-One Simple Blogging Rule

 There’s a great article posted at Daily Blog Tips: "One Simple Blogging Rule to Keep You Out of Trouble". The ‘one simple rule’ and the major point made by the writer is this:

Never post anything you wouldn’t say in person.

I believe that this is really good counsel for those of us who are trying to represent Christ in the Blogoshere. So many times I run across blog articles and comments which are uncharitable, divisive, insulting, and sometimes down right mean–and these are Christian blogs that I’m taking about. You expect to find such behavior in partisan political sites, but you really do hope for better treatment among brothers and sisters in Christ.

Those of us who are trying to blog as a ministry or hoping to represent Christ in our blogging should really aspire to a higher standard in our discourse. This does not mean that we should never disagree with other Christians, only that our comments should be tempered with grace. It doesn’t mean that we should not stand up for what we believe. On the contrary, we should always be standing up for our faith, but in a way which does not call into question the intelligence and integrity of those that we disagree with. We should always find a way to put forth our own arguments and points without trying to ridicule one another.

Another issue that everyone should consider is the fact that blogs are available and potentially read by to an international, cross cultural, diverse religious, and interdenominational readership. On a number of occasions I have had my parochial American opinions questioned by folks in the UK, or my California Protestant/Charismatic arrogance challenged by a Catholic in Australia, a Pentecostal in Africa, a Mormon in Utah, and an atheist in France.

Two of my blogs have a regular international readership and it has caused me to consider how my words might be received and understood by a diverse audience.