Love, Anonymous
I am taking a break from postmillennialism. I know that not many people read my blog, but for whom it may concern...
There is a trend in blogdom. The fact that blogger.com allows people to post comments anonymously, has eliminated accountability. Some people are not mature enough to take responsibility for their words, so they give their "hit and run" comments, insults, criticisms, foolishnesses. This is such a cowardly thing to do. There is no other explanation. Those who want to say nasty things, and not get caught, or called out, or confronted, are cowards. If you are not man/woman enough to own up to your words/nastiness/fallacious reasoning, etc...keep your mouth closed, or in this case, keep your computor off.
It is another thing entirely if you want to respectfully dissagree. This is how learning takes place, by dissagreeing parties cordially discussing issues. But throwing out mean comments under the mask of anonymity does nothing more than fan the flame residing within the sinful flesh of the cowardly antagonist.
And yet, one more thing can be said of the anonymous commentor. A wounded animal will be the most vicious. I would say that the anonymous commentor striking out is solid proof that their conscience has been wounded. So, if you are convicted by the words we (Christians) speak, one sure way to tell us that deep down you know we are right, is to leave a mean-spirited comment on one of our blogs. And if you want us to know that you are going to lie awake in bed tonight struggling to ignore the truth of God's Word, leave your comment under the name, anonymous.
posted by Josh's Loving Wife, aka Angela Brisby @ 10:08 AM
9 Comments:
Angela,
I saw your comment on Josh's blog regarding the anonymous poster (and of course have read this entry). While I don't disagree with you that posting anonymously is a surefire way to not have to deal with responses, I hardly think it constitutes 'proof' of anything.
The blogosphere, and particularly this corner of it shared by y'all Religious folk and us Atheists and Freethinkers, is a particularly harsh place, where every comment is picked clean, every argument broken down and critiqued. While I agree with you that someone shouldn't bother to comment if they aren't going to own up, it very well could be people comment anonymously because they have decided that they want their views heard/seen, but don't have the stamina to be critiqued as hardcore as we all critique each other. (I will say that the person over on Josh's blog was quite obviously not making a serious comment though).
My point? Right or wrong that the person commented anonymously, it isn't proof of a 'guilty conscious' or anything like that... it may instead be that they are not up to the challenge of being hammered on from all sides.
-olly
Hey Angela,
In the spirit of non-anonimity, I just wanted to say hi, and let you know I was "lurking" on your blog. If you are wondering how I got here, you are just a couple of mouse clicks away from Russ Jenkins' blog. You don't know me well if your remember me at all. I was once upon a time an Ephesian, where I was usually pretty quiet since I have the tendency to say the most inopportune things. Now I am in Florida where my hubby is in eldership training at a small Reformed Baptist Church. You probably remember him, the one who took the command to "Greet one another with a holy kiss" very seriously!
I am interested in hearing what another Reformed "thinking women" has to say. I have saved your blog so that I can come back and read your posts. I say all that as a means of introduction:)
Question: Have you ever read Nancy Wilson's books? (The Fruit of Her Hands & Praise Her in the Gates?) If so, what do you think of them?
~Lilly
Olly,
I agree, and dissagree with your comment. I also think I may not have been clear enough with the distinction between anonymous comments expressing a view or belief, and anonymous comments that just tear down, insult, and antagonize.
My agreement: This corner of the blogospere can be rather intense. So I can see people leaving anonymous comments not wanting to get caught in the crossfire that can end up getting pretty brutal.
But, I also believe that if you cannot defend a belief, you have no business owning it. If you cannot defend a belief, you cannot truly say that you know your belief. And if you are not sure enough about a belief to defent it, you should say so. Maybe say something like, "Such and such is what I think to be most correct, but I could be wrong."
In my post, although I failed to say so*blush*, I was specifically trying to address hit and run insults. I think a lot of misunderstanding could have been avoided had I been more clear. My apologies.
These anonymous "low blows" are nothing more than a wounded conscience striking out. Don't get me wrong, I think it goes both ways. When a "christian" stoops to undue name calling, it may also be that they are feeling cornered. However I think some heavier criticisms that may come off as name calling are acceptable. Such as the way you may see Paul Manata conversing with athiests. Jesus sets precedence for this in the way he deals with Pharisees and so forth.
