Band of Bloggers

Having briefly mentioned thoughts on the Christian writer and the content of our blogs, the last area I would like to consider before our meeting is thinking about how we communicate the gospel effectively in the blogosphere. This is an important issue and the subject of considerable debate and controversy. Yet, given that we been given the charge of carry the gospel to the world, it is important to consider how effective we are as carriers of this gospel message.

1. Is it ever appropriate to use sarcasm and satire in our blogging as carriers of the gospel?

2. What about controversy? Knowing that people are interested in controversial matters, is it ever acceptable to tackle controversial matters as a means of connecting people with the gospel?

3. Can our attitudes and how we treat (or neglect) our readers cause people to be turned away from the message we carry?

4. Are we taking advantage of the tools and resources available to us to transmit the gospel message to as many people as possible in a God-honoring way?

5. How can we communicate the gospel to people beyond our network or created blog culture? Are we reaching out to unbelievers with our blogs, atheists, seekers, etc.? Should that be a stated goal? If not, why not?

I realize that the issues of contextualization and culture are huge issues here, and I hope that we can come together to target intentional ways we can be good stewards of the gospel trust with creative and challenging discussion.

May we all reflect on how the gospel is at work in our individual lives, the formatting of our blogs, and the manner and ways in which we communicate the gospel through our blogs and in our lives. I look forward to seeing many of you and discussing “The Gospel Trust” in just a couple of days!

The second area for consideration, as it pertains to being entrusted with the gospel, is the content of our blogs.  As we gather together in just a few days for a time of fellowship and discussion regarding the gospel, let us consider how and to what degree we are using our blogs to treasure, uphold, explain, defend, exult in, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with our readers.  I am reminded of something John Piper said just a couple of days ago on Abraham Piper’s blog.  John Piper commented:

Tell them that it takes relentless intentionality to keep a Christ-exalting blog from become a clever blog. The temptation to entertain is almost irresistible.

Relentless intentionality.  In other words, gospel-centered blogging is hard work.  It is concentrated work.  And it is a discriminating work–that is, discriminating against other things that might obscure or diminish the glory and worth of the gospel to which we have been entrusted. 

So with that said, let us consider the content of our blog(s) and remind ourselves of the stewardship of being entrusted with the most important, most valuable, most glorious reality in the universe–the gospel of the glory of Christ.

Some questions for consideration:

1.  How readily accessible is the gospel on your blog?

2.  How does the gospel shape your writing and govern the content of your blog?

3.  Is there regularity or gospel normativity to the overarching purpose and theme to your writing? 

4.  Does the content of your blog reflect joy and delight in the gospel?  Can readers be led to treasure Jesus Christ through what you have written?

5.  How often do you think, plan, pray, and seek the Spirit’s leadership in preparing and posting your thoughts? 

Let us encourage and exhort one another to be faithful stewards of the gospel trust! 

We are officially less than a week away from the 2008 Band of Bloggers fellowship, and I am really excited about how things are shaping up. Registration is maxed out (doubling the 2006 attendance), and preparations are being made to host what we hope to be a wonderful time of fellowship, discussion, and prayer together.

Many of you already know that the theme for this year’s meeting is “The Gospel Trust” (I have written briefly about this earlier). To set the stage, I would like to briefly share some thoughts about three areas for our consideration by way of prolegomena: thoughts on the Christian Writer, on the Content of our blogs, and the Communication of the Gospel.

Thoughts on the Christian Writer

First and foremost, as Christians, we must consider how the gospel is affecting, influencing, and transforming our lives. Perhaps this might sound elemental, but we cannot and will not graduate from the daily experiencing and applying the good news of Jesus Christ to our lives as we seek to be conformed into His image on a continual basis. Some questions we might ask ourselves include:

1. If someone were to ask us, “What is the Gospel?” would be you be prepared to share that with them?

2. How are you applying the gospel to your own heart and life on a regular basis?

3. Are you paying close attention to your heart’s affections, your mind’s thoughts, your conscience and will as to how the gospel is shaping and transforming your moral faculties?

4. Has the “gospel-centered life” become a slogan that has been embraced but is lacking in substance?

5. What are some ways to be gospel-driven in the ordinary, day-to-day scheduling of your life?

When we gather together around the theme, “The Gospel Trust,” it is important that each of us consider what kind of steward we are when it comes to the gospel and our own soul and personal sanctification. It is very easy to meander away from the center, to view the cross at a comfortable distance. Yet, the life of repentance that sings and faith that treasures all that God is for us in His Son Jesus Christ should lead us to greater enjoyment of our Savior whose face radiates “the light of the glory of God”. As we near our time together, let us consider ourselves in light of the gospel trust–a trust that begins first and foremost as we live coram deo.