I was sent a link to this article in the Biblical Recorder: Little bloggers, big force.
This is another interesting perspective from a traditional journalist.
I am curious as he notes those who are prominent in SBC blogging. I agree with most, though I find many, curiously, absent. When I looked at the blog aggregators mentioned, the second one never loaded, but the first one had many notable absences as well I also found several blogs that I consider less influential than many, but were listed. I saw one blog that has been shelved completely.
The most read blog not mentioned, by my estimation, is the Founders Ministry Blog, by Dr. Tom Ascol. I base this on the the number of those who subscribe to this blog on “Bloglines” compared to all the others – including Wade Burleson and Marty Duren. Other bloggers not mentioned, but should be noted, would have to include Tim Sweatman, Kevin Bussey, Dorcas Hawker, CB Scott, David Rogers, Bart Barber, Brad Reynolds, the Arkansas Razorbaptist(s), Morris Chapman (hello!), Micah Fries, Paul Littleton and Wes Kenney. Of course, this is self advancing, and therefore is somewhat distasteful, but I am not on the list either.
My list is not comprehensive, by any means, nor does it list people who are in homogeneous agreement with my viewpoint. The fact is that these people are influencing the discussion in the SBC blogosphere.
Now consider this portion of the article listed above describing SEBTS President Danny Akin and his recent interaction concerning blogs and bloggers.
Blogs are not universally popular, however. During a plenary session of the trustees at Southeastern Seminary, seminary president Daniel Akin was asked by a trustee to share his opinion about blogging. Akin, who posts many of his writings online, though not in the form of an interactive blog, said blogs are both a blessing and a curse, “a 21st century outlet for extreme narcissism.”
Blogs require no accountability, Akin said, allowing people “to make scurrilous, false, untrue accusations against men that I believe are men of God.”
Akin said he didn’t know anyone who had been attacked more than former SEBTS president Paige Patterson. “Some people have personal agendas,” he said, and do things that “are shaming the body of Christ.”
“Even if they have legitimate concerns,” Akin said, verbally underscoring the “if,” they are not expressing them “in ways that are consistent with the Bible.”
“I don?t [sic] really give a rip what most bloggers think,” he said. “Most of them are little men with little ideas and little agendas.”
Many Baptist leaders, no doubt, share Akin’s opinion of the blogosphere. That does not, however, change the fact that bloggers, for good or ill, are a growing force to be reckoned with, one that will help shape the future course of the Southern Baptist Convention.
I think it is interesting that Dr. Akin would say that some bloggers are shaming the body of Christ and then say that most bloggers are “little men with little ideas and little agendas.” That statement is somewhat inconsistent with the Bible itself. Interesting, too, that he has a professor on staff, Dr. Brad Reynolds, who is very active in the conversation right now. I am quite sure that Dr. Akin is supportive of Dr. Reynolds’ activity – we’ve certainly never seen an effort to “correct” Dr. Reynolds in this arena and I am absolutely certain that Dr. Akin is aware that he is doing it. I digress. My point is to comprehend Dr. Akin’s perception of us. See from whence it comes. Understand that it exists and that it is a reality with which we must deal.
If you are not in the Baptist Blogosphere, you don’t much understand it or understand who is actively influencing the discussion. This applies to journalists, blog aggregator managers, and Seminary presidents.
I don’t know that we are going to be able to change the perception easily. I know that it will never be exactly what we want it to be, as we do not all agree on what the Baptist Blogosphere should be in the first place. I do know that we are going to have to act like Christians while we do it.
I leave you with this quote from Dr. Tom Ascol this morning. He was addressing a particular issue, but I find this applies to so much more:
…So much that takes place in our churches and institutions today simply is not Christian. It may be religious. It may be ritualistic. It may be traditional. But too often it simply is not Christian.
This loss of Christianity among the “Christian” community is what makes the line separating the world and the church so blurred. The church looks, thinks and acts increasingly like the world in many ways, often intentionally so. Consequently, we are seeing the demise of “Christian ethics” all around us. This explains why on so many moral issues the conduct of Christians and non-Christians is indistinguishable. When biblical Christianity has been trampled underfoot or lost altogether, those within the Christian community feel no qualms of conscious acting like mere worldlings.
This should cut us all to the heart.
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Kevin Bussey
on Oct 11th, 2006
@ 2:32 pm:
Art,
I always appreciate your point of view. My site isn’t geared for news. It deals with my own struggles and the hypocrisy I see in the church.
