The Purpose of Blog Archives
Foolish blog posts are invading my life. I'm referring to posts that are devoid of logic, love, or purpose. Posts that give trite answers to complex issues. Posts that attack persons instead of problems.
I'm not tired of reading blogs that say, 'It rained today, and I got all wet.' No, a post that informs me of a happening in a friend's life is always appreciated. I'm referring to posts that are presented as thoughtful and honest yet say nothing or reflect a gross misunderstanding of the world, the Bible, or both.
One post in particular peculiarly bothered me. It contained the same answers and accusations I had heard hundreds of times before. It made me angry. I could not believe someone would be so adamant about such obvious bunk. Then I remembered my first real conversation with Dale. I barely knew him and left a comment on his blog spouting about the inherent exclusivity of postmodernism and Christianity. I knew the answers and was ready to set him straight. A few days later, I visited his house. He mentioned the comment and, as kindly as Dale can be, encouraged me to think a little more carefully and honestly about what I thought I knew. It wasn't long before I realized I didn't totally understand postmodernism.
So I started to study up on Christianity and postmodernism. And culture. And life. It was a key transition in a long learning process that is continuing to challenge and grow my thinking into the process God wants it to be. This process has provided me with an invaluable lesson.
I don't know all the answers.
Neither does anyone else.
Before you get all pious on me, I know God is truth, and the Bible is his revelation of Himself. So, yes, we have been given all the answers. The problem is trying to find and implement them. Even Paul, who had seen and known God felt this way (admission 1, admission 2). Some of us have been so thoroughly indoctrinated in certain individuals' interpretations of truth we forget what the interpretation actually means or whether it is even valid. Others of us have never been introduced to truth. Either way, we have to let God work in our lives to show us His truth.
My anger at the foolish comments was quickly turned to humility as I reconsidered some of my early posts and comments on other blogs. My self-confident comments revealed both a dramatic misunderstanding of some issues and a reluctance to reconsider that understanding. I am grateful that God has used many friends and influences in my life to begin to break me of that, though the odds are good that a few years from I'll be feeling the same way about my current thinking. At least I hope I will.
The moment I stop evaluating and adjusting my understanding marks the end of my walk with God.
So, if you disagree with me, explain why. I need to have my thinking challenged. So do you.
At 7:46 PM,
It's crazy isn't it? We live in this little Christian bubble world where we are dunked in the Bible and it's teaching all day long, and yet, we've barely scratched the surface. I guess I just can't wait until the day when everything just makes sense...great post
hangenout.blogspot.com
by the way...i hate word verification, that's something you could change :)
At 12:24 PM,
Justin said
"I don't know all the answers. Neither does anyone else."
Do you know any of the answers? How do you know that you don't know all the answers. How do you know that no one else knows all the answers?
Just because your thinking has changed in some areas, (whose hasn't?) why do you think that it will eventually change in every area. Maybe a good blog post would be to let us know what things you definitely believe in - absolute truths.
". . .for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to gurd what I have entrusted to Him until that day."
In an unrelated matter, I would like to hear the reaction to this article from some of you who regularly read and post on Justin's blog: http://www.anncoulter.com/cgi-local/welcome.cgi
At 12:24 PM,
Do you know any anwers?
At 1:07 PM,
Josh, thanks for challenging my current thinking. Yes, I know some answers. You acknowledged that in your comment suggesting I post some of the things I'm sure of.
Interestingly, though, those things I know are the things I choose to believe, not things I rationally deduce. My logic is potentially--if not inherently--faulty in every situation. So is yours. There are two main reasons for this. 1)Logical deduction is based on premises. My premises are based on either other deductions or my interpretation of perfect revealed truth. 2)Logical deduction requires perfect rationality, which I dare not purport to possess. So, as we have both expressed, I never claimed my thinking would change in every area.
As for your link, I would suggest you start your own blog for such discussions. Not trying to be rude, my blog is the place where I present ideas to be discussed.
At 9:03 AM,
Justin, interesting ideas, I will have to think them over for a little bit.
Sorry for the link. I am not fully up on "blog etiquette".
At 10:14 PM,
Hi to those who read Justin's blog. now its late and I have a splitting headache and the beginnings of a fever so I'm 100% responsible for everything I say. And what I really want to know is who Josh is and why he pokes holes in every single thing that Justin and Dale have said for the last two weeks. Really I want to know.
At 1:28 PM,
Because Justin said:
"So, if you disagree with me, explain why. I need to have my thinking challenged. So do you."
At 11:39 AM,
post!!!!!