Blogging for the glory of GodBlogs are now part of our culture. No one can predict how long this cultural phenomenon will last, but it is showing no hint of slowing down. What is clear is that it is changing the way the world receives and interacts with news and opinion. Blogs can be a positive and beneficial aspect to a pastor's overall ministry among his people. They allow him to interact with ideas and offer opinion throughout the week, as well as expose his congregation to the important issues facing Christians today. However, there are dangers that should be avoided. Here are a few of the lessons I have learned.
1. Remember that blogging is not a pastor's primary, or even secondary, teaching venue. It is tertiary at best. Do not fool yourself into thinking you are fulfilling your requirement to faithfully teach the Word by posting devotions, sermons, or theological articles online.
2. Post daily. Encourage the people of your church to come to your blog by posting new articles every day. Also vary the subject matter. 25 posts in a row about the deity of Christ or the dangers (or benefits) of the emergent movement is simply not wise.
3. Post things other than your sermon. They were there, they heard it when you said it--they don't need to see it in print (much less in full form). A quick recap is good. A full sermon manuscript is not.
4. Reduce your time online. Pastors should not be sitting at their computer for an hour or more each day posting articles. I write most of my posts on Monday which is my "light" office day. I schedule no counseling appointments or meetings on this day (because my brain is too dead from Sunday), and answer email, go through the mail, clean my office, run church errands, and write my blog articles. I save these in a word file and then cut-paste-post as needed each day.
5. Blogging is no substitute for connecting with your people. Stop right now, put your jacket on, and go out and talk to an actual human being you can see and touch (well, careful with the touching part). Your congregation could care less how often you post on your blog but they certainly care how often you visit them in their homes.
6. Offer what is unique to you. The world already has a John Piper, Scot McKnight, & John MacArthur. I already read their blogs. Write about what interests you, and do so from your own perspective. You don't need to be profound, just be you.
7. Stop trying to be famous. If your blogging to get the attention of the Christian world and become on of the "blogging big boys" STOP IT IMMEDIATELY. Christ didn't live, die, and rise again so you could be obsessed with your own glory.
8. Remember that the fruit of the Spirit must be demonstrated online, too. Be humble and gracious even when your making a stand on some issue. Give others the benefit of the doubt and state your convictions with a gentleness that cannot be denied, even by your critics (note: I am the first to admit I have failed much in this area).
9. Use your blog as a tool of personal betterment. Write posts and interact with ideas that sharpen your thinking and broaden your perspectives. An active blog forces pastors to think through their opinions on a variety of important subjects.
10. Demonstrate a Christian worldview. Anybody can comment on a football game. As a pastor, offer your readers what they cannot get elsewhere. Help people think biblically about everyday life. You don't need to be preachy, but do find opportunities to help others turn their minds to God.
11. Don't mention your blog from the pulpit, but do promote it within your church. Few in your pew want to hear about your blog. Those that like it have already read it, those that don't never will. Instead, use the church's written documents to point people towards this online resource (weekly bulletin, church newsletter, etc).
12. Protect the privacy of your people. Don't even talk about your people in round-about ways if it's negative (e.g. "Yesterday I sat down with a couple from church who is struggling with their marriage"). Your congregation isn't dumb, and they WILL figure out who you are talking about (or worse, they will perhaps guess wrongly and spread a false rumor). If it's positive, get their permission first (even if not mentioning them by name).
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Exploring Canaan is a series of post that explore aspects of secular culture from a Christian point of view. Moses ordered the 12 spies to explore the land of Canaan to analyze both its dangers and wonders. Pastor Josh Gelatt writes from the point of view that we have the bible's liberty to embrace those aspect of secular culture that can be beneficial for God's people, while also following the bible's command to shun those aspects which are detestable in God's eyes.
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