When I want the facts, I go to your site, Marty, Ben, Dorcas or Wades. If I want another point of view I will check out Wes.
art rogers
on Oct 11th, 2006
@ 2:53 pm:
Kevin,
You may not be the news, but you are influencing the conversation. I don’t remember the last post I wrote on which you did not comment.
Aside from that, you are, by far, the most recognizable Baptist Blogger in the blogosphere. I can’t say how many times I heard in G’boro: “Hey, you’re the hockey stick guy!”
Which is my point. If you aren’t in it, you don’t get it. We have to help these people “get it” without acting like worldly jerks. At the very least, we need to stop fueling the misperceptions.
And I read your blog daily. You always have something culturally relevant.
Art
Tim
on Oct 11th, 2006
@ 3:02 pm:
I guess that I’ll only try to add one thing.
Concerning how the churches look like the world, I would agree with that statement. However, I would modify it a little bit.
Most churches tend to look like the world as it was twenty years or so ago.
Be Well,
Tim Dahl
Bart Barber
on Oct 11th, 2006
@ 3:27 pm:
Gee, Art. Thanks for putting me on the list.
art rogers
on Oct 11th, 2006
@ 4:06 pm:
Tim,
What you say is true for a great many churches, to be sure. I am surrounded, however by quite a few who reflect the world as it is now, and that is by design. I am not talking about slick graphics and multimedia presentations, either, but worldly in the sense that in the way they present themselves, handle their ethics, etc.
Bart,
In truth, I am confident that the my list is not as complete as it should be, but it was off the top of my head. Still, whether or not we are all in agreement, there are many involved in the conversation that are unrecognized by those outside the conversation.
Alan Cross
on Oct 11th, 2006
@ 5:00 pm:
Sheesh. Sigh. Ugghh. ALAN CROSS! ALAN CROSS! ALAN CROSS! You forgot one, Art. Of course, I influence the conversation! It’s all about ME!!!
How dare Dr. Akin say we’re narcissistic!!! :) – totally kidding!
Seriously, while these issues in SBC life are important, I find that it’s more important for my own spiritual life to NOT have my blog be about SBC issues. Sometimes, something that is said on SBC Outpost or another blog will hit me a certain way, like the McKissic incident, but I think that it is far more important that we write about other things that God is doing than to strictly major on the SBC stuff, lest we lose our perspective and focus. I’ve noticed you, Marty, Wade, and others doing more of that, so, in that regard, I think that we are all moving in a healthy direction. That gives our SBC comments that much more validity in my opinion, lest some think that all we do is sit around and blog on SBC issues and never evangelize! :)
CB Scott
on Oct 11th, 2006
@ 5:21 pm:
Art,
Every time I think of something profound to say you let Alan say it first;-)
cb
Tim Sweatman
on Oct 11th, 2006
@ 5:27 pm:
Art,
Excellent insights as usual. I also posted on this article, but I focused more on what Akin said. Let’s just say that I took exception with some of his remarks.
BTW, I was a but surprised to make your list since I haven’t been very active in the blogosphere lately. I guess it’s true that quality trumps quantity! ;^)
Dorcas Hawker
on Oct 12th, 2006
@ 12:06 am:
Art -
If I had any real influence, then the orange links on your blog would be maroon instead. However, since you so kindly mentioned me in this post, I have decided the orange is not a burnt orange, and it shall stand for the Denver Broncos instead. :)
art rogers
on Oct 12th, 2006
@ 12:16 am:
Tim S.,
Quality has ever been the mark of your blog.
Dorcas,
The orange stands out against black AND white – maroon doesn’t. Rest assured, I am still an Aggies fan. Gig ‘em!
I have forever had folks complain that they don’t know where the links are on my blog, since everything is in white.
I decided that I would oblige them by causing them to be unmissable. Is that a word?
Art
Micah
on Oct 12th, 2006
@ 1:51 pm:
Art-
I won’t claim to comment on who’s influential or not. What I do find intriguing (not to mention positive) is that bloggers keep being talked about. For all the complaining about bloggers that is circulating in the newsphere, the fact that we remain the topic of conversation belies the influence held by bloggers. Whether they’re my buddy or not doesn’t matter to me, that they listen to what we collectively say does matter, and so far it seems to be holding strong.
frostburgpreacher
on Oct 12th, 2006
@ 2:50 pm:
I find Akin’s comments interesting about the “little men with little agendas” because if blogs were in existence 20 years ago the establishment would have said the same thing about the Conservative Resurgence. I think also it that were true why are the big men with big agendas paying so much attention to you guys?
