Confession for Theoblogians

by Joe Thorn on September 13, 2005

Inspired by a conversation with Russ Rankin today at lunch. For some theoblogians, this might be the first step to improving a blog:

I Repent
of pretending to know more than I do,
of speaking without listening,
of correcting without caring,
of passing judgment without understanding,
of talking at people instead of with people,
of using words that hurt and do not heal,
of writing without grace, charity, love and kindness,
of writing with arrogance and pride,
of being more critical than redemptive,
of presuming my words are more valuable than others’,
of uncovering problems without pointing to solutions,
of being more zealous for a system than for a Savior,
for I am a man with an unclean blog, and I write among a people of unclean blogs.

  • http://blog.nelmezzo.net David Wright

    Greatly appreciated this. I began blogging not very long ago, and I’ve already realized that I constantly have to scrutinize myself to keep my posts within kind and respectful boundaries. I know that, already, I’ve failed at times. It’s a medium that entices to fallen speech more than even regular conversation. I really appreciate the fact that your blog’s name is “words of grace”. That sets the tone in an important way.

  • http://cawley.typepad.com Kevin Cawley

    Your post on moleskines has saved me from that lately. It has been good for my soul just to write again– not to write for stats or write to be the one to break the scoop or whatever.

    Learning to balance the two– and thankful for little meditations like this.

    Missing you in Vancouver brother!

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    Thanks guys. I had to wait 24 hours to write “The Sword and the Spirits” post or I would have been much less gracious. semper reformanda on the personal level you know?

  • http://www.wretchedman.blogspot.com Robert

    Joe,
    Great post. it is easy to get carried away on a soap-box when I don’t have the accountability of one in my presence. Oh but there is always One in our presence. Great reminder. Thanks.
    Robert

  • http://she-livestypepad.com Carol

    This is perfect! Well, as perfect as one can get in an unclean blog, anyway.

    Really enjoyed your post on The Sword and the Spirits as well.

    Last year, I attended a symposium for women’s ministry leaders. The wife of the president of the seminary, in her address, gave an adamant statement that her mouth was pure because “no wine has ever passed these lips.”

    I’m still cogitating on that one.

    Enjoying your blog, Joe.

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    Good words Robert.

    Carol, I would love to hear that you told the speaker, “it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” ;) Thanks for reading and commenting.

  • http://www.brandonwellcome.com/blog Brandon

    Ouch. Really good timing for me to come across this post while blog surfing. Exactly what I needed to read at the moment. God is dealing with me in this area, though I may not necessarily be a full-blown “theoblogian.” Thanks for your example!

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