(Series subtitle: Attitudes of the Heart and the Actions That Proceed Therefrom)
JCHFleetGuy at Brain Cramps for God commends philophronos blogging, a promising new venture by Laura of Pursuing Holiness and Henry Neufeld of Threads from Henry’s Web.
philóphron: to think, have a mindset. Friendly, courteous, benign (1Peter 3:8). Deriv.: philophrónos (G5390), in a friendly or kind manner.
Laura points to 1 Peter 3:15-16 as the model for all discourse:
If we are called to make our defense of our faith with gentleness and respect, how much more should we do so with respect to minor issues like the politics of our nation or any of the temporary governments of this world?and makes a call for Philanthropos Bloggers:
Christian bloggers should purposefully express our political beliefs with gentleness and respect, with the intention of setting the example for non-Christians. We’re not all going to agree. We don’t need to agree. But we can debate the issues in such a way that the debate glorifies God and points people to Christ. We’re challenging Christian bloggers who write about politics to write at least one post a week until the election - and hopefully after itIf you are interested in joining this effort, see Laura’s post for information.
In the comments to Laura’s post is a link to another of her posts illustrating the “pay it forward” concept behind philanthropos blogging. The idea: one act of kindness will beget another (not necessarily in return, but passed on to others). She calls it a “dangerous naivete.” Indeed, "paying it forward" is the hope in the Christian’s “shining the light” for others to see. The reality is, of course, that many are not the least bit interested in the light. That includes Christians at times, including me. (I’m not referring to turning away from general assent to the gospel, but from assent to its implications for every situation encountered every day). But the “dangerous naivete” is the belief that at least some will “pick up the ball and run with it.” Says Laura, “I’d rather be dangerously naive than cynical.”
Me too. But most of all I’d rather be dangerously not naive, which is to say, completely trusting in God. Knowing that I may be paid back a completely different account than I was paying forward (or not at all, in this life anyway). I must do it anyway. We must speak and act, always, in the Light so that the Light will shine forth. But not self-consciously, with our every word and action a self-consciously calculated action aimed to influence. We do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, period. I know that, myself, as soon as I start trying to determine or second-guess the results of any action I take, my focus is turned right on you-know-who and not straight ahead. As soon as I try to get this kind of handle on something, all sorts of fears, worries, and false hopes take over. It’s the death of me! (As someone once wrote), in seeking to save my life, I lose it.
Do I hope for positive influence from the things I do? Of course. But it’s not me. Any positive influence that may come through me is from God. And most of the things He does through me I have little awareness of anyway.
Coming next: comments on civility