Chris Walls
Kevin
on Oct 12th, 2006
@ 4:00 pm:
Art
What is not understood is “of the devil” i.e. The Water Boy! I really enjoy some blogs and others are almost bitter and become like that which they rail against, in my opinion. We can still have those can’t we? (If you would like to know names you will have to e-mail me.)Of the bloggers I read my favorite is Kevin Bussey’s much humor, which I like. I like Wade’s when he is simply doing a (in my opinion) bible study, a lot of good stuff. Marty and yours for news about what is going on in the SBC all though some have to much opinion in the news much like most of the news channels of today. I have stopped posting because time doesn’t allow I am not good enough yet. I really believe on a whole it has been a good thing, which has gotten the small church pastors involved with the SBC.
In Him
Kevin Lancaster
GeneMBridges
on Oct 12th, 2006
@ 4:48 pm:
Dr. Akin said: Blogs require no accountability, Akin said, allowing people “to make scurrilous, false, untrue accusations against men that I believe are men of God.”
Uh-huh. I should think the opposite is true. For one thing, most of us write under our real names. I’ve had visitors come to my church and meet me and say, “Gene Bridges? THE Gene Bridges?” Once you say something its out there for all to see. You can’t hide it. It’s in writing and broadcast for the whole world. None of what you say is hidden. How is this not accoutability? Most of us invite comments. Our fellow pastors / pastors, deacons, committees, and congregations can see it and read it for themselves. In fact, I know that the eldership of my church reads a great deal of what I write. One of the m writes with me. I’ve also been challenged about things I’ve written such that I’ve needed them to intercede and tell me if I have a plank in my eye. The time that happened, the critic didn’t like their verdict, because they read what I had said, read his complaints, interacted with us both, and then declared that I, not the critic, was the one who had been offended. How is this not accountability?
And, if Dr. Akin thinks this isn’t accountability, then why do I get emails from rank and file church members asking me questions about theology or ethics while confessing they can’t get straight answers from their own pastors? If there are lies being posted, then it is incumbent upon those on the other side of the aisle to present them and document them. I’m reminded of all those people who complained about Wade attacking people on his blog, and when asked to present the blog posts or comments where that happened, they failed to document.
You want to see a lack of accountability and shamefulness in the body of Christ? Let’s take the churches that baptize 500 people a year and a 100 or less are showing up to church a year later. Let’s take Ergun Caner this very week who can continue to spew lies from his computer keyboard without, it seems, a single word of correction from the people at his seminary/university or TRBC. My little church is the only Protestant church in the whole county that is at the abortion clinic pleading with people not to enter every other weekend. There are 2 associations serving that county, and neither one has sent a single representative to help us. Incidentally, Dr. Akin is just a hour and a half away. He is more than welcome to join us.
Dr. Akin said: “I don?t [sic] really give a rip what most bloggers think,” he said. “Most of them are little men with little ideas and little agendas.”
Yes, well, they said that about Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Bullinger, Knox, etc. didn’t they. Here is the reason that the current SBC leadership is out of touch with the real world of the persons in the pews. Like I said, the people read the blogs, and they are influenced by them. Let’s not forget that congregational polity is a champion doctrine in SBC circles. If I was a denominational leader, I might not care what the bloggers were saying about me personally, but I would care about what they have to say, because these persons are influencing the people in the pews the same way the pampheteers influenced the people from the 16th to the 19th century. I’ve known men who were removed from their pastorates because people used to go read the misrepresentations and lies that were posted at Baptistfire.com. How much more influence do the blogs have on the church members, especially those that read and are energized to act? I’d care about what blogs said for that reason alone.
“Even if they have legitimate concerns,” Akin said, verbally underscoring the “if,” they are not expressing them “in ways that are consistent with the Bible.”
Notice that he does not tell us how the Bible says we are to address those concerns. If this is true, incidentally, it would actualy undermine a great deal of Baptist writing from 1644 to the 20th century, since a great deal of it took the form of pamphlets, booklets, and editorials. I’d add that one of the reasons the Baptist blogs exist is because of the attitude that no matter what you have to say, you are rebuffed and told that what you are saying or doing is “inconsistent with the Bible,” so, we’re damned if we do or don’t.
Akin said he didn’t know anyone who had been attacked more than former SEBTS president Paige Patterson. “Some people have personal agendas,” he said, and do things that “are shaming the body of Christ.”
Uh-huh, well, the problem here is that its not theological “moderates” or “liberals” saying it. In fact, a great many of us supported the Resurgence. Perhaps the problem with “shaming the body of Christ” is that there have been actions that have shamed the Body of Christ because they actually occurred and were swept under the rug or ignored or brushed off for far too long. You reap what you sow.
