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If you don’t mind
I don’t mean to disrupt your reading, but, if you don’t mind, could you please remind me why I’m doing this blogging thing? Are you getting anything out of my effort, for what it’s worth?
By the way, no, I’m not considering ‘throwing in the towel’, we’ve been there already. But it is nice and very helpful to get feedback from readers!
Stay with it!
Joel,
I must be honest. I read almost everything you post. I am sure your motives are noble. You genuinely care about what happens in the kingdom. But… the negativity from this blog is fairly constant. It is one criticism after another and often it’s over inconsequential things. If there is no joy in your walk, why not? Balance is necessary. Yes, our country is in serious trouble and it seems that the more we call for Godly living, the more we see the citizenry at large accepting sin and ignoring the consequences. All we can do is be faithful to the gospel and rejoice that we are loved by the Risen Savior. That’s something to smile about and feel peace about. No, I’m not suggesting a PollyAnna attitutde, but balance. The gospel is Good News and we should rejoice in it.
Yes.
haven’t we been down this road before?
i must have asked myself that question 100 times over the last 10 years of blogging, and sometimes i just took a break, but i now have about 1,000+ reasons i still blog, i guess we each have to find what those are… but… in your case, see my comment from a few months ago
stick with it, take a break, or post a pic of your veggie garden once in a while to mix it up a bit, but don’t throw in the towel, if not for your readers for yourself. in my own case, i have learned far more about myself by writing than had i just said forget it.
If that isn’t good enough… what “Mike”‘ said above…
Hi Joel:
I’ve been following your blog for a few months now. Though I hope you do continue this online work, I share some of the concerns Katie listed in her contribution to this thread. Surely there is much to oppose in contemporary “evangelical” belief and practice — or whatever you want to call it. I am learning much from reading you. But so often the tone from both blogs is downright crabby. I’ve also noticed some “hints” of inaccessability: you don’t identify your location, or the church you pastor, and you don’t give an e-mail address or phone number on the blog. These are odd omissions for someone who has thrown himself into the blogging mix as vigorously as you have. Also, I’ve noticed that certain comments I’ve made, or requests for clarification, have either been ignored or, in some cases, responded to in a defensive tone, as if you’ve judged my comment or question as an attack. Granted, I often need to check my own tone in posing those questions and making those comments. But the negativity that Katie refers to is something I’ve seen fairly consistently. I do hope you’ll continue, though. I’d love to meet you and to visit your church.
In Christ,
Sergius Martin-George
Two comments, por favor.
Joel you seem to go through periods of time that you doubt the usefulness of your efforts at blogging. Fair enough. Serious and reasonable introspection in moderation is a desirable trait. And I can understand misgivings about the process, I have 5 blogs that do not have a combined readership of your one. Sometimes I figure I am writing as some sort of cathartic exercise only, because I am not doing it for fame or glory or money and believe me, for embarrisingly few eyes but my own. So, I say do not be discouraged, and press on.
Next I would like to comment relative to Katie’s post above. I think she makes a fair point. We all inwardly cheer when Nathan confronts King David with “thou art the man,” because we know Nathan has come from the Lord with a message of confrontation that was appropriate to David’s sin. We rejoice when we read that David receives the message in genuine repentance. However, I do not believe anyone is called to be a full time Nathan today. In the life of Christ, and in the life and writings of the Apostles we see a balance between confrontation when needed, and tender, patient instruction. It seems to me our lives ought to manifest both passions. The passion for purity combined with the passion for dealing with men with patience, with genuine regard for their spiritual well-being which means, amongst other things a occasional setting aside of our propensity for polemics while enaging those we perceive in error, or sin, or whatever. I am glad some men are gifted to root after error. But even those who do so skillfully and wisely… must do so with a view to remembering to not make the part a substitute for the whole. Combatting error, even heresy is undeniably important, but it’s not close – not ever remotely close – to being the sum of the Christian life. I know you believe that as well.
