Would You ‘Rather’ Blog?

I was in the shower a few minutes ago and was thinking, “I wonder if Dan Rather has his own blog now?” I know that sounds mean, but really, think about it. A man whose career of a quarter century of being on top of the world of broadcast news was toppled by people he thought he could dupe. “Who are these guys?” he must be thinking as he exited his office for the last time.
And isn’t that the case for many on top? They think us earthlings are too ignorant and uninformed to know the difference between objective truth and bias-driven propaganda. What bloggers did was give a voice in media for the common man. The media elite had become so detached from mainstream society that the mainstream media no longer represented mainstream thought. Therefore, people have sought other mediums of getting the information and news they want from a source more credible and trustworthy.
This has to be a good thing, and I wonder if this could be transported in the realm of the spiritual. I mean, Rather for the first time was held accountable for what he pontificated from the pulpit of his news chair, and when what was investigated was found falsified, he was ousted. Then, to make matters worse, he denied and retreated rather than own up to the truth. The fact is this: truth can and should be investigated; it can and will stand up against the toughest of scrutiny; and if it is found to fail the test of investigation, it would not be true and therefore not authoritative. The point is made that today preachers have often gotten away with making just as dubious statements as Rather’s from their own pulpit, and because theology and right thinking about God has been relegated to theological academia, most of these erroneous comments go unchecked and unaccounted for. This seriously hurts the credibility of the message, and this is what concerns me. We can’t afford to have a superficial adherence to truth in that we nod our heads and say “Amen!” when the suit and tie spokesman gets excited. We must investigate the truthfulness of the message with the authority of God’s Word. And for some reason, blogging seems to be a voice once again for Christians to hold our brothers and sisters to the light of God’s infallible Word. When I say, “Would you rather blog?” I am saying more than one thing. Some, if not many, Christians have sought alternative mediums to have God’s truth communicated to them and are looking elsewhere than the local pulpit. And this is wrong. But then again, God’s message will come from whomever and whatever He chooses – even an ass. I fear that many preachers don’t want to be held accountable for the fidelity and accuracy of their message and doctrine, and like Rather would deny and retreat and resist and confrontation, making charges that we are “touching the Lord’s anointed” or “causing division and strive” among the brethren. But what is the worth of unity if we are unified around hot air? And I know that the “publishing” of my thoughts are open to your scrutiny, and if I am wrong in my theology or thinking, I will be the first to admit that I am wrong and hope to sharpen my understanding of life, God, and His Word. Yet this must be done. The Christian message has been marginalized far too long, and this has come from years where the Christians have not “tested everything” as the Bible commands us to (1 Thessalonians 5). Unlike good Bereans, we have not searched out the matter carefully to see where the things are so (Acts 17). We have not taken pains in ourself and our teaching so as to preserve us and those who hear us (1 Timothy 4). God’s Word is true and Jesus, the Living Word, is the embodiment of truth. And if there is ever a people who have a true message worth telling, it is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yet this message has been clouded in philosophical presuppositions, cultural accomodations, and personal interpretations so that what was once clarion has become clouded. And I fear that like Rather, many of our preachers will be written off and ignored just like Rather. Instead, they would choose to rather blog or something else to hear the truth. Maybe there can be modern day Lukans who “followed all things closely to write an orderly account that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught” (Luke 1). If this happens, we could be on the brink of a feast rather than a famine of the Word of God in the land.