I want to write on a topic and would appreciate feedback from my readers. What is interesting and challenging about the blog world is that many people rant on and on about things but offer nothing of what they are doing about it in real life.
“I don’t like this, this sucks…”
“I hate when bloggers do this, its lame…”
And on and on. What I want to ask is, if you are going to make a critique or comment, please add what you are doing about it. If you want to criticize, offer a solution and what you are doing about it. I can think of one man who blogs and many people read this man’s blog. They are always opining about different topics, but there is no way of knowing if he ever does anything about it, or just throws stones from the sidelines. Blogging is great, but back it up with action. Words are words, action is real. Preach always, use words when necessary.
Thats it for me today.
Tomorrow, I am off to Montana to take part in the 19 inches of fresh pow pow that just fell at Bridger Bowl. WOO HOO! JVD
It’s a unique challenge of our digital revolution that we now have thousands of opportunities to speak our mind and still the same brain to filter out our pride in our thoughts.
I struggle with this as I blog myself. It’s one reason I try to keep myself from blogging too much about an issue and stick to a particular tangible situation. That helps me stay grounded some. Brevity also helps since most truths have been taught, but not necessarily explained concisely and well.
Joseph, what a great call to action. I agree that it’s easy to TALK about things and then sit back saying “tomorrow I will begin.” Many complaints I read at Voxtropolis have NOTHING to do with frustrations in reaching people, but rants and whining about “Why can’t my church be more missional,” “My church is so unresponsive and irrelevant,” or a myriad of other responses that say much the same thing.
Personally, I’ve decided to stop posing such questions, rants, or whinings. I went through a period of frustration with “church” in general for many of the same reasons others have in their rants. But blogging all day asking “why can’t the church be this or that” doesn’t reach the lost, does “fix” anything, and it certainly doesn’t bring God glory.
Personally, I just go on about my daily life, trying (emphasis on trying) to be Christ in all situations. If God is leading you to a missional lifestyle or possibly calling you out of the traditional model of “church”, go onward towards the goal, alone if need be. We must remember, at times, Jesus looked around to find that everyone had abandoned him.
Thanks to you both the feedback. I also want to make sure this is not a post that is anti-brainstorming, or anti-creativity. But rather an encouragement to tell people to let us know what they are doing about the issues they are ranting about.
Its the churches fault… but what are you doing to help the church?
No one mentors anyone - are you mentoring anyone?
Etc. Etc….
Joe…
Good thoughts…you know, as I read your post, I could really relate to your feelings. I think though that we must be mindful that Blogs serve many purposes. What I mean is this… you are a very action oriented person. As a strengths finders coach, it is your desire to promote action through strength. So, someone who just uses a Blog as a place to vent may not make you too happy. Nonetheless, it doesn’t take away the validity of using a Blog for precisely that. Often, we come to the Blog like we come to our diary…full of sadness, dispair, anger, happiness, etc… this is not always a time for action. sometimes it is a time for reflection…venting….yelling. Just as the Blog exists for community, we must never forget that it’s primary purpose is often self. Now, I am like you in many regards…I don’t like it when people spout problems and no solutions…but everyone is not me…and thank God for that.
RA - it is a very good point you bring up. Yes, I am wired for action so that is my bias. Points well taken. Yes - everyone gets a pass to do or say what they want on their blog. My pick is more with those who NEVER offer up actions….. at some point it has to become tangible - right? JVD
I would agree that for people like us, it has to become tangible…for others, I’m not so sure. This has been a hard thing for me to deal with sometimes…but the fact is that Blogs for some people are no more than a sounding board. you and I are action oriented…so blogs for us require action. Others may be looking for something else entirely.
RA - but, in life they must have action…… right? JVD
If you want to whine about it on your blog, you had better be prepared to offer up an alternative or a solution. Blogs are not just a place to vent. Blogs are a publci forum. Poeple blog to be read. Whether they admit it or not. Why else would you post your thoughts into virtual space. If you just want to vent, put it in a word document or a handwritten journal.
One of the things that bothers me most is when I post and people want to write some anonymous critique. Perry Noble has written and posted some very good stuff on how blogging has empowered people to complain without being called to action. If you got something to say, sign your name and stand behind your words.
