I’ve participated in a few internet arguments in my day, especially several years ago when social interaction on the internet was fairly new. It didn’t take me very long at all to realize that arguing on the internet was about as fruitful as an orange tree in the arctic. Occasionally, though, I will step into the ring for a few minutes, not to argue, but to present some facts that might be relevant to the discussion. If someone tries to bait me into an argument, I leave. After all, if I’m going to waste time, I might as well waste it doing something more fun!
Just this week I defended a friend on the internet when I saw that someone was criticizing him with false information. In the comment section, I pointed out that it’s one thing to disagree with my friend’s approach to ministry, but quite another to make a charge against him that was factually false. I corrected the inaccuracy…the blog author responded by defending his perspective…I made one more comment to clarify my point and moved on.
Over the past few weeks I have noticed quite a lot of internet arguing about the Elephant Room and Pastor James MacDonald’s invitation to Pastor T. D. Jakes. I have witnessed these arguments occurring in the comments section of some of the blogs to which I subscribe. I quickly grew saddened by some of it and bored by much of it. I hoped it would soon fade away. But after the Elephant Room event things only heated up.
For some of the bloggers and professional “discerners,” T. D. Jakes was not convincing enough or orthodox enough in his affirmation of the historical doctrine of the Trinity. Sigh. I believe he could have signed every orthodox confession and creed from the Didache to the BF&M2000 and some still would have screamed, “But he’s just faking it…he probably used disappearing ink!”
I love the internet because it is the people’s media. Anyone with access to a computer can publish his opinions and beliefs for anyone else in the world with a computer to access. And, at least at this point, it’s tax free (Keep your hands off our internet you evil politicians!). What I’ve learned through the years is that arguments that have the best chance of changing my mind on an issue are the ones that are Scripturally based with a spirit of love. As Pastor James has so eloquently pointed out…
Truth > Grace = Fundamentalism (“sever the relationship when needed”)
Grace > Truth = Liberalism (“compromise the truth when needed”)
Jesus = FULL of Grace & Truth (John 1.14)
So I don’t even listen or pay attention to the name-calling, angry, self-proclaimed “discernment” people. Neither do I give any time of day to the “What we believe doesn’t matter as long as we’re sincere and loving” crowd (not that I ever gave them the time of day). I really only want to listen to those who are attempting to produce a truth-filled, grace-saturated articulation of a position on a matter. Show me that and I’m all ears.
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