My Response to Rev. Booth

I have tried very hard not to say anything on my blog, regardless of how critical, that I wouldn't say to anyone's face. I'm certain I have failed and I apologize for that weakness: tactless, ungracious, flippant hiding behind the distance that communication via the internet provides.

I have also tried to very carefully limit my concerns with Rev. Wilson & Moscow, ID to those things I have what I believe to be not only the right but the responsibility to speak out on, and the summation of those things are the books, articles, letters, sermons, and poems by Rev. Wilson that can be easily found in many places. My concern with Rev. Wilson has always been the tone conveyed in his works and the culture it fosters. I've said numerous times that I believe Rev. Wilson to be a kind and gracious man with a real heart for shepherding the people of the Lord, but that fact only makes certain inconstistencies I believe exists, if true, all the more frustrating.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Certain statements you've made concerning my character I don't seem much point in disagreeing with because they're real and true to an extent only barely expressed in this blog, just ask my wife. If you wanted to call me on being a sinner, I concede your point and I'm certain, specifically, that there are some serious sinful influences or pieces in my frustration with Rev. Wilson. A discussion on what those might be of course is best left to my friends, family, and Spiritual Council. Not that it would be wrong for you to do so, it'd just be really presumptuous.

Despite that, I really do believe that some context provided to my initial post would be helpful, largely because I do believe my points aren't utterly sinful and do have some truth to them. I have numerous concerns with Rev. Wilson, NSA, Canon Pres, etc. that I've touched on elsewhere. My specific concern with Rev. Wilson getting a blog was that I felt he was using blogging technology in an unhelpful fashion. I feel that you've failed to understand the context in which I was writing and I have the sneaking suspicion this is the case suis general.

One example would be your misquote of my statement "Sometimes I'm embarassed to be a Christian." That phrase was applied to wacky fundamentalist science fair I posted a link to awhile back, I didn't have anything to do with Rev. Wilson, other than his being a member of the "Christian" category. I did of course say that I find Rev. Wilson, in the context of his new blog, embarassing, but it would be a misrepresentation of myself to attach the former quote to the substance of the former.

Which brings me to the great context of the blog post you left your first comment on:

I started terrablogs (chattablogs, covblogs, baltiblogs, atlblogs, etc) as an attempt to take a specific digital communication medium and, well, use it in a more "Christian" manner particularly rooting it in a geographic location for the purpose of fostering community. I've discussed this many times with folks, I can get you some links to specific blog posts if needs be.

I feel that the internet can be a truely narcissistic environment, especially in digital *places* like chatrooms & message boards. I do though believe that if the internet is narcissistic it's because, well, we're a narcissistic lot. I think, given certain assumptions about our depravity and *old man* this shouldn't come as a surprise to any of us.

I do though think that the internet isn't necessarily inherently corrupt, in fact, I believe that if used in a responsible fashion it can even be a good thing that fosters and encourages Christ-like relationships with one another. I see blogging as, well, a medium in which I want to encourage this mature engagement.

I could give you the hundreds of examples I have of how blogging has encouraged community. That would be tedious so I'll only offer the most recent example of a friend of mine who is courting a girl. The girls parents are able to "keep tabs on" to an extent that would otherwise be impossible without blogs. It's made for some interesting conversations. You can't argue with what you put down in writing.

So, while there is a greater context of concern I have for Rev. Wilson's work as an author, my specific frustration was that given his earlier carte blanche statements against bloggers, well, except those who are "interesting and challenging", were unhelpful because they were aloof and cynical, and then at worst hyprocritical at best presumptuous by placing himself in the earlier category of "interesting and challenging" when he himself got a blog.

This was compounded I believe in a very real sense by specific choices made concerning his blog. By leaving out rss, comments, and trackbacking he removed the ability for discourse, something I feel can be a real virtuous element in the medium of blogging. A blog without discourse is a one-sided conversation, something akin to narcissism.

Consider the discussion we're now having: it wouldn't be happening if not for the ability to leave comments and trackbacks. Now, I could hide behind my spiritual council and say "if you've got a problem with what I'm saying write a letter to my church session", or I could attempt to function in what I think is a more Biblical fashion and engage, learn from, and be humbled by, well, anyone and everyone.

I spent something like that last 36 hours thinking very long and hard about how I should respond to your comment Rev. Booth. I talked it over with my wife, Pastor, and a few friends. I was and am humbled by many of your statements. Self-loathing should not be mistaken for humility, and I hope that some of the frustration I have with myself stemming out of your admonition would grow into humiliity.

Finally, I'm thankful for your willingness to engage me in this strange & new medium. I think anytime a Christian brother challanges another Christian brother it's a real step of faith, a real "roll of the die" since we place ourselves in a position to be hurt or rejected. I believe that your congregation is blessed to have a shepherd who is willing to engage, even in a way that is sometimes uncomfortable.

I hope and pray we can achieve unity and understanding on this matter,

-Josiah

Dear Josiah,

Thank you for your thoughtful response and your honest reflection.

While my initial response to your web site was clearly one that was the result of my indignation and desire to defend a man who I have know well for many years and who has been a remarkable, godly man and pastor; and also as a reaction to what I perceive as the often vulgar, profane and hateful comments so freely expressed on your blog, I am now happy to return to a more “gracious and humble” discourse over these matters. I too wrestled with whether to send my post and consulted my wife before doing so. It was with sadness that it was sent, but I thought it was needed. Love gives what is needed, not necessarily what is wanted.

I have discussed Pastor Wilson’s views on blogging with Pastor Wilson. I have read exactly what he wrote. Nowhere did I see a blanket condemnation of blogs or bloggers but rather a particular criticism (a valid one IMO) of SOME particular blogs and bloggers (not all). Therefore, those not guilty of the criticism should not be offended; those guilty of the criticism should take it to heart. Pastor Wilson’s criticism of SOME blogs and bloggers does not make him a hypocrite because he now has a blog. While offering rss, comments, and trackbacking is a nice feature for some blogs, it is certainly not immoral or cowardly to not offer such. Given the fact that Pastor Wilson pastors a large congregation and has many other ministerial irons in the fire, given the several hostile critics who find fault in everything he does (e.g., posting his own books on his blog), he would have to stop everything else he is doing just to respond to his hate-mail. You might characterize this as “hiding behind spiritual counsel,” but this only reveals your tendency to put a negative spin on Wilson’s words. By the way, Pastor Wilson does have personal email, so he is reachable. No one is suggesting that you are not perfectly free to have a blog and elicit whatever responses you like from whomever you like but not everyone is in the same position you are, nor are the obligated to do your way.

I do not believe (neither does Pastor Wilson) that the Internet is inherently corrupt, but it certainly offers a greater opportunity for corrupt men to express themselves in corrupt ways. Therefore, fully consistent with Pastor Wilson’s comments, we should guard against the corruption where we can and not promote it or look the other way when others use it in corrupt ways.

Again, I am sincerely pleased with your response and welcome this exchange. If I have sinned against you I hope you will make that known to me and I will happily repent.