Bible Study on Blogs

July 7, 2008 by · 14 Comments
Filed under: Religion, Weblogs 

This post and its comments are the online home for this Bible Study on blogging.  I hope that each of you will contribute.  If you wish to contribute anonymously, just e-mail your words to me and I’ll post them under whatever identification you want (or none).

The basic question that we’re covering is “what does the Bible say about blogging?”  This was prompted by a bit of a dustup that I’ve had with some members and staff of my congregation over things written by me on this blog.  So a sub-question is “Can you or should you ever post negative thoughts or facts about your local church on a blog?”

So far we’ve got two sides to the question (hey, most of us are Presbyterian!):

Post only what builds up the body of Christ – Coming from 1 Corinthians 13, but also from most of Paul’s letters and strong support from the Gospels is the concept that we should blog in love for our fellow humans.  That we should blog only what builds up the body, and avoid that which would cause disruption.

Criticism that is intended to promote right action is valid – In this case, Galatians 2 is the key, particularly the narratives of the discourse between Paul and the Jerusalem leaders, and Paul’s rebuke of Peter.  Here, it’s clear that speaking truth to power (church leadership) and then writing about it to a larger group of 3rd parties has happened in Scripture.

Overlaying all of this is the injunction in Matthew 18:15-17 – if you have a disagreement, take it to the other party.  If that doesn’t work, take a few friends to the other party.  If that doesn’t work, tell it to the church.  If that doesn’t work, write the other person off.  One question here – in terms of blogs, what is the definition of “the church”?  The local congregation?  The denomination?  The entirety of the Christian blogosphere?  Or all believers in Christ?

Another question is whether or not the rules are different when speaking of people that you see weekly in church vs. the greater church (the denomination).  Can you speak more harshly about those who you disagree with simply because they don’t sit in the same sanctuary with you on Sunday?

I welcome your continued thoughts.  I plan for this post to be the home of this discussion.  Please put your thoughts in comments, or e-mail them to me to be added.  This is a Bible study, so let’s focus on Scripture.

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Blogging and the local congregation – part 3

June 16, 2008 by · 3 Comments
Filed under: Religion 

Outside of this blog my pastor and I have started a bible study on the subject of blogging the local congregation.  He’s about to go to General Assembly so we’re putting it on the back burner until he gets back.

In the meantime, I’d like to ask you for help with this project.  What scripture do you think applies to the subject of blogging non-anonymously about your local congregation?

My pastor has suggested 1 Corinthians as a starting point – particularly the parts that call for us to build up the body of Christ rather than tearing it down.  Others have suggested Matthew 18:15-17, which seems like a good fit for conflict and the use of the blog.  I have also looked into the confessions and found the Confession of 1967, 9.38 to 9.40.

Do you have any ideas?

While this study is going on I am suspending my blogging about my local congregation, with the exception that I may mention briefly what I am involved with as I complete activities or take on new roles or assignments.  As a result I will not be blogging about the all-church retreat, the congregational meeting, details about my installation, and likely will not be blogging about the youth trip to Montreat (depending on when this study is finished).

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