As Quickly As It Began

After being required to make some important decisions about my future and my career I have come to the conclusion that I will no longer be able to maintain my blog.  This was a very difficult decision to make and I am going to miss sharing with you.  Of course, I sound like this is a time honored tradition when, in fact, the blog has been up less than a week.  This post is the last to be posted on the blog and it attempts to explain to those who care enough to read it my reasons closing it.  God has an interesting sense of humor since he allowed me to start this venture before allowing conversations that would convince me it was unwise.  It just goes to show that I still have much to learn and will attempt to keep my mind open and listen to the wise council in my life.   

There are many careers that benefit from internet exposure since social media has revolutionized the way many people make money.  That being said, there are just as many careers that consider an internet presence to be a risk.  After speaking with what I consider to be very wise people in careers similar to what I want to do, I have decided that I should heed their wisdom and reduce my internet presence.  The career path that I have committed to in the last few days requires that I pull back and drastically reduce the amount of material I post online.  It also requires that I maintain as little a presence as possible in cyberspace.

I absolutely believe in sharing what I believe to be truth and will do so whenever I am given the opportunity.  However, due to the path I have chosen, the internet can no longer be considered one of those opportunities.  Ultimately I am responsible for providing for my future family and any threat to my ability to fulfill that role must be considered very seriously.  It is an unfortunate reality that what I do online now can negatively affect, if not destroy, my career later on.  Internet activity in the context of the field I have chosen cannot be considered anything but a risk to my career and future.   

I am personal friends with my readers and look forward to continuing conversations through email and personal interactions.  I believe that while we are called to share the truth, we are always required to use good judgment when doing so.  Furthermore, the internet is not the only way to share the truth.  After analyzing the risks, I have determined that it would be unwise to continue to use this medium. 

Thank you all for the support you provided during the creation of the blog and for those who encourage me every day to live for truth. 

Never Forget

Memorial Day, the day we remember those who have sacrificed to protect the United States and our way of life.  For most of us it is easy to remember those who serve because we live in city that hosts a large military installation.  There is no shortage of uniformed people in our city and therefore, there is no shortage of reminder to whom we owe our freedom.  With all of this reminder, we often forget those who have sacrificed and are not in uniform.  Military spouses and children are often forgotten on Memorial Day.  I am in no way trying to minimize the sacrifice of our soldiers since many that we remember today have paid the ultimate price for our freedom.  Nonetheless, military families are forced to endure many months without their loved ones; and constantly live in fear that those they love will not return.  Today as you go about your day look for those who are shadowing people in uniform.  Look for the families that stand behind our soldiers and who are often forgotten on this day.

Are We in Danger of a Second Crusade?

The Crusades; a subject that most are at least familiar with.  The term Crusades generally refers to the series of wars that were fought by western European countries against those in Asia Minor between 1095 and 1291.  In these wars, Christian countries in Europe were convinced that through the sword they could bring the truth to Asian countries.  I know for the history buffs among us, this is an overly simplistic view of the Crusades.  However, it is enough for me to continue with the original question.

One of the most popular mission fields in this country right now is the Internet.  It is extremely easy to log onto social media sites and find people who disagree with you.  Combine this with the fact that we have a generation of youth that have been raised to be strong in their faith and confident in their views, and we have a power that the world will soon be forced to reckon with.  However, this is a dangerous place to be, in my opinion.  When one studies the effects of the Crusades, it becomes apparent that it is impossible to convince people they are lacking the truth with violence.   In Asia, the native people would see the invaders come in and kill those who would not convert, and would be further convinced they (the natives) were right in their thinking.

What does this have to do with what we are facing today?  I believe that the Internet is a dangerous evangelism tool.  In 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 we find the familiar passage of Paul as he speaks about becoming all things to all men.  Many people have a hard time understanding what this passage means, but after some research I believe that its meaning is very simple.  Paul is suggesting that he alters his behavior to match those he is in contact with.  He specifically references becoming a Jew when he is with Jews.  This means that he would not do things that would offend their sensitivities as Jews.  Does this mean that he abandons his Christian faith?  Absolutely not!  As a matter of fact, this action allows him to fulfill the ultimate requirement in Christianity: Love.  In order to love people who disagree with you, you must be able to overlook their differences.  You must be able to see them as a child of God, and not as an enemy.  It cannot be said any better than the old saying: “Love the sinner, hate the sin”.  In order to love someone, you must have a personal relationship with that person.  It is impossible to develop a personal relationship with a stranger through the Internet.  Therefore, it is impossible to love a person well enough for them to accept your criticism of their lifestyle.

It is much easier to share your faith with strangers while you sit behind your keyboard.  Likewise, it is  much harder to demonstrate love to people, since words typed out online cannot carry empathy or emotion.  I have come to the conclusion that in order to share the good news, we must go out into the world and make disciples.

I have long suspected that people are turned off by Internet evangelism, but it was confirmed for me when I ran into a person that I would classify as “dying to be Christian.” This person read the Bible and understood what it said, for the most part.  However, she had an errant view on a particular doctrinal issue which, in her zeal to share her faith, she posted on her Facebook page.  She was then attacked viciously and without mercy by other “Christians” trying to root out heresy - to stick with the Crusades analogy.  Several years later, she meets me and I claim to be Christian.  Immediately the conversation becomes very tense and she informs me that Christians are the biggest hypocrites in the world.  Under the circumstances, I was forced to agree with her. You cannot approach unbelievers without love and call yourself a Christian.  It is impossible to love people wirelessly, and it is impossible to evangelize without love.

In my assessment, our generation is in danger of committing the atrocities of a second Crusade if we continue to take our Faith online.  There is a reason that Jesus said to “go out into the world and make disciples.”  This reason is, face to face communication is the only way one can build the relationship necessary for evangelism.

So, I challenge you to “go out” and love.  It is through love, not well reasoned arguments, that we are given the chance to address a hurting world.