I am all about blogging. We need to dialogue and push one another to grow and think differently. But at some point the conversation has to lead to changed living and fruit of some kind. One of my biggest struggles in seminary was along these lines. When we reduce everything to the theoretical and lose touch with the practical. The same thing applies to blogs. Post, complain, comment and then live it out. Don’t hide behind your keyboard all day long moaning about whatever bothers you. Act.
Hmmmmm I am one of the most action oriented guys I know. I often find peoples Blogs frustrating. On myspace, I have one friend in particular that drives me nuts… but I think you have perhaps missed the mark here. You say that someone must be prepared to act if they blog. Or what? Other than it bothering you…what is the consequence to using a blog as a journal? You say that Blogs are not just a place to vent, and yet millions of people use them to do just that every single day. In the end, whether you like it or not, Blogs serve many people as a form of therapy. You may choose to read them or not…it is not required reading. there is no Blog police, riding the internet highway, pulling over the millions of “blogging venters” and commending the “blogging action takers.”
What strikes me as most odd about this conversation is that it is a Blog complaining about people who complain in their blogs…odd. I like Joe, and so I hope you all understand that I am not simply trying to be argumentative here. I am only trying to get you to see that as of right now, there are many uses for Blogs. There has been little or no call to action here…so, I ask, what is the plan to get the millions of lazy, complaining bloggers to act? If there is no plan put forth, this is nothing more than one more complaining blog.
Amen. There are so many bloggers out there who people resonate with that only offer deconstruction. What the Church needs are people who are willing to struggle building stuff. I feel like such a complainer sometimes, but at least I’m putting my shoulder to the grindstone about most of the stuff I gripe about.
Actually, if you’ll look back up a few posts I offer a practical few suggestions for blog writers that speak to the original topic.
Complaining about complaining about complaining about com…. Well you get the idea. When we model change (ie a trackback to this post from a post on your blog that models positive practices) then we actually begin to affect change. Observations have very limited power. So get out there and do something different and show us.
Parke: Sorry man…didn’t see that. Maybe I don’t have the hang of the Vox jsut yet…I only saw one post from you up there. Perhaps you are suggesting that if we lead the way, then others will follow? We take action and so will others? I hope you are right.
Again…I am not saying that good Joe is not right. he is, of course correct when he states that throwing stones from the sidelines isn’t an answer to anyones problems…I agree fullheartedly. I am merely saying that there are millions of people who use their Blog as nothing more than a sounding post. Does this invalidate their thoughts in any way? If so, how?
One man sits on a curb, smoking a cigarette because he is addicted. Another, because he thinks it looks cool, and yet another because he is trying to get the “camel bucks”…many different reasons…same curb.
It doesn’t invalidate their thought, but I’ll encourage someone to lecture on Middle East history in English before they lecture on Middle East history in a made up language that almost no one connects with.
Good conversation - Van Steen thanks for waying in. You are an inspiration to me and many because you don’t just talk about church planting, you do church. You don’t just talk about theology, you practice theology. You don’t just talk about helping the poor, you invest in a community and host a conference on consumerism.
Brenton - Thanks
RA - I know you do in real life, that is why I like reading what you are thinking about. My post is to spur conversation (like this) and hear many sides - thanks for your spurring on.
Can someone have a blog to just vent? Sure….. But at some point Jesus told us to grab our mats and get up and walk… get up and walk… we miss that part sometimes because we focus on healing.. important, but at some point we have to get up and walk.
Great conversation
JVD… I really like that your blog ended up having so much conversation…that’s when Blogs get the best…you should have seen the time I blogged on myspace about whether or not it was ok for Christians to use potty language…the Blog blew up…it was crazy.
Anyway…here is a thought…if a Blogger uses their Blog to spout their anger, sadness, whatever…and we do not see any action in it, does that mean that action has not occured…for example…Let’s say that someone whines and complains on their Blog about their rough day at work…now, to you and I, it may seem like random complaining…but to that person, it may be cathartic…exorcism if you will. Does the fact that it is internal to the person writing stop it from still being considered action on their part…what if it is this very blogging that stops them from being cranky to co-workers, family, etc? Does that make it action…or am I way off base? Do we only see action for actions sake? I’m just wondering….
Parke: I apologize..but I guess your analogy got past me… are you saying that a Blog for a Blogs sake is not understandable by others?…maybe so…maybe i missed your point completely.