http://jenngrover.com Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:48:10 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://jenngrover.com/2007/12/19/my-thoughts-on-posting-comments-to-on-a-blog/ http://jenngrover.com/2007/12/19/my-thoughts-on-posting-comments-to-on-a-blog/#comments Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:56:23 +0000 Jenn http://jenngrover.com/?p=139
It seems that people do not know how to appropriately discuss opposing points of view rationally or civilly. It can be difficult, I will grant that. More importantly, it usually takes some time and research to craft a rational, civil argument. I think it is partly because American schools do not teach people how to "argue". By argue, I don't mean a rash, haste, disagreement marked by anger. By argue I mean present a different point of view as in a formal debate (not the presidential debates – they don't qualify) or as in a court of law.

If people want a forum for airing their opinions, there are plenty of options for a free blog out there. Next time you post a comment to the blog – make sure it is relevant to the post.]]> http://jenngrover.com/2007/12/19/my-thoughts-on-posting-comments-to-on-a-blog/feed/ 0 http://jenngrover.com/2007/12/18/my-thoughts-on-christian-blogs/ http://jenngrover.com/2007/12/18/my-thoughts-on-christian-blogs/#comments Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:31:07 +0000 Jenn http://jenngrover.com/?p=138
Why have I chosen this route? I think that Christian blogs are an emerging form of parachurch ministry. Even if the blog is the by the leader of a related church or an organization that we respect, when the time we spend studying the blog surpasses the time we spend reviewing last Sunday's message given at our local church, the function (even though the intention may be otherwise) of the blog becomes parachurch. It is functioning as supplemental to your local church. It is easy to get caught up in blogs that seem to have the right message, have great graphics, and even nice sounding buzz words. However, do I have more affection for those blogs than I do my own local church? Do I allow my children to spend time on certain blogs primarily because they are "safe" or seem to have decent doctrine?

I recently heard a prominent Christian leader may soon start his own blog. I thought, "No! Stop! Don't do it!" What this leader may or may not expect is that like moths to a flame, Christians will pour onto his blog, and it won't be in addition to the time they are investing in benefitting from the teaching of the their own local churches, it will be in lieu of that time.

In particular, I am concerned with Christian blogs that are single focus blogs. Think of all of the single focus blogs you visit regularly. Now think of all of the groups of people, situations, spiritual disciplines, or other biblical things that blog does not address. How does that affect your perspective? The Bible tells us that, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matt 6:21). So, if my blog time is spent solely focusing on singles or women's issues, my heart will incline towards those things. Those are not bad things to read about or areas to pursue growth. However, those blogs rarely represent balance. Sometimes I wonder if people spend so much time on a single subject because there is an ounce of doubt that Scripture has addressed an issue sufficiently. I think that blogs are even more dangerous in this area because once you read a book you are done. When you read a blog, it keeps coming and coming. The side effect of a lack of balance can be an interruption of church unity.

Christian blogs are not bad. We shouldn't stop reading them. We should evaluate how we view them, though.]]> http://jenngrover.com/2007/12/18/my-thoughts-on-christian-blogs/feed/ 1