Let me be clear on something that’s cropped up a few times in the past week that disturbs me a bit: The sensitivity of some of our readers.
There have been a few posts which have solicited some pretty terse comments on what we report throughout our 8BIT properties, including some more fun posts as well as ones that are very close to being classic investigative journalism.
Our job, as we see it, is to simply report on what is happening out in the ecosystem and culture that is the internet, which can be an extremely dark place as well as a beacon of hope. Our desire is to simply provide the information to you, provide one perspective on how it might be implemented and executed, and leave it up to you to decided it’s ultimate value within the context of your organization and/or ministry.
We try to bring a fairly neutral stance in terms of execution and provide sensitive dogmatism against obviously-bad practices and principles. It’s a tough line to walk, I’ll admit, but we try to do it with excellence.
We’re not perfect and we’ve got a lot to work on, but I really won’t apologize for bringing up culturally-relevant articles so that you’re made aware of them, even if they may “stumble” you into sin.
But honestly, if you feel like we’re getting racy or jumping far beyond the boundaries of good taste, then feel free to unsubscribe from our blogs – you won’t hurt anyone’s feelings.
And if you think that we’re promoting things like pornography or showing a little nipple without cause then I’d tell you to just Google “hardcore sex” and you’ll get there faster than through our content and you’ll save yourself some time.
Finally, the internet, generally speaking, requires a bit more a thick skin if you’re going to engage in some of the more “challenging” parts of it. There’s entire sub-cultures of sub-cultures that need the