The Dangers of Blogging: Holding My Tongue And Other Pitfalls
As long as I’m meditating on blogging this week, I want to pause and briefly examine some of the pitfalls that I personally wrestle with in blogging. As I’ve stated, I intentionally try not to make blogging a priority. It is an enjoyable outlet, but my primary focuses are my family and my church. Nevertheless, there is an inherent tendency to want to make sure that I have a post everyday. This pressure comes from only myself and there is no basis for it.
When I find myself feeling that way, like I have to have a post everyday, I quickly remind myself about the dangers of saying something when I have nothing to say, which is exactly what I would be doing otherwise. It’s interesting how much the Bible has to say about this exact topic. While we might simply think that the Bible is concerned with the quality of our speech (which it certainly is: Ephesians 4:29, etc.), it is also concerned with the quantity of our speech. Consider these verses:
Proverbs 10:19: When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
Proverbs 29:20: Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Proverbs 17:28: Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Ecclesiastes 10:14: A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him?
Though there surely other applicable verses, these serve to make the point that the Bible is not only concerned with the quality of our speech but also the content. What we so fail to understand is that when the quantity of our speech increases, almost always, the quality of our speech will decrease.
Of course, this not only applies to blogging but to all of life. This is a lesson I find that I have to continually learn. I’m one of those people who often thinks I know what you’re going to say before you say it and while you’re still speaking, I’ve already formulated my response and I can’t wait for you to finish so I can get my point across, in fact I may just cut you off because, after all, I already know what you’re going to say and where you’re wrong! We very quickly and very dangerously underestimate the power of the tongue. We all know from far too many painful experiences that the sing-song saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” simply isn’t true. We’ve all been hurt by careless or intentionally hurtful words and we’ve all been on the slinging side of those words as well.
Besides feeling an internal, nonsensical pressure to post a lot, I also have to be mindful of the “you’ve come here to hear what I think” mentality. I’ve been very clear from the beginning that one of the reasons I blog is because it is an inherently feedback-based medium. This coincides well with my learning style which incorporates much dialogue. I often find the comments refreshing, challenging and thought-provoking. I find it tremendously helpful to hear other viewpoints.
Yet there are many blogs which adopt an almost preachy tone to their posts as if theirs is the only opinion and you’re somehow less if you disagree. While I’m sure that I’ve stepped into that trap more than I care to admit, it is one of the dangers that I try to always keep before me as I do blog. I’m here less to tell you what to think about something than I am to hear what you think. It goes without saying that my final filter is Scripture, but I worry that many of us have sought to make the kingdom of Christ a much more narrow place than it truly is and blogging can be one tiny reminder for us of the true diversity that marks the Body of Christ.
We all need to be reminded that, even within the bounds of orthodoxy, there are different ways to see things. Hearing those differing viewpoints is often good medicine against pride, provided we’re willing to listen rather than formulating our rebuttals while the other person is finishing their sentence!
- Read The Church by Edmund Clowney
- Read War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles by Paul David Tripp
[...] I have often wanted to blog about the dangers of blogging, but honestly never have gotten around to it. Then I was happy to see today that Brent Thomas has posted a few brief thoughts on the dangers of blogging and how we need to be mindful of our words. [...]
Thanks for this. I never thought about it that way.
Josh
“…the word of God is not bound.”
–2 Timothy 2:9
Brent, I’m probably looking at this comment differently than how you meant it, but it seems to me that we, instead of tending to make the Kingdom of Christ to narrow “but I worry that many of us have sought to make the kingdom of Christ a much more narrow place than it truly is”, I blelieve that that our only danger is trying to make it too broad. As Christ warns about in Mt.7:13 -14 “For the gate is narrow and the waye is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few”. Again, maybe different than what you meant? But, I haven’t seen many bibical warnings about making His Kingdom too narrow. But am open to looking.
I’m not speaking of the gate by any means. But I worry that too many of us develop specific doctrinal ideas around which we then formulate our understanding of who is “in” or “out.” Therefore, I feel that many Christians look at other Christians almost with an attitude of saying “You’re not in the kingdom” because you don’t hold to this or that particular theological point.
Is there right or wrong when it comes to doctrine? Yes, but there is also more flexibility than most are comfortable with.
I’m still not sure I’m communicating my point as I mean to but my worry at this point is that we judge who is in and who is not on matters that Scripture does not, therefore making the kingdom (not the gate) more narrow than Christ does. I hope that makes sense?
In thinking about it, I’m probably better off saying “the bounds of orthodoxy” rather than the “kingdom.” I think that helps (I hope) clarify a bit?
Good points to think about. Good posts, all of them. There are things that I try to keep in mind as I blog. I try hard not to rant or boast or diss anybody, I try to speak of godly things, I try to set a Christian example… basically I try to behave as I would in person and not let the computer screen become a mask to hide behind or an excuse for bad behavior. I’ve been noodling a post in my mind on this topic as well. I haven’t sat down to put it all together yet, though.
Like you, I want to make sure I don’t neglect my family. For me, the hardest things is that it’s just so darn addictive, :P
(BTW- I enjoy stopping by here for perusal… I can find weird tidbits of info, good poetry, and *ahem* interesting music, :D that I wouldn’t normally find on my own. As well as good scriptural food for thought. Thanks!)
Reading the last three comments before mine: Are you referring to boundaries formed within groups of believers who hold to correct salvific issues but differ on other non-salvific points? Spiritual cliques, so-to-speak? Reinforcing the need for harmony amongst brothers and sisters in Christ who may have differing opinions on non-saving issues, but who are brothers and sisters none-the-less, rather than letting them become divisive arguments…
Yes, what I was trying to say is that we too often define orthodoxy in terms of non-essential issues. When someone disagrees with those issues, whatever they might be, it’s common to treat others as if they’re not Christians at all.
great post…my blogging has definitely slowed as I feel like I don’t have anything I really want to say right now…and other things have taken priority.
Well said. Thanks for the caution.