard to “turn the other cheek” because we are “fallen bodies”. The point of Christ’s teachings were that we can overcome. We just have to try. He was not merciful to just those that “deserved forgiveness”. “Love thy neighbor,” and start in Luke 6:29 as well.
Kevin, your claim that “meek and mild” would not be how Jesus would behave today is, well, blasphemous. If that is truly what you believe you sir are not a good Christian. Jesus was and is the epitome of good and your comments do him wrong. You do not speak for all and certainly not for me. Please take some time to step back and rethink what you have said.
Thank you.
RadicalPurple,
I agree with you that Jesus was the epitome of good. But I don’t agree that my comments do Him wrong. My comments about how Jesus would behave today were made in with our society in general on the mind. Granted, I didn’t make that very clear in my post, but I ask you, how do you think Jesus would react to our society in the US today? Our culture which murders millions of babies every year under the pathetic banner of “choice”. Our culture which permits the most vile filth (porn) in the name of “free speech”. Our culture which is hellbent on removing even a generic mention of God from all public life, a culture that is ashamed of the name of Jesus. A culture that has brainwashed a generation of people into believing that evolution is the reason for their existence…RadicalPurple, you blast me as a blasphemer but don’t explain why. Have I denied the deity of Christ?? You call me a bad Christian, I guess because I don’t see Jesus just as the meek and mild figure that you do. You tell me to rethink things, but only give me Luke 6:29 on which to think upon (a verse that deals with personal attacks, not societal/culture issues).
I’m sorry if my opinion offended you. That certainly wasn’t my intent. But I ask you given our current cultural climate, do you honestly believe Jesus would be meek and mild? Yes Jesus is the epitome of good, but he is also the righteous judge. Our Saviour displayed holy anger in the temple. How did Jesus respond to those who disagreed with Him in His day, chiefly the Pharisees? Read Matthew 23 and tell me if you really think He was being meek and mild.
Kevin, maybe I did not get your point the first time, but I do now. Jesus would act now as he did in Matthew 23. I think you are right. However I may have interpreted that passage differently.
He took them to task as hypocrites and liars and told them they were all doomed. He told his followers to do what they knew was right, a case of “do as THEY say, not as THEY do.” He seems to me to be a disappointed and angered teacher.
I think my problem was the contradiction in your original post.
But I doubt the hate filled Kos types who attack you, and the people of faith in general are broken hearted souls. They hate Jesus and all He stands for. I see nothing wrong with a Christian like yourself who has a backbone to stand up to the insult hurling left and still boldly proclaim the truth. I certainly am not saying we should hurl insults back at them.
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