This Christian Life

this is so timely. for a week i've been seriously considering pulling the plug on my blog because i am making the transition from theological student to Pastor. things get complicated. let me explain. on my blog, i often post things that raise political or emotional topics. topics that can alienate certain members of the faith. websites don't effectively convey the tone or the intention of the author (like a sermon can), and so there is a strong potential for misunderstanding.

last week, i was on the phone with a man whose mother died at my hospital. i agreed to perform her memorial service this saturday. on one of my voicemails to him, i left my email address in case he wanted to contact me with email. he was web savvy and deduced my url from my email address, typed it in, and read my blog. when he told me that, i panicked because i wasn't sure how he would interpret the discussions happening there currently. in that moment i realized the dangers of a pastor having an open and honest blog (and i'm not sure i'd want a blog if it weren't open and honest).

thoughts?

Paul/Nathan,

I think that it would certainly be reasonable to ask a member of the Search Team to ask the candidates if they have a url! Maybe they, like Nathan, wonder at the wisdom of a Pastor having a blog.
I think that a congregant who spirtually NEEDS a pastor who can relate to them at that level may be what they need to know.

As a pastor, I would hope that one thing that you are prepared for is criticism/persecution for speaking the truth - no?
Read Matthew 5:11-12.

nate,

it's a good question you raise, and not one to be taken lightly. it's true, a blog can be risky because you tend to say things you wouldn't normally say. however, i think you are at the brink of charting new territory. i agree with snoopmama in that if a congregant (or several) have this need, then wouldn't it be prudent for a pastor to serve that need?

additionally, having a blog is my way at getting at the truth. participating in blogs like yours serves the same purpose.

From my descrption page ("My Testimony"):

This Christian life of mine is an every day attempt to walk the road, find the truth, and live the life.

This website is an honest portrayal of just that. I'm tired of covering up my real life with fake smiles and happy replies when sometimes I'm just hurting, confused, and unsure of the future. I am looking for people to be honest with, and for some reason I have found them here, online.

i don't think there's anything on your site that others shouldn't know. it's just a matter of /when/ they should know it.

Well said Pablo.

I too used to spend a lot of my time pretending that everything was"fine". But I decided that if someone asked how my day was, and it was rotten, I would say so. That way, I spoke the truth, they knew how I felt and I could not be to blame down the road for someone to say "I didn't know". And if you don't say anything, how WOULD they?
Anyway, just a thought.

Except, I can pretty much tell how you are doing...usually fairly obvious.

it's true, a blog can be risky because you tend to say things you wouldn't normally say.

i don't necessarily think that. the point i was making is that a website can't convey tone or intent as well as interpersonal or sermon type communication can. i probably say less (emotional stuff) on my website than i do in sermons or meetings. but it's just hard to do it without danger of miconception.

i agree with everything else you wrote.

blessings.
-nate

"...the point i was making is that a website can't convey tone or intent as well as interpersonal or sermon type communication can. i probably say less (emotional stuff) on my website than i do in sermons or meetings..."

uuuuhhh...i don't think so, nate, at least in regards to the website (i have little clue about your meetings).

i've listened to only a coupla'-three of your sermons, and, you're right that in interpersonal or face-to-face communication with an audience you can convey alot of tone and intent.

but i'd say you convey a /lot/ more emotional stuff on your website...like your recent one when you wrote about your 80 hours per week...it's quite similar to other things you've blogged about. and, snoopmamma agrees, as above. you're pretty open on your site (as is pablo), and i always have the sense that i'm listening to [i.e., 'hearing'] the /real/ nate (and paul)-- just as if we're sitting on the patio by the fire.

i'm just wondering here -- but isn't this an Eastern thing (like larry used to talk about) in that there's a tension between 'knowing' and 'being known'? his illustration was that it's like walking into a room, and you alternately want and don't want to be noticed. it's risky either way.

in reference to your thoughts above re: being a pastor, i agree with pablo: "...it's just a matter of /when/ they should know it..."

dad

like walking into a room, and you alternately want and don't want to be noticed. it's risky either way.

excellent comparison, dad. good call.

As a pastor who blogs I think it is important to consider two things. The best blogs are an authentic extension of a person online. But then again I'm not looking for work after seminary so you have to find a balance.

depending on what kind of people you end up doing ministry with, bloggin could be an asset.

thoughts from a bloggin' pastor