Lesley Fellows asked if I could argue for blogging from scripture. I think I probably could. I have begun to collect resources under the heading blogger apologetics and I am quite vocal when visiting speakers to college denounce the individualism of our postmodern life-style and reference facebook etc. I 'get' what they go on about but social networking creates community and can be used for good as much as it can be used for ill, like anything else in life. The Christian community, engaging in social media, often use it as a resource for swapping ideas, sharing reflections and doing theology. It's like a virtual indaba. Jody, Radical Evangelical ('disciple' now, but that header has stuck for me from her old blog), helped me to understand that we can create together in all sorts of ways. She recently put together a poem from a facebook thread exploring the
nature of priesthood.
Ian Paul talks about how he was 'asked of any nautical metaphors in hymns anyone knew of, and ended up (with five minutes’ work by me, and in about 3 hours) with 30 comments, giving complete coverage of hymnody.'
It is obvious to me that facebook and blogging can simply be another way in which we live out Pauline images of the body of Christ.
The community at Corinth is not said to be part of a wider body of Christ nor as 'a body of Christ' alongside numerous others. It is 'the body of Christ' in that place. This suggests that wherever Christians are in relationship there is the body of Christ in its entirety, for Christ is truly and wholly present there through his Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13).
Robert Banks, Paul's Idea of Community, Revised ed., (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994).
How do you think that the virtual Christian presence challenges or bears out Banks' statement?
8 comments:
What an interesting question. What could be said against blogging from Scripture?
It has for me the advantages of a) being faithful in my daily reading of Scripture
b) the possibility that any insight, inspiration, revelation or understanding gained from the perspiration of research might bless others, perhaps years after I've written my post, and long after I've forgotten them.
Frequently, Google gives me my own posts, and I am reminded of old insights and resolutions.
Anita
Yes and the 'Linkswithin' widget is taking me to some very early stuff I have written. Sometimes I am okay about that past version of myself, sometimes I stagger a little to recognise myself - it's quite weird.
Thanks for your contribution Anita.
You're welcome. If I were to choose theological labels for myself, I would say I'm evangelical, charismatic, (and more or less reformed). Am I right in assuming that there are relatively few evangelical charismatics in the British blogosphere?
Perhaps that sort of spiritual experience doesn't lend itself too well to blogging?
Anita
I'll be interested to see where you go with this, I'm seriously considering writing a paper myself sometime on ways in which Facebook can be used as a ministry tool -- I think there are so many ways in which these connections can be used for encouragement, prayer etc etc that aren't being explored
Okay, I just read your previous post and now understand Lesley's question "Can you make a scriptural case for blogging?" I misread your first line as "Can you blog about/on Scripture?" and could not understand why Lesley should have asked that.
The comments on the previous post are hilarious. Lesley is a lovely, lovely woman, and a most stimulating debating partner. I have had a couple of face to face friendly chats with her about these issues, and she really makes me think!
Anita
Thanks Anita, I do not doubt what you say about Lesley and I also admire her openness.
I love blogging because it helps me to grasp better our diversity and uniqueness, however, like you, I would also describe myself as charismatic evangelical, kind of reformed - so that makes at least two of us.
Hi Rachel, I really like this new template--both the full screen template, and the black on white which is easier for me to read.
Would you be able to tell me which blogger template you used for this, i.e. where you found it, as I would love to experiment with it too.
Thanks, Anita
Post a Comment