Okay, I’ve been mulling over this idea for a couple of weeks now and I’m finally gonna post on it. Most people will think I’m nuts, but that is okay. I have to at least share my concerns and then I can feel that I’ve done my part.
As a Christian I think it is always important to be careful who and what you associate with. Yes, I know I’m ending a sentence with a preposition but I don’t care – I have bigger fish to fry. I’m not saying you need to thoroughly evaluate everything you come into contact with before proceeding forward, but always keep your antennae up. If, as you are going along you start to sense something amiss, then stop and evaluate.
Bear with me. I really don’t want to go into specifics here of some actual examples I have seen where I believe this applies so this is difficult.
Let me try a strictly hypothetical example. Let’s say amongst the blogs I enjoy reading there is a blog by a secular mother who talks about mommy stuff. She has kids around my kid’s ages, she’s a bad cook like me, and she has a way of making me laugh and feel better about my less than stellar domestic skills. Everyday I look forward to reading posts by "mommy blogger".
Then one day I come across a piece of information that disturbs me about "mommy blogger". She’s pro-choice. In fact, she actually monetarily supports Planned Parenthood she’s so pro-choice. Okay, that upsets me for a few hours. But then I think - hey, I work and live among lots of pro-choice advocates, but I don’t stop interacting with them. So why should I let that keep me from not enjoying her blog. She doesn’t talk about pro-abortion stuff on her blog and that doesn’t detract from the wisdom and laughs I gain from her mothering antics. Reading someone’s blog isn’t necessarily an endorsement of what they do or believe outside of their writing. I’m mature enough to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Some time passes and I come across Heather’s blog post where she mentions that Clubmom.com is looking to PAY mothers who blog. Heather thinks this may be the start of a new trend of paid bloggers. That makes me think of my favorite "mommy blogger" - she writes great stuff, she deserves to get paid. Hopefully the traffic I sent her way (by linking to her, telling my friends) and the popularity she has gained will help her get the job…
But wait. What if she decides to donate part of her salary to Planned Parenthood? Could I now be partnering intentionally or unintentionally to abortion?? Am I willing to take that chance?
That may sound a bit far-fetched, but I hope you’ll think it over. Like I said in the beginning, if we stop to analyze everything we do in this fashion we would probably never leave the house. But if the information is suddenly right in front of you, take the time to actually seeks God’s will over it (through the scriptures, through prayer, through the counsel of others whom you trust). Don’t unintentionally partner yourself with people who are working against what is good in the sight of the Lord. And please don’t let your personal enjoyment of certain worldly things keep you from at least evaluating the things you do that may not be bringing glory to God.
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9 comments:
Very thought-provoking. I don't visit all my blogs in the blogroll daily - but have deleted some due to things that don't fit in line with my morals and values. I'll try to remember that for future reference too!
Really enjoyed your post.
I get grief from friends and family because I won't watch movies with known Scientologists in them. I can't spend my money on entertainment knowing that it will in the end support a cult.
I have changed my "favorites" list.
My daughter (who went through a very rough time in public school) said, "Mom, even if you don't think people you hang out with make a difference in how you think - they do."
one thing i admire about you, carrie, is how you genuinely seek His purity in every area of your life. how you do that and how others do that may differ - but the importance you place on this always inspires me. (dude, was that a niche i just smelled?)
Great post my friend. Although I haven't come across something like your particular issue on 'secular' blogs I read, but I have come across some language I don't use and you will not find on my blog and sometimes that makes me uneasy.
Great post, Carrie...
Thanks for the comments ladies. I'm glad you understood my point.
Robin - Good for you!
HolyMama - I didn't smell anything :)
Eph2810 - the story I told was strictly metaphoric but I have come across a similiar situation. I find it's easy to avoid the obviously unGodly stuff like foul language. It's the less obvious stuff that lurks beneath that I would like people to think about.
I think you're probably okay, and not to blame, but this sounds like one of those "pray about it" issues.
I think as time goes by your conscience (through the Spirit) will let you know what to do in situations such as this. It might be one of those deals where, although technically not wrong for everyone per se, it might be wrong for you because of how you feel about it. Kind of like the "freedom to eat meat sacrificed to idols" issue. But as long as you seek God's guidance, you'll be okay.
Was I clear as mud on that?
I agree with you Muley for the most part (no mud in my eye, here). But there are some areas where I think the answers aren't so clear, but yet there is a general right or wrong for the Christian. I think though we sometimes simplify and gloss over our activities just so we don't have to ask ourselves the tough questions.
By the way, what I talked about here was strictly hypothetical. Maybe I should edit my post so that is clear.
I personally would have stopped reading that hypothetical blog once I found out about the PP support but that's b/c I would have followed along the logic that someday I could be an unwilling participant.
You raise a good point- one that I would have to really think about...
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