I thought I’d offer some criticism or rather just my opinions on this post because I’m bored and feeling obnoxious:
“So i’ve been doing a bit of reflecting on the blogging enterprise lately, and am finding myself increasingly disenchanted with all the critiquing that goes on, at least in the theoblogosphere. I’m not against being critical of other’s views, but it seems like many forget that, as Dallas Willard puts it, it is better to Christ-like than right. Often our critiques show a lack of charity. It seems that we have little interest in finding common ground; instead, we just look for ways to point out how deficient other’s thoughts are. Many reflections on the recent evangelical manifesto come to mind. It seems that the best fuel for theological thinking is often someone else’s inadequacy.
“There are two ironies here. First, most of this uncharitable critiquing happens against conservative evangelicals, who are often (rightly) accused of being narrow minded and unwilling to listen. Second, this post in many ways falls prey to the very criticism it offers. So maybe the very nature of criticizing theological viewpoints requires the risk that we come off more judgmental than we mean to be. I guess it would be refreshing to see more posts that, while maintaining a place for being critical, focus more on the commonalities between the two perspectives.”
1. “It seems that we have little interest in finding common ground”: Common ground is so boring; containing little interest.
2. There just isn’t a whole lot of common ground to be had
3. If something is wrong, it’s wrong. Why gloss over it? We’re not doing anybody any favors then.
4. These days it seems like anybody who says their right and isn’t willing to reconsider is narrow minded and unwilling to listen…except for me.
5. Truthfully, most of the pastor blogs I read don’t seem overly critical. They do have some criticism but of an intelligent and graceful kind, yet not above using satire in a biblical manner to make a point. These blogs offer more or at least a balance of uncritical teaching in order to expand understanding and edify the body but this indicates a need to move beyond common ground. (Though one could argue that progressive teaching is inherently critical since it expands and reshapes the boundaries of tradition.)
6. There certainly are blogs out there in which theological criticism is the staple. My blog is quite possibly one of those, which brings me to my final point. Most of those critical bloggers are probably a lot like me: not well studied with a foundation full of holes, posting a criticism and thinking, “Look what I thought up, ain’t I smart?” and then I wake up the next morning thinking, “Idiot!” It’s a lot easier to be critical and pick apart other peoples thoughts; it takes a lot more knowledge, experience, and understanding to cover new ground. I know I tend to be overly critical and often demonstrate my rash ignorance in the process. I probably shouldn’t post as much as I do but I post a lot less than I did.