By nature I really do like the Nathan approach. I am capable of being quite confrontational as you may recall in our old days in the chat rooms together. I am certain of what I believe, and I admit, I do not always suffer fools gladly. However, in my best moments I know the outworking of the faith is deeper and more complex than those issues that oft seem most pressing to me. Believe me, I know, and I know more and more the older I get – sometimes where I am most comfortable, and where I feel my undestanding most sound is least where I need to be found ceaselessly concerning myself with. Sometimes, I need to graze in neglected spiritual pasture and perhaps you do as well. Recently I was in a long conversation with a young Armininian fellow who asked me, I think mostly seriously and not simply to provoke: “Do you only care about Calvinism?”Joel I do most certainly care about more things than just “Calvinism” but I understood why the young fellow asked me this. He did so because it was just about all I I ever approached him about over a long period of correspondence. It was convicting, because as zealous as I was to communicate truth to him, I had overlooked a need to be more than a one-trick-pony. Perhaps to my shame I was less concerned about his needs than my own need to be right.
I read many blogs, but only yours do I check daily. I appreciate what you do, and nothing I’ve written above ought make you think otherwise. I have learned a lot from you, and Joel in a sense that makes manifest my point above. By grazing in the pasture of YOUR blog I have become armed and informed about issues concerning about which I had only a cursory and minimal awareness. So, my advice is this in a nutshell: Don’t stop blogging, and don’t get lost in your concerns about the particular set of errors that has concerned you so much of late. Whatever you do, God bless you- and buddy, you keep after it. I will be sorely disappointed if you let loose the blog plow.
MGAE
Hi Joel–
I am new to this blog and I write a daily devotional on my website that tracks the number of views as well as the number of page views. Some days it’s 6 and other maybe 86. But I have to remind myself that when I write I am doing it for Him. The site is great–the negativity some mention? Well, we have minor disagreements concerning interpretation of doctrine and yes, that shouldn’t be the focus of our response. Let me exhort you to continue in this effort. And take a swipe at mine: .http://pastordavesdailytruth.weebly.com/
Your servant in Christ,
Dave
I have enjoyed your blog since I first discovered it. I even recommended it to others on my own blog. Your emphasis on teaching the whole counsel of God and pointing out where others may not be doing so is why I follow your blog. It’s refreshing to find someone who doesn’t compromise his beliefs to “get along” with everyone or to be “relevant.” Especially in these postmodern times we need to stand firm on the Scriptures and the teachings handed down to us. If this seems negative to some, so be it. I have been instructed and edified from reading your blog and I appreciate your taking the time to share with us. Thank you.
I enjoy your blog and read it often. I appreciate your blog because you dont compromise the truth, which is rare these days. Some may think that is being critical or negative, but I dont agree.
Thank you for your blog and for teaching that the Scriptures are sufficient.
Joel,
I’ve comment on your blog occasionally. Most of the time, it’s when I’m in opposition to something you say. I will admit this, there are times when something you post is genuinely what I need to hear. However, those times are not as often as they could be.
I would agree completely with Mr. Leach’s very pastoral comment above. I think there are times when your warnings for certain things are necessary. I also think there are other times when your energies could be focused on somethings more edifying.
All in all, even though I disagree on many things, I have found your blog helpful.
I look forward to your articles
Often use it to jumpstart further study
RFRPrice
Joel.
I think I read almost all of your blogs. I am just a regular guy who only discovered “doctirne” a few years ago. I like your blog and have learned a great deal from it and often have passed on or linked a post.
in my imatrurity in the faith – I am sometimes leary of being misled by people’s blogs – who seem to make sense – but I don’t know them. And if they are lop-sided or unbalanced – I get even more leary
(Paul’s passing thoughts is a good example – the guy has a lot of what seems to be truth and correction – but he is one track. I sometimes wonder if he is some kind of kook – or does he simply have gifted and Godly insight that many are missing. But, because he seems so unbalanced – he loses some credibility with me – because I am leary of being led astray by someone who seems to be “missing something” – like everything else in the faith, other than what he is hunting.).
You are not on the same level as PPT. But because it is a little unbalanced in the critical side of things – the tone makes me cautious. As I think about it – I spose we are to be cautious in any event.
Hope this is not too convaluted.
All this is to say – don’t go away – but I share some of Katie’s concerns at the top.
KindRegards, Dave
You’re correct in your observation of Paul Dohse, he’s a little too obsessed.
Joel,
I’m a little late getting to this, but I keep up with your blog pretty regularly and I will say that I have and continue to benefit from your posts. You have alerted me to dangers I was hitherto unaware of, and I am thankful for that. You have pointed me to other Godly teachers from whom I have also benefited. My favorite posts are those in which you make a doctrinal point, give a concise explanation, and cite the scriptures that teach that doctrine. They really help me grow in my understanding of the Word. Thanks.