Considering When Words Should Be Few

In case you haven’t noticed, I haven’t been blogging very much.  There are a few reason for that. Possibly more than I realize.

I’ve been really busy with other matters.  We are in the process of adopting again.  This time around we’ve needed to apply for more loans and grants than we did before. We are also home schooling our daughter, which has taken up some of my time.  And the church I now pastor is twice as large as the one in Florida, so it takes more of my time and energy.  I come home and I’m wiped (being older doesn’t help).

¹⁹ When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. Proverbs 10

More importantly I regret things I’ve blogged on in the past.  The friend who got me into blogging admits he has been an attention whore in the past.  I’m not sure I’d go that far, but to build up readership you often have to weigh in on the controversial topics of the day.  I’ve recently removed some posts from the past because I was unfair to people, as one of them (thankfully) pointed out.

I’ve been growing increasingly concerned about the tone of comments on blogs.  Often the blogger is a godly person, but some of the people who comment are far from it.  But some bloggers just flame people.  I hope this is a reflection of progress in my sanctification that it bothers me. I’m not talking about proper corrections- doctrine does matter.  But some guys bring out the howitzers for any doctrinal difference.

It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. James 3

I’m weary of how people interact with one another.  Too many assumptions which put the other person in a negative light.  Too much name-calling.  Slander is common.  Even among Christians.  As I recently preached thru James it is hard to avoid the reality that our tongues must also be sanctified.  Actually, it is the heart that is sanctified but it shows up in our speech.  Or it is supposed to.  Too many Christians are too comfortable with verbally abusing others made in the image of God.  It is not “only words” but a reflection of the hatred, anger, bitterness and pride in our hearts.

So I’m trying to say less. That is no guarantee that I’ll speak better. But perhaps I’ll sin less.  I just have less to say, or that I think the world needs to hear.  So maybe it is growth in humility though there is still a long way to go to actually being humble.  But my sense of self-importance is not as great as it used to be.