Uncomfortable

In so many ways, the web exposes us to voices that we might never hear otherwise. The stranger down the street, in another state or country, sometimes in our own home, is putting much of their life online - thoughts, hurts, opinions, attitude.  Photos from the school dance, political protest, office party and campaign rally.

So many voices.

Companies have realized that they can listen to their customers online. Churches have discovered that students are sometimes more honest on Xanga than they are in small groups.

I track 85 blogs, many written by the best of the best, but the most powerful thing I've read online in the last month is this poem by a teenage girl in Georgia, NappyGrace [via her wonderful teacher, Amy, of Amy Loves Books].

2005 Standard

Just considered a whore.

Everything is sex.
Everything is lust.
Every two words are cussed.

Ignorance.
belligerence.
Tragedy.
Extosy.
Most things are ungodly.

Pimps, sluts, and hos.
Kiss and tell.
Young wedding bells.
The devil offers hell
and we go.

Do we want the real deal? Do we want to hear voices that don't tell us what we want to hear?

I understand that blogs are sweeping through churches and church staffs. We even have our own awards and conferences.

Why? For what? Why don't we become part of the communities that already exist?

Here's an experiment. Write down 3-5 words that describe you in the most simplistic sense. I'll go first.

Male, white, Christian, web geek, conservative, middle class.

Now look at your blogroll, the list of blogs you regularly read. How many blogs don't share at least one of your core, simplistic characteristics? What do we gain from almost exclusively reading the words of people who are exactly like us? Who is going to challenge us, change us, and make us uncomfortable?

Our job as the church is to reach people who are lost. How is that possible if we don't step out of our comfort zone? How many people could we reach if we weren't spending our time reading yet another blog that confirms everything we believe? Does anyone think that the lost browse the list of Blogging Pastors and visit Blogs4God to find answers?

My blogroll should be a fluid stream of different views and perspectives. I need to find those whose world view and experience have no relation to my own, and join that conversation.

Comments

[eloy ramirez]

that's the quandry. you can never impact the world by secluding yourself. i have to continually balance keeping items on my blog roll that i disagree with, just so that i know what the debate is. excellent insight Brian. (youth can teach adults many things)

[Tommy]

Great post Brian.

Tall white Christan male husband dad reader learner (sorry I couldn't stop at 5)

Few things are better than an authentic voice; one who speaks from their heart. Much of the time the voice of authenticity is spoken on blogs without the label of "christian".

Authentic people, some who may be sincerely wrong, challenge my view points and make me think, which almost always makes me a better person.

[Katie]

excellent insight. i was going to start my own blog but have to put that on hold while i re-evaluate my blog list and research new sites ;)

[Tally]

Brian, your insight sat in the back of my mind for a few days. I haven't consciously been thinking about it but it set off an "AMEN" or "EXACTLY" trigger. It's a passion I've had for a while but being inside the Christian bubble and the Pastor bubble I so often become guilty of that very thing. Thanks for being raw. Ultimately those thoughts resurfaced in a post I wrote this morning...