SBC Outpost, a blog by Marty Duren that I enjoy, is highly read and highly commented on. Unfortunately, it often generates a lot of discussion because it involves pastors and professors who pontificate on the rightness of a specific theology that they have mastered or what is appropriate behavior for a Christian. Marty is excellent at moderating this, and he has a fantastic ministry to pastors throughout the SBC, but it can be disconcerting to see vitriol come out amongst brothers and sisters about things that do not further the Kingdom.
His three most recent posts (here, here, and here) aren’t about theology or proper conduct for Christians at all. Instead, he has been pointing out statistics from around the world like life expectancy and water quality, etc. These three posts have generated 49 comments at this point, many of which are from missionaries, and a few of which are asking the question about the lack of comments on such subjects. If you haven’t seen the posts, check them out because the statistics are soberting and, I pray, motivating for all Christians to join up in God’s mission.
In contrast, this post, about an outcry by a man named Roger Moran against churches and alcohol, generated 157 comments alone. Three follow up posts regarding Mr. Moran generated 175 comments. I’m not encouraging you to go read through all of these comments. If anything, they may be demotivating.
What does it say to the world, if anything, that “Christian leaders” aren’t interested in discussing how to take the gospel, both in terms of serving and in terms of sharing, to places around the world where poverty and other ills are rampant, but they not only discuss, but also complain and argue (counter Philippians 2:14) about whether or not any church should ever allow certain activities to occur or whether other Christians brothers and sisters have church all wrong?
