A New Spin on Old World Doctrine
In 1878, Alexander Graham Bell was on the brink of revealing an idea that would connect two people 700 feet apart, a large fete for a man of his time. Five score and nine years later, cell phones are comprised of microscopic parts and can reach someone across the globe. Even more fascinating is the number of people who generate weBLOGs (a figure somewhere in the millions).
What do they all write about? Who is listening? John C. Dvorak's study of "The Blog Phenomenon" listed 5 main reasons why people write: ego gratification, antidepersonalization, elimination of frustration, societal need to share, and wanna-be writers. As if the titles aren't offending enough, Dvorak's description of each completely ignores the interaction that is generated on the man vs. man and man vs. self levels of communication. Blogs are purposeful when used to communicate ideas and feeling within the kairos of the individual's society.
A significant aspect of the blogging world is the rate at which communication is transferred from one person to the next. Christians have began to connect support groups, prayer chains, and even sermon notes to fellow pastors, teachers, laymen, etc. that use the internet as a constant source of information. Missionaries (from now on known as M's) can maintain contact with family and friends several miles/time zones away. A blog can serve as a newsletter for the M's to share how God is working in their lives, to request prayer or supplies, and to comfort/encourage all who read it.
Not only can it be a source of provision, but a blog can also deliver a spiritual or kairotic challenge. The inability to transport yourself to the Middle East does not prevent you from engaging your intellect in a discussion of Islamic practices and controversies. If Christians wait for pagans to walk into a building to find God, we have lost the ability to effectively spread the message of Christ's death on the cross. Considering that Christ washed away our incredible debt of sin out of his great love for us, what is there to lose but life itself? Mark 8: 35 says, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." Combined with Christ's Great Commission to all believers, one can conclude that now, in a predominantly technology centered culture, we must meet our lost brothers and sisters where they spend their time -- in chat rooms, on blog pages, and through email.
Romans 10:12-15
"For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
What do they all write about? Who is listening? John C. Dvorak's study of "The Blog Phenomenon" listed 5 main reasons why people write: ego gratification, antidepersonalization, elimination of frustration, societal need to share, and wanna-be writers. As if the titles aren't offending enough, Dvorak's description of each completely ignores the interaction that is generated on the man vs. man and man vs. self levels of communication. Blogs are purposeful when used to communicate ideas and feeling within the kairos of the individual's society.
A significant aspect of the blogging world is the rate at which communication is transferred from one person to the next. Christians have began to connect support groups, prayer chains, and even sermon notes to fellow pastors, teachers, laymen, etc. that use the internet as a constant source of information. Missionaries (from now on known as M's) can maintain contact with family and friends several miles/time zones away. A blog can serve as a newsletter for the M's to share how God is working in their lives, to request prayer or supplies, and to comfort/encourage all who read it.
Not only can it be a source of provision, but a blog can also deliver a spiritual or kairotic challenge. The inability to transport yourself to the Middle East does not prevent you from engaging your intellect in a discussion of Islamic practices and controversies. If Christians wait for pagans to walk into a building to find God, we have lost the ability to effectively spread the message of Christ's death on the cross. Considering that Christ washed away our incredible debt of sin out of his great love for us, what is there to lose but life itself? Mark 8: 35 says, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it." Combined with Christ's Great Commission to all believers, one can conclude that now, in a predominantly technology centered culture, we must meet our lost brothers and sisters where they spend their time -- in chat rooms, on blog pages, and through email.
Romans 10:12-15
"For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
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