Some creative believers, however, have also found new and inventive ways to use the internet to dishonor both Christ and themselves. Consider our Lord’s words in the Sermon on the Mount—

Be careful not to do your righteous acts in front of people, so that you will be seen by them. Otherwise you will have no reward from your Father Who is in the heavens. Therefore, when you give to charity, don’t blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may be praised by people. Let me assure you, they have their reward.

Today, there is a growing trend to replace trumpeting with tweeting and the streets with the digital highway. Facebook and Twitter have become places for many to advertise their good works and promote their own spirituality. This past week I have read reports of how may counseling sessions a particular counselor has conducted (and how many overwhelmed pastors he has bailed out by his wisdom), how many tracts one individual has passed out, how much time one person has spent in prayer, and how many hours a pastor spent in sermon preparation for one sermon (which caused me to wonder about his sermon preparation skills). This morning I just defriended an individual who thought all his friends would appreciate knowing how much he loves the people in his church, the unique worship experience he feels only when he is with these wonderful people, and how much of this is caused by the ministry he is having there.

What about you? Do you use the internet and the many new social networking tools to communicate effectively and profitably with friends and family, or is it a means to promote your own personal piety?

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I could answer facetiously by saying that I’m hoping that eventually I might write a good one.  But that wouldn’t be true.

The reason is that I have found such writing free, satisfying and (I hope) helpful.  On that last point, I have had some feedback in the affirmative.

“Why so free and satisfying, as you put it?”

“Look. I’ve been writing for centuries.  But always before it was editors, revisions, delays interminable in getting materials published.  But this—mirable dictu—I can write what I want, without editing, and get it published the same or the next day.  You don’t know what freedom that is until you’ve become a published author.

Moreover, I can write briefly, say what I want, and quit. Recently, I was asked to write something  8300 words long.  That’s restrictive.  I did, but I begrudged the fact that I was being constrained to take that many words to say what I could have said much more briefly.  I didn’t pad it [much]; but tried to make most of the words count.

Blogging is also an up-to-date medium.  If something happens today, I can comment on it and be published tomorrow.  I haven’t used this capability yet, but I’m aware of the potential that there is to do it. The day probably will come.

Finally, in answer to your question, I have more time on my hands now, and I thought I’d use it in what I hope will be profitable to others who read.  I used to travel and speak.  Now, my traveling days are over.  So, instead of traveling, my fingers are traveling over the keys.

I hope I’ve answered your question satisfactorily.  If you have any more to ask—check in with Donn.  And if he deems it worthwhile, he’ll tell me about it.

The post Why So Many? appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

Though—it is a settled maxim with me that no matter how complex, how profound, how difficult to understand, it can be made intelligible. Indeed, I would go so far as to say simple. That which is simple is not necessarily simplistic. Simplicity often takes more effort to achieve than obfuscation. Some of us who have spend our entire writing and speaking lives working at simplicity will testify to that fact. So, when you hear someone say, “That’s simplistic,” pause and ask yourself “Is what he is commenting about really simplistic, or is his understanding of it so?”

Take a look at many college textbooks—what often makes them difficult to understand is not the subject matter, but the way in which the author writes about it. The verbosity of some, one can’t help but think, may be due to the desire of the author to extend the length of the book 1) to cause it to look more profound; 2) to sell it at a higher price in order to realize larger royalties.

Now, if you are an author, let me ask you to go through your writings and see if you can’t simplify them by using clearer, more precise language, buttressing the didactic with illustrative materials, shortening sentences, keeping to the active and avoiding the passive, etc. If you work hard at simplicity, some will not buy you, thinking (wrongly) that what you write is simplistic, but those who want to learn will bless you for it and even recommend your books to others.

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At any rate, you may think that many of my blogs are written while half asleep. Let me assure you that if there are any blogs like that, they’re probably my very best. But when I write what I’m about to say in this one today, I can tell you, without qualification, that I’m wide awake! And mean every word of it. And I think I know what I’m saying.

