A chronic problem for the church - and for Christian ministries in general - has been a glaring lack of quality control and self-policing. Nowhere is that problem more evident than in the Christian blogosphere.

Any professed Christian can speak for God on his or her blog. Unsubstantiated proclamations reflecting a lack of biblical understanding are put forth as though they were new revelation from the Most High. Perversions of the gospel and doctrinal fallacies are rampant, and the sub-standard level of maturity - measured by grace and love - is tragic.

Sadly, the more outrageous or idiotic the claim made by someone, the greater the response seems to be. One thing is sure: if you want to increase your traffic, throw out some bad theology or make a biblically ignorant statement. People will flock to your site to either defend you or condemn you. There will be a lot of heat generated, but virtually no light.

And there is nothing to be done about it.

Since it’s not possible, I’m not saying that “this rabble that knows not the law” should be silenced. They have a right to speak; unfortunately, they’re not being held accountable for their words. At least, not in this lifetime. Of course, a day will come . . .

Similarly, I am not at all suggesting that there are not good, thoughtful, biblical blogs out there. There are many, such as 21st Century Reformation, Biblical Theology, Challies, It Takes a Church, Jollyblogger, Albert Mohler, John Mark Reynolds, Smart Christian, and Wittenberg Gate.

Lest you think I’m playing favorites, I don’t agree doctrinally on many issues with any of these bloggers. But I do respect them: they have either paid their dues and sharpened their skills through seminary, intense personal study, or both. (Actually, seminary without intense personal study isn’t worth much; indeed, it can be worse than no seminary at all.)

There are plenty more blogs that could be listed with the nine above, but those are representative of what’s good in Christian blogs. But for every one blogger who is genuinely endeavoring to rightly divide the word of truth, there seems to be ten who are either careless in their study, with their words, or both. Fortunately, most of the above enjoy a wide audience; sadly, so do some of the less-than diligent bloggers.

So am I just whining to be whining? Maybe. Or maybe I’m saying that we - the Christian blogging community - need to be more discerning about who it is that we promote on our own blogs. I read somewhere recently that a particular blogger took a blogroll off her site because she could not - in good conscience - endorse some of the people listed. That reflects discernment and integrity. We need more of that. I need more of that. A lot more.

What is posted in the Name of Jesus Christ is a witness to the unbelieving world. I, for one, am going to more careful before adding more links on my blog. In fact, I need to go through the ones I have now carefully to see if some of them should be removed.

Or maybe we need another “exclusive” blogroll, one populated only by those who adhere to some yet-to-be-determined evangelical litmus test. A kind of doctrinal Shibboleth not unlike those required of professors by Christian colleges and seminaries. Nothing that would exclude solely on the basis of denominations, but one that would include only those in agreement with some foundational beliefs shared by most denominations. I’ll leave it to someone smarter than me to figure out what that might be.

Personally, I’d just like to have a good place to go to read good scholarship. No politics or other hobby horses allowed. Sort of like a theological reading room. A place for an irenic exchange of ideas. A place of mutual respect and grace. A place where it’s OK to be wrong, but a willingness to re-think a position or statement is present. A safe place.

And, most of all, a place of love. No name calling, cheap shots, or hit-and-run comments. A marketplace of theological ideas.

Maybe - just maybe - I’m looking for a L’Abri blog. A shelter for serious people wanting to talk about serious things. I wish I knew how to make it happen.

(Andy at Smart Christian triggered this thinking. Go read his comments here.)


2 Cor 1.13