Rzrbk
on Oct 12th, 2006
@ 10:02 pm:
Gene Bridges makes some excellent comments on Dr. Akin’s criticism of bloggers. He is obviously more familiar with Dr. Akin and the situation of SEBTS than I but I would like to also comment on some of the statements made by Dr. Akin.
Dr. Akin said: Blogs require no accountability, Akin said, allowing people “to make scurrilous, false, untrue accusations against men that I believe are men of God.” Did Dr. Akin speak up when the trustees at SWBTS were making scurrilous, false, untrue accusations against Russell Dilday or does Dr. Akin not consider Dilday a man of God? Al Mohler once wrote in Baptist Press that the leaders of the SBC before his political group took over had no moral compass and were leading people into immoral lifestyles. Mohler was making scurrilous, false, untrue accusations against a whole generation of SBC leaders. Why was Dr. Akin silent about this? I once hear Paul Pressler describe the faculty of SWBTS as ultra-liberal. Did Dr. Akin tell Pressler he was making scurrilous, false, untrue accusations against men who were men of God?
Dr. Akins says most of the bloggers are little men with little ideas and little agendas. Is he implying he is a big man? If so he needs to start acting like it.
Gene Bridges hits the nail on the head with his last paragraph when he says, Perhaps the problem with “shaming the body of Christ” is that there have been actions that have shamed the Body of Christ because they actually occurred and were swept under the rug or ignored or brushed off for far too long. You reap what you sow.
The reason people like Akin are so frightened of the bloggers is that they have had control of Baptist press and most of the Baptist media so long they have not had to be accountable for their words and actions. The bloggers are showing the clay feet of the leaders of the pseudo-conservative resurgence that has placed men such as Dr. Akin in places of leadership.
Ron West
Bowden McElroy
on Oct 12th, 2006
@ 11:00 pm:
So do I have to actually buy lunch to get mentioned in your blog?
art rogers
on Oct 13th, 2006
@ 11:46 am:
Ron,
You raise some valid questions. The one I am most taken by is this, “Is he implying he is a big man?” First let me say that it is hard for me not to infer that he is saying that. I don’t know, of course, if he is implying it. I don’t think he would consciously do so, but it seems like he is telling something about his mindset. I do have at least one personal experience, though, that is coloring my mindset about this.
This is and has been part of the problem that bloggers are to some of the “big men” of the SBC. We prove that they are unable to control the convention. Moreover, we actually fuel the loss of control within the convention. We are not being silenced and we certainly are not threatened – they have nothing we want and truth is more important to us than anything they could take.
As for the statements about Mohler, Pressler and the SWBTS trustees who fired Dr. Dilday, I can only say a few things. First, I have no personal knowledge of the statements to which you refer and I don’t know to whom or what the statements themselves refer.
On the whole, I think that the discussion does point out a clear distinction. It is not that bloggers think that Paige Patterson is godly or ungodly that matters in Dr. Akin’s statement. It is that he thinks Paige is godly and that we shouldn’t touch him.
Conversely, you think that Dr. Dilday is a godly man, and don’t think the trustees shold have said (or done) what they did. You further think that SBC leaders and SWBTS faculty were godly, and should have not been spoken of in a way that you perceive to be an assault on them.
The fact is that no statements that assault the character of a person should be made by men if they consider themselves to be godly. This includes you and me.
Bowden,
When I last ate lunch with you, you complained about bloggers who did not put enough links in their articles so that the things to which they refer could easily be referenced by those reading the their article. For this reason, I began making sure that my links stood out from all the other text on my blog by turning them bright orange.
If you would have referenced the links provided, you would have found that your blog is listed on the aggregator and therefore disqulified from a list of UNLISTED blogs with influence. Hello? ;)
Also, are you complaining about being in my blogroll? How about the times I have quoted one of your posts and sent everyone over there? You SHOULD buy my lunch. Oh, wait. Nevermind. Didn’t you buy the first time we ate out? Goldie’s with the pickle bar. Yeah, nevermind.
brad reynolds
on Oct 13th, 2006
@ 3:34 pm:
Art
Thanks for including me in your list…I am honored.
However, I think part of the problem that Dr. Akin see’s in Blogs is exemplified in your assumptions when you state: “I am quite sure that Dr. Akin is supportive of Dr. Reynolds’ activity – we’ve certainly never seen an effort to “correct” Dr. Reynolds in this arena and I am absolutely certain that Dr. Akin is aware that he is doing it.”
