And, we’re off!
When I recently decided to re-launch ChoGBlog, I did not know if it was a good idea, or if anyone else would even be interested in what I might have to say. Nevertheless, it has been obvious to me that these are critical times for the Church of God, and that I have some thoughts to contribute which hopefully will be constructive as we struggle to live out our calling of holiness and unity within the larger Body of Christ.
A few days ago, I publicly announced the launch, and have since been overwhelmed by the initial response. Subscriptions are coming in at a rapid pace, and I have received numerous messages of support and encouragement.
Thank you to all who have subscribed, especially those of you that jumped in with a paid subscription or as a Founding Member! I sincerely appreciate your votes of confidence, and willingness to come along on this journey. It inspires me to give full attention to this venture. I want to earn your trust with valuable and insightful content.
The Challenge
Despite our high ideals as a movement, we have struggled to live out our unity. This was not always the case. In resistance to “man-rule” organization, the Church of God formed within the bonds of personal relationships. The early pioneers, exuberant to live in the “evening light,” made every effort to connect, even as the reformation message spread beyond the relative homogeneity of the Midwest. The Gospel Trumpet, for example, was an innovation with this end in mind, taking advantage of a technology available to them, not only to proclaim the gospel, but to draw-in all the saints, even if only virtually.
Today, the Church of God has changed in many ways. We are much more diverse and spread out. We are also highly fractured, often along cultural, racial and political lines. We proclaim that “Jesus is the Subject,” but the reality of this affirmation is not always evident in how we live out our relationships with each other.
In short, we lack the ability to have meaningful, healthy conversations. Or, is it that we rarely even have conversations with each other any longer? And, the ones we do have, increasingly via social media, can turn into shouting. We hardly know each other, and we are often suspicious of those who think or behave differently. Unity has become a casualty of all this, and so has holiness in the process.
Why ChoGBlog?
This blog/newsletter is my small attempt to shift the conversation toward more honest, insightful, and respectful discussion.
Certainly, the biggest apparent weakness is that this is the voice of just one person. I understand that and recognize the limitations of this endeavor. Of course, I do not have all the answers. I, likewise, probably do not even have all the right questions. However, I am one individual committed to modelling a new way of interacting with ideas within the Church of God. Hopefully, other sincere voices will come out of the woodwork as well, for a more robust series of conversations.
Why SubStack?
Marshall McLuhan famously informed us that “the medium is the message.” In recent years, many have taken to social media platforms as a way to disseminate ideas and spark conversations. This is simple to set up, and easy to draw people into discussions. Yet, there are downsides. Facebook groups, for example, can become toxic as discussions turn into free-for-alls, full of spiritual populism and goaded by trolls. There is often little meaningful moderation or accountability. The Good News of Jesus gets tainted in the process.
Substack has recently become the preferred channel for longer-form writing on the Internet. It builds on the foundation of the original blog format, but with added features like email newsletter distribution, and more importantly, a more engaged readership due to the subscription model. Having a paid tier helps ensure that the people who want to enter into the discussion do so because they are committed to being there and the overall objectives of the site. I believe Substack provides a healthier medium for ideas to be expressed and discussed.
Yes, everyone is invited to follow along, even with a free subscription. Paid subscribers, however, are the only ones who can comment on posts and read certain articles that will have paywall restrictions.
What to Expect
My goal is to publish two or three posts each week. I will cover a wide range of topics, all pertinent to the Church of God movement, with the intent of provoking constructive discussion on key issues related to our theology, mission and practice, within broad contexts. The hope is that our emphases on holiness and unity will become more meaningful and practical for the complex world in which we live.
Be prepared, however, to be challenged. You will not always agree with me. At times I will present several views, some of which you might be uncomfortable with. If you struggle with open discussion, paradox and nuance, this might not be the place for you. On the other hand, if you are willing to wrestle with varied perspectives, I am glad you are here. All I ask is that you respect those who take different positions than you. You are always free to disagree, but we owe it to God and each other to maintain unity and mutual respect despite our differences.
Final Comments
Writing takes time, and I recognize that I am not a particularly good writer. I have to work at it. So, while I will address hot topics as they come up, it may take me several days or longer to fully formulate my thoughts into typed words.
If you are at all interested in my more immediate reactions to all things Church of God, then follow my @ChoGBlog Twitter feed as well.
Also, please spread the word about ChoGBlog. Who do you know that would want to read along?
I am excited to get this going. Thank you for joining me in this work of love for the sake of the Kingdom.