The big guns in their big church buildings, housing huge congregations, with millions at their disposal to use for the work of Christ, have largely failed us. How have they used their influence? Like John the Baptizer, have they exposed the sins of politicians, and publically called specific individuals to repentance? To my knowledge, NO! What they have done instead is to shine up to them and from that cozy relationship, befriended them—supposedly—to win them to Christ. How many have been won? How have our policies in this country been affected by them for good? Who, in this country of any stature, is openly calling them to repentance? You know the answers.

“But the tea party has made a difference! Maybe something good is happening.” Why did it take a motley bunch of upset people to bring about some welcome changes? Why wasn’t it preachers, and Christian leaders all over the country are proclaiming the truth in such a way that was the reason why the country’s policies are changing? Why did it take the tea party to do what it has done—a welcome phenomenon in God’s providence—but which can have only temporary results because, there was no change of hearts accompanied it and constituted the difference? People were not elected because they were Christians and wanted to turn the anti-Christian tide that is quickly flowing in upon our shores; they were elected by force. Because people wanted conservatism—not because people wanted to see Christ honored, and believing politicians turning the country toward His ways. Why is it that the church—so potentially powerful that it is—has spoken so weakly? We don’t need health and wealth preaching. We don’t need big church, big tent thinking. We don’t need more photo ops of well-known preachers holding hands with fornicating, God-despising, baby-aborting advocates in the Senate and House. What we need are some fearless men who have the clout (as John did) to exercise it by publically calling specific persons to repentance. Will it ever happen? Or will our country continue to drift downstream? Will we continue to offend God so egregiously as we have been doing that we can look forward to nothing but judgment?

At the beginning of this article, I spoke of falling asleep. I tried to indicate something of the stupidity and confusion that results from doing so by punching in nonsense letters. Perhaps instead of a long line of “m’s” I should have used “Zs.” The church does seem asleep to its duty to call men and women to repentance and to faith in Jesus Christ. We need change—but it has to be change that God approves since it glorifies Him. Judgment, throughout history, has been the result of continued, unabated sin in which the prophets call “peace, peace,” when there is no peace. Are there any prophets afoot today in this land? If so, what is their message? The thing to be feared is to think that a change in government toward more conservative politics will lead to even greater lethargy on the part of believers, who will be satisfied with it. We can thank God for what He is doing to bring about policies more in line with the individual’s welfare, but the danger is that we will be satisfied with it.

Instead, let’s continue the movement that has begun in this land—certainly! But let’s also do all we can to influence those who will take over the government to bring Christ and His principles to bear upon what they do and say. Let’s call for change that comes from repentance!

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“Don’t ask me. I can‘t get inside of your head.”

I know. I know. But you see . . . Oh, what’s the use?

“Well, since I haven’t the slightest inkling about what your question is, but you’ve got me intrigued, I think it’s only right for you, at least, to explain what your problem is.”

I guess you’re right. OK. Here goes. I write and write and I sometimes get responses, but they are often entirely off the point. People are interested in themselves—in what is uppermost in their own minds at the moment. They may or may think what I write has relevance to them—and that seems to make the difference in how they respond.

“But you have no idea how many people read what you’re saying and say, ‘That’s just what I needed to hear,’ do you?”

Only generally. So why write, then? I may be communicating with a mud wall, for all I know.

“Listen. Don’t get discouraged. I have a thought.”

Good. What is it?

“We have an archives section to this website with blogs on scores of topics. If people would only read these they’d find something that meets their current situation, I’m sure.”

Great suggestion—and they’re (i.e., the topics—not the people) all sorted out under different heading for easy access.

“Right. Now get back to work.”

Yes sir!

The post Why Write? appeared first on Institute for Nouthetic Studies | Biblical Counseling.

Jay is still blogging, however. The blog post that appears Monday was written upon his return from the hospital!

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