Nixon's the One

Johnson's the Other One

Apropos of everything we have talked about so far, my longtime friend and former co-worker Joost Nixon has good advice for me:

Blogging is governed by the same biblical principles that govern our speech. This seems obvious, but to read the blogs of many young turks, they either don't get it, or they refuse to bridle their tongues. Blogs can be used for great good, but like any speech, it must be bridled in order to bring grace to those who hear.

Godly blogging begins with the right metaphor. Many young bloggers write as though they are scribbling ugly secrets into their private diaries. Because their blog-thoughts are just them "thinking out loud," they think their grumbling lawful—as if our thought-lives aren't under the Lord's dominion1. The fact that the "diary" metaphor is faulty only multiplies the destruction of sinful speech. Blogging is a form of diarizing, but one written expressly for others to read—or else why the public forum? But blogging is like reading one's diary over NPR. Bloggers should reflect on whether they really want such a public forum. My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment (Jas. 3:1).

If you have a blog, don't take yourself too seriously. Few people—even those "struggling with low self-esteem"—really think more lowly of themselves than they ought to think. The opposite sin, however, is pandemic (Rom. 12:3).

The rest of his article, "Blogitelling" (from a recent issue of Credenda Agenda), is equally compelling. Well worth a careful read.

Joost's website, St. Anne's Public House is one of the more upscale virtual establishments.

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