Thanks for your graciousness.
Angela,
No problem ;). I think you are right, that you shouldn't post if you can't own up to a comment. And the hit and run tactics really are rather spineless.
At least if your argument is going to fall on it's face, have the good grace to be there when it does! :)
-olly
Olly,
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Lilly! Of course I remember you. I remember the two of us talking about how your hubby had not had the chance to give my hubby a "holy kiss" yet. :)
Glad to hear there is a Reformed Baptist church in Florida. What is it called? Is it part of F.I.R.E., or A.R.B.C.A.?
I am honored that you frequent my humble blog :) I hope you are enjoying the musings of a woman who has so much to say and so little time to say it :)
As far as the Nancy Wilson's books go, I have read the Fruit Of Her Hands. I believed she did an excellent job describing the supporting role of a Godly wife. It was a convicting book, especially when she spoke of seeing your husband as the apple tree in the woods or forest or something like that, I forget the exact analogy. I also found the book to be so encouraging to me as a keeper at home. My job as a stay-at-home mom is one of the most important in the world. I loved this book.
I have not yet read Praise Her In The gates. It is on my mental "to-read" list, and I hope to get my hands on it soon. If you have read it, plase tell me what you think of it.
I am currently reading Total Truth written by Nancy Piercey. It is a BIG book. I am still in the first chapter, which is very sad becasue I have had the book for about half a year. But so far, I absolutely love it. Nancy Piercy has been described by many as a modern-day woman Francois Schaffer.
Hope all is well with you and your husband, Patrick right? Thanks for stopping by A Thinking Woman, and feel free to stop by and comment anytime, even if it is only to say "hi."
Come on , Angela; don't you know that in our modern, enlightened culture, that what is right for you may not be right for others and vice-versa? Just as Solomon said, "there is nothing new under the sun". And the state of Sodom & Gomorrah, along with the state of the earth in Noah's time: Every man doing what was right in his own eyes........ How about that- the Bible proven right again!
Angela,
You have a good memory-yes, my hubby is Patrick. Our church is The Shepherd's Church (www.TheShepherdsChurch.com) and is basically still a new church plant since we are just getting a permanent location. The Church is part of the SBC...for now (believe it or not, there are a few reformed churches left in the Southern Baptist Convention!). We hold to the 2nd London Baptist Confession (1689) and the Philadelphia Confession. More on the website if you want to check it out.
I have read "The Fruit of Her Hands" which I love and use as a kind of refresher course when I need to be reminded of my high calling as a wife. I have not read Mrs. Wilson's other book as it deals specifically with motherhood and we have not been blessed with kids yet (not by our own choice, but our Sovereign Savior's). However, I am told it is excellent.
That reminds me...I noticed that in Josh's archives, he addressed the topic of birth control. Let him know I appreciate his thoughts. Paddie & I are passionately against the pill for the reasons he stated, namely that if an egg should be fertilized, said fertilized egg would be unable to implant in a hormone-thinned uterus (that makes it an abortion ya'll). To me, the issue on whether or not one should use hormonal contraception is black & white. It saddens me that so many Christians seem to have no idea of the pill's effects, and don't want to be confronted with the possiblity that it might be a bad thing. Tragic. I very much enjoyed the book "Open Embrace" by Sam & Bethany Torode on this issue, and the idea of not using birth control as a whole. It is something that there needs to be more diologue about in Christendom, yet the topic seems to strike fear into hearts of postmodern Christians.
Sorry to bring up an archived topic again here. I just wanted to give your hubby some kudos.
~Grace & Peace,
Lilly
Lilly, I'll pass your kudos along to my hubby :)
Amen to everything you said about hormonal birth control. I know that most docs will tell you that the spontaneous abortion caused by these pills is only a "last resort" function, but it still happens. And the woman taking the pill would have no way to know when she has prevented pregnancy or aborted a living soul. It's like playing russian roulette with someone else's soul. Actually that is exactly what it is.
I think Christendom as a whole is not going around saying "it doesn't matter, at least I don't have to deal with a kid right now", I think that they just haven't studied up on it. They believe their docs, without further investigation. If the doctor told us something regarding our own health in a life or death matter, I'm sure we would study the issue out. Why not do the same regarding our precious LIVING unborn children?
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