The Voice Of One Crying Out In Suburbia

Together for the Gospel 2008

Day One

Band of Bloggers

Today we had lunch with a bunch of bloggers, mostly young reformed guys (there are lots of young, Reformed guys at T4G with cargo pants, groovy glasses and way to much hair care product going on). I met a few people in person, like James Lee from Deliver Detroit and Timothy from Broken Wills & Saving Grace that I only knew from the internet before.

Probably the most profound statement came from Thabiti Anyabwile (who I found to be engaging and incredibly bright). He said that when we blog, we blog as those redeemed by the blood of Christ, and as those redeemed b the blood, that blood should leave it's stain on our thinking. Very true, and a very serious warning for those who blog for the glory of God alone.

I also liked a couple of things Phil Johnson and Thabiti said regarding the idea that blogging is the dumbing down of news and information. Johnson remarked that blogging is the most egalitarian form of communication we have had in a long time, and Thabiti said that if he had to choose between the cult of the amateur and the cult of the elite, he would choose the elite. What bugs traditionalists about blogging is the same thing that bugs education people about homeschooling, the idea that we should leave this stuff to the experts. But when the experts have failed miserably, as they have in the media and in education, it is time for regular folk to take things back.

I am not sure I learned anything really profound, but it was nice to meet people, see other bloggers and remember the importance of perspective. Blogging is a great outlet for thoughts, but it cannot replace relationships with real people: people at church, family, friends. Be good at what it is, and use it to glorify God, but remember what it is and what it is not.