Stop it !!!

I can remember when I first started blogging some 14 years ago and what really inspired me was the hospitality of the conversation. Everyone was allowed to come to the table and join the conversation. The tone was one of charity, of humility and of imagination.  Someone brought something to the table, and we played with it. We stretched it to see if we could re-imagine something else. There was never an intent to break what some one brought. We treated one another with respect, and love. They always seemed like great things to build on.

But over the past couple of weeks, I've seen some pretty ugly stuff. Interjecting someones personal stuff into the thread of comments. I've seen harsh criticism when someone has tried to stretch the conversation. I've received extremely harsh e-mails over a couple of my posts. It always seems to be a little more hurtful when a person can't write there critique in the comments, but has to do it in the dark...so I'm the only one who sees it. I haven't put links to where this stuff is all coming from because that in a sense perpetuates the ugliness of it all.

Anyways...enough said. Lets get back to where we once were, imagining, working together, encouraging one another, stretching the conversation to build something beautiful. Something that would reflect the gospel, and the living reality that Jesus is, and is all about.

Comments

[Erin Wilson]

You've created a beautiful place here, Ron.

Consider this my small effort to stand beside you and hold up a little light.

Peace

[Paul Dixon]

Well said! *clap clap clap* I find myself often skimming through blog posts now, instead of digging in. I'm less informed, less engaged. I know much of it has to do with what your pointing out, the harsh criticism, the hurtful things being said. Especially shocking in the tealm of christian conversation. Aren't we to be loving and encouraging, not cutting each other up.

[hope]

Your posts have often challenged me to think outside the little box of my beliefs. I appreciate that. There was a time in my journey when I wouldn't have....that time when fear of not being right ran my life.

I continue to appreciate what you do here even though I don't always stop and write a comment to let you know. But I am reading and thinking along with you.

[Jonathan Brink]

Ron, I don't know the contents of your emails but I would suggest the possibility that sending them to you personally is protecting your identity. It leaves the conversation between you and the person, rather than opening the scrutiny to the public. It may not be fun, but it keeps it from going viral.

[ron cole]

Jonathon, I was looking at it from the perspective that they were protecting their identity. Also the criticism doesn't bother me, maybe a bit when it gets personal. But bring your criticisms out in the open, I don't mind engaging different perspectives. That's what it is all about...an open table, open conversation. And your right, about it going viral...I've seen it get really ugly fast. Thanks!

[Bill Dahl]

I am sooooo with you Ron ---

“So let us consider this: Is my difference with my brother in Christ really crucially important? If so, it is doubly important that I spend time upon my knees asking the Holy Spirit, asking Christ, to do his work through me and my group, that I and we might show love even in this larger difference that we have come to with another brother in Christ or with another group of true Christians.”

Schaeffer, Francis A. The Mark of the Christian, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, Illinois Copyright © 1970 by L’Abri Fellowship, pp. 27 & 28.

[ron cole]

Beautiful quote Bill..."that we might show love in this larger difference."You're right, we don't get to that place with out some knee work, where things are brought together in the unity of Jesus.

And, Erin, Paul and Hope...thank you for your kind words, and encouragement. I mean that from my heart. My we grow, stretch, and encourage each other to know Jesus deeper, to reveal, build, and to live his Kingdom come.