Tuesday, May 03, 2005

Does It Matter What We Blog?



I've read a few blog posts written by Christians which say we should be able to write anything in our blogs.

Whatever rattles around in our heads, good, bad, angry. That, after all, it's our blog, it's like a diary and in a diary, one lets it all hang out.

Well, uh, no. Not for me, anyway.

For me, that does not ring true on many levels. For one, your diary hidden under your mattress is your diary hidden under your mattress. But a publicly-shared blog is a publicly-shared blog. People are involved, souls are.

Words. The Bible has tons to say about the power of our words.

Remember how in driver's ed. we were taught that a car is a weapon? Well, so are our words. They can be used to change the world or make is sicker, what with 'the power of life and death being in our tongues'.


"Do you see a man who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for him." Proverbs 29:20

Speaking in haste, to me, can mean sharing my words before putting them through any kind of a filter for those who are listening to (or reading) my words.

A filter like this:

"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought], it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:6

That is one filter which causes me to ask myself: Will my words create doubt in a new Christian's mind? Will my depressing words remove hope from someone who needs it desperately? Will this gossip poison someone's mind? Will my complaining cause others to be dissatisfied with their own lives?

And more.

Never will I tell you, "Say whatever you're feeling in your blog." Not in a million years. That would be like telling people that God thinks it's just fine and dandy to say out loud anything that pops into our heads.

And I cannot believe--or do-- that with a clear conscience. Never.


******

"For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." ... Matthew 12:37


******

No comments: