Justin Taylor–who I am in the habit of visiting at least once a day–posted this interesting quote from Carl Trueman about responding to critiques on the blogosphere. Now Trueman and I would probably not drink beer in the same pub, but we do both share the same commitment to Christ and His authoritative word. This morning I had an interesting conversation with a fellow pastor about finding ways to bring about catholicity. One way to do this is to give credit when credit is due.
This blog is five years old. Hopefully over the years I have become less pugilistic. I am still a fighter at heart. But our priorities should change our motives and the use of our time. Facebook affords thousands of opportunities to respond to others (all day long if one would like); blogs also afford endless opportunities to do so. Some thrive in responding to others. The world is watching…or a dozen are watching, whatever the case, there is an insatiable need to make sure we have the last word. This quote from Trueman helped crystallize a bit for me what my priorities shoud be and how I should look at future blogosphere/facebook interactions:
From Carl Trueman’s latest:
I have been asked by several people over recent years whether Christians should respond if they are criticized or defamed on the web. The answer is simple: for myself, I do not believe that it is appropriate that I spend my time defending my name. My name is nothing—who really cares about it? And I am not called to waste precious hours and energy in fighting off every person with a laptop who wants to have a pop at me. As a Christian, I am not meant to engage in self-justification any more than self-promotion; I am called rather to defend the name of Christ; and, to be honest, I have yet to see a criticism of me, true or untrue, to which I could justifiably respond on the grounds that it was Christ’s honour, and not simply my ego, which was being damaged. I am called to spend my time in being a husband, a father, a minister in my denomination, a member of my church, a good friend to those around me, and a conscientious employee. These things, these people, these locations and contexts, are to shape my priorities and my allocation of time. Hitting back in anger at those who, justly or unjustly, do not like me and for some reason think the world needs to know what they think of me is no part of my God-given vocation. God will look after my reputation if needs be; He has given me other work to do.
