transgression is not lacking,
But whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”
- Proverbs 10:18
Talk radio. Water-cooler talk. Religious talk. Coffee-shop talk. Talk TV. We live in a talking age where volume (as in amount not decibels) more often determines who is heard than the quality of what is said.
Recent posts by Michael Haykin and the Cowboy (Clint Humfrey) prompted me to wonder as I read this Proverb this morning... “Is blogging just a temptation to talk too much?”
It is worth considering! “Overtalk” is an occupational hazard for pastors. We are used to hearing our own voice and people actually ask us to talk! That can be a deadly combination and I have met my own share of talking (pastoral) heads that do not seem to have an off switch!
Solomon’s warning is simple, though: the more you talk, the more liable you are to sin. That makes perfect sense since, “out of the heart a man speaks” and “what comes out of a person is what defiles him.”
So, is blogging a form of speaking “too many words?” Maybe. But the great advantage of a blog post is that I can sit and think about it before anyone else gets to read it. At least I have a second chance to “guard my lips.”
In my mind, the greater danger may be blog reading.
“The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books (blogs?) there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” – Ecclesiastes 12:11-14
Whether you agree with my evaluation or not, one thing is for certain. There is far more value in listening than speaking.
“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.” - Proverbs 15:28
You said: "In my mind, the greater danger may be blog reading."
ReplyDeleteAnd then: "There is far more value in listening than speaking."
I'm not sure I follow the conclusion?
It is true that of the making of blogs there is no end. Definitely, in the vain of wisdom literature, discretion, discernment and discipline are all pre-requisites for godly living in the blogosphere in general. I'm definitely not there yet. Praise the Lord for the examples of more mature Christians who are willing to spend their time writing edifying thoughts for those of us who have so much to learn.
Hmmmm. I guess (like normal!) I am saying two things:
ReplyDelete1. Blogging is probably not the same thing as talking too much.
2. Reading blogs excessively is probably the same thing as listening to someone who talks too much.
Both points are trying to apply the Proverb. The first is examining the blog author and the second the reader.
Or maybe I was just trying to say three things...
:)
You guys and your silly logic.
ReplyDeleteCome now.
There are two truths that man must know, yea, three to learn from this post:
ReplyDeletePaul is a wise man,
Sometimes wise men are confused,
But the most confused of all is the one who reads without a brain.
Hey I resent that!
ReplyDeleteThankfully you don't "represent" that!
ReplyDeleteI do think I get the point at what Paul is saying though, just from my own experience.
I'll venture that for every blog I go to, I link to at least one more. It's a never-ending circuit of good information that can get out of hand.
I think that both blog reading and blog posting should be relative to the amount of time you can carve out of your day. If you start to take more time than needed to blog, that's not good.
That's why I love that little blogger button on the toolbar of IE. I can blog on something so quickly that it doesn't have to eat up my day.
Anyways, I should have made this comment more confusing to help Julian understand!
Kerux,
ReplyDeleteIn lieu of reading your blog, I downloaded one of your sermons out of Romans 7. That was some pretty good stuff, man! Worth the wait. Kinda thing you could name your church after...(oh wait, ok I see.) It seems I never tire of grace, why is that?
Romans 7:4 baby!
"Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God."
ReplyDeleteAmen, derifter!
Praise God for sovereign grace!
Hey Paul! It is with much excitement that I now realize that you are podcasting through sermonaudio.com! Look forward to keeping up with your teachings at GFC.
ReplyDeleteNephew James!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from you!
Uncle Paul