Making it count

Today I read two posts - written by two of my dear friends - that pricked my conscience. The first was by Kari, here, and the second was by Beth, here.

Kari has written a number of times recently about the cyclone that has devastated Burma and taken so many lives. Today she wonders (and rightly so) why so many of her fellow bloggers (me included) have touched on the recent tragedy in the Chapman family, yet so few have found time to spare a few words for those whose lives have been devasted in Burma and China.

Ouch.

Kari's post convicted me: it matters what you write about.

For the most part, this blog is a "friendship vehicle". I've never really had a single purpose for blogging and my posts reflect that. I post pretty much whatever strikes my fancy. And I guess there's nothing wrong with that per se...except, the blog IS named Ask A Lutheran after all. Most people, when I tell them what my blog is called, assume that it is a Lutheran apologetics blog. And truthfully, I did have the intention, when I first started blogging here, to do more of it. Apologetics that is.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't regret a single moment that I have spent blogging about family matters and what's going on in our lives. That's the friendship part of the blog - it's how we got to know one another and became friends, and my friendships here are worth nurturing.

But there's been some fluff too, stuff that is neither apologetics or friendship related; stuff that I used as filler when I had nothing better to say. As if you come here to be entertained or something. Shame on me for thinking so. I ought to value your time more. Of all the millions of blogs there are out there to read, you choose to come here day after day. The least I can do is have something worthwhile for you to read when you get here. Something that nurtures our relationship. Or maybe something that makes you think.

Which brings me to the second post; Beth's. Ironically, Beth's post is also about the Chapman tragedy, but Beth's post convicted me in an entirely different way.

What I took away from her: it matters what you believe.

Now poor Beth. She's gonna think I'm picking on her. *smile* I recently posted a long apologetics piece in response to a question that she had for me about the role of man's will in salvation. I have known for a long time that I, as a confessional Lutheran, have a markedly different understanding of some key Christian doctrines than, well, most of my friends and readers. That post addressed to Beth, a true apologetics piece if ever I've written one, clearly defines one of those differences. And I have to tell you, it was hard for me to write so openly in seeming opposition to a friend. I worry, you see, that I may cause offense, or even confusion to others. And frankly, I just don't want to get into an argument with a friend!

What stuck a chord with me today in Beth's post was this line: "this man's music brought me back to Christ." When I read that I drew in my breath sharply. "No Beth," I thought to myself, "the Holy Spirit brought you back to Christ - if indeed you ever were truly away from Him."

Now, I know Beth well enough to know that what she probably meant was, "the Holy Spirit used this man's music to renew my joy in the Lord" or something similar. I KNOW she doesn't believe that mere music has the power to convert the unbeliever. That's not what she meant...it just came out that way. Christian shorthand, if you will. But it got me to thinking about how many Christians have no problem believing that the Spirit can work through means like music (or even the blog posts of others) to effect a response in us, but can't believe that the same Spirit can work through means like simple water and bread and wine to effect salvation in us. (And that folks, is another apologetics piece all its own...)

It matters what I write about, and it matters what I believe. What I write about is always going to be influenced by what I believe. And what I believe should be reflected in what I write. I am a Christian, yes, but I am a Lutheran Christian and I truly believe that Lutherans have unique perspective among Christians, one that is rich and profound, centred not on the works of man, but on the completed work of Christ.

I love sharing this perspective. I hope that it enriches you when I do.