(I recently read an article/post written by a pastor about what kind of woman a husband should NOT marry.  I joked that it was a good thing that my husband read it after 12 years we have been married and not before we got married because I was some of the women he described on the list.  He instructed men to not marry all sorts of women.  One type was a traveler which is a character trait I believe God has given me.  I love to explore and to meet and see different people and parts of the world.  So instead of "just" being furious I decided to write a letter to some of the Christian bloggers I have been seeing go viral lately. I hope, blogger friends, while you are sitting and "ohhhhh and awwwing" over your blog analytics you can take a second to read this and perhaps understand my perspective. I feel writers like the above mentioned post turn people away from the Lord, and that is a sad thing for me to watch.)

I am a Christian.  I was raised in a Christian home by 2 Christian God following parents. I have a personal relationship with Jesus but I am also a blogger.  So therefore.....that makes me a Christian blogger.  I don't write much about my Christian values.  I don't feel it is "my calling."  I hope to be an online social example of who Christ wants us to be. People see this and ask questions. These are the conversations I hold dear. 

 



The word is a broken place.  I see fear and imperfect humans on and offline.  But just because I see people do things in what I view as wrong does not make me want to write what I believe.  Sometimes, It is not my place to say.  However, in some cases (like for this topic) I will make an exception, after thoughtful prayer in my heart.





◄ Proverbs 16:24 ► Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.


Ever heard that verse? What ever you say online shouldn't our key strikes be like the pouring of honey onto the internet?  Please sing sweet words online.  You can be convicted and write a blog post without being a jerk.  It is possible to explain why you believe something with a gentle spirit and not a bossy one. Instead of guilt shaming those that may live a different life than you.....explain how that life has been made you a better you and a better walk with Christ.  Write about Christ in your marriage, and in your own personal role as a Human.  Want to be authentic? Be an example.  Be a soft place to land on the internet.  Perhaps speak from experience instead of ridicule.  Imagine the hearts you could reach by being a caring example and not a shaming startling place that will make a person feel less than they are and hold them back from what God created them to be.  Let God use your words.  Do not let your words stop God from speaking to your readers because YOUR hurtful words were too brutal to digest.


Don't be traffic driven. Traffic brings in the income of bloggers but do we want to sacrifice traffic in exchange for being a tool used to heal a hurting heart? What is more important? Many of us can tell your intent in your words. We can tell tone or assume tone.  Many can tell your anger and lecturing voice.  Don't be "that" blogger.  Be a shinning light on the internet.  Your light can shine brightly online if you allow it. In these days, the internet needs a lot more honey and a lot less lecturing.  Let God mold hearts. You aren't the potter.   

◄ Ecclesiastes 3:1 ► There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens........

 Just because you see someone doing something wrong in their life doesn't mean it is ALWAYS your place to say.  Just because you see a hot topic doesn't mean it is time to write. Be the blogger who listens to their readers.  Be the blogger that prays for their readers.  Be the blogger that tells a story of their love for Jesus and is an example.  Not everything is meant or appropriate to be said online that goes on between you and God. Let others be on a journey with God.  You aren't his only ambassador.  Be the one that is approachable via email or telephone.  Encourage your readers to find Christian friends. Ready for a post to go viral about your Christian faith?  Be prepared to be a voice on and offline. Got something you want to say?  Don't hide behind a computer.  If you have prayed over a post and feel the Lord is directing your words.....  Let The Lord speak through you.  Please.  This I beg you.  Your blog is not the Bible.  Encourage others to dive into the word of God and have a relationship with him.  Spirituality is an important and personal thing. Think through before you intervene on what God is working on in their life.

You do not uphold the final call.

Do you believe God makes the final call in our lives?  Stop acting like it is you.  Feeling convicted to talk about a certain topic.  Write with tender words.  We are Christians.  We are supposed to stand out and be different.  Kindness, Jesus' Love, and light should separate us. We do not need controversial topics to drive up our analytics, right?  I answer to God not Google.

Dear Christian Bloggers: There is a Difference between being Convicted and Controversial. You can be convicted about a topic that is controversial but the controversy that causes the conversation about Christian topics should be an internal one.  You can start that internal thought process in your reader's mind but you should not scream it into their ear.   Live by example.  Jesus doesn't need a PR Agent or a spokesperson.  He has wrote the ultimate book of love not you.



◄ Matthew 5:14 ► You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.


 The internet now has hills and valleys. Where will your blog stand?  No matter how long you have been a Christian, how long you have been blogging, what degrees you hold, or who you think you are as blogger.......you and I are not the ultimate author! This is a truth. 

 (Being a Christian is hard and what we say will not always be popular but how we say it can make all of the difference. Being a Christian is hard but what God is convicting us to believe is not always meant to be written)