As I have said on numerous occassions…I spoke to Dr. Akin about blogging back in June…his only advice was something like “be careful what you say and be sure of what you say.” He allows for academic freedom here and has never ever spoken approvingly or diaspprovingly of my blog. We should not confuse academic freedom with approval. I know he and I agree on the alcohol issue and we both feel many are out to attack Dr. Patterson. However, I’ve never spoke to him on the IMB issues and am not sure what his position is. I don’t think he is a cessationist.
Hope this helps people see that Dr. Akin’s concerns about bloggers stating or implying things without evidence (no accountability) are not unmerited.
BR
art rogers
on Oct 13th, 2006
@ 4:17 pm:
Academic freedom is what happens as you teach in a classroom.
But that brings up another point: You seem to agree that you somehow represent SEBTS on your blog. Is that accurate?
Let me go on to say that I think that you do represent your Seminary, your church and our denomination as a whole.
I don’t represent a Seminary. Still, although I do not promote myself as speaking for my church, that I am their pastor is not somethng that can be seperated from what I write and how I manage my blog.
My next post deals with the whole issue of responsibility.
brad reynolds
on Oct 13th, 2006
@ 4:42 pm:
Art
If you inferred that I think I represent the seminary where I teach, I apologize for not being clear. I don’t think I or any other professor who writes represents the seminary in our writings (be that a book or a blog). Believe it or not there are many diverse opinions here on campus on many issues. To infer that my positions on issues are the positions of the seminary is just wrong.
Having said that I think the way in which we all conduct ourselves is reflective of our savior. Enough said. Yes, we could take it further to representing Southern Baptists and our churches and the seminaries we graduated from or serve at etc. But I believe the main issue is that we represent Christ and should behave as such.
Concerning academic freedom it extends beyond the classroom, according to the courts.
I agree with the concept of responsibility on blogs and have been disappointed in how subjectively and bias it has been applied. It appears some blogs just allow ad hominem statements which agree with their position to stand, while removing those who disagree with them. I try to be consistent on my blog and have had to tighten my rules because of the abuses by both sides. I hope it will be an example to others.
Further I think responsibility extends to being sure about something before you post it (reference my prior comment).
God Bless you my brother. Gotta go
BR
CB Scott
on Oct 13th, 2006
@ 4:50 pm:
Brad,
The ice is thinner here than you realize.
cb
martyduren
on Oct 13th, 2006
@ 5:44 pm:
Art and Brad-
On September 12 in a Q & A chapel at SEBTS, Dr. Akin was asked about blogs. In it he mentioned only one that he reads regularly–Al Mohler’s.
He must not read Brad’s or I’m sure he would have bragged on it to the entire student body. Of course, he didn’t mention mine either :^)
SBC IS BAPTIST
on Oct 14th, 2006
@ 1:12 am:
Art,
LOL I just can’t believe what I just read in the comments on this Post. Art you sure have a lot of humor here.
In His Name
Wayne Smith
Bill T. Brown
on Oct 16th, 2006
@ 10:24 pm:
ABP today reported that the CBF Moderator Emmanuel McCall condemned blogs. It saddens me, but my contention has been for at least 5 years that the current conservative junta has become the old moderate junta. No, not in theology, but the purpose of both is control. Neither group wants information available.
The irony is inescapable. Conservatives, rightly in my opinion, rail against state colleges and other agencies going to self-perpetuating boards, but defend an even much more tighter control by a group of 35 or so hand selecting the presidential candidate, and through his appointment process, every leadeship position in the SBC. It is sin when the moderates in the states do it. It is sin when the national leaders do it. Lust for power and control is lust for power and control.
Is Akin right, do bloggers or those who comment sometimes make misstatements or even deliberate falsehoods? Sure. Do the “strong conservatives” do the same? Sure. Read the blog of the defeated candidate of the SBC machine?
It is hopelessly old fashioned, but I still believe that the best solution is the marketplace of ideas. Let everyone advance his ideas, and then be forced to defend them in the public square. Sunshine and the light of truth remains the best antiseptic. Imperfect? Messy? Are innocent people sometimes harmed? Tragically yes. However, that is the result of a fallen world. Sin has marred us and this world and only when the creation itself is fully redemmed will that change.
Any one who really takes the Bible as the innerant Word of God, would have to admit that I, you, and all others still have a healthy sin nature.
If something on a blog is false, post a comment and call out the individual. In this area, as in all others, the teaching of Scripture is that humans are divided into forgiven sinners and unforgiven sinners. It is foolish at best, malicious at worst to suggest that the Patterson/Akin crowd, the Duren/Burleson crowd, the CBF crowd, or any other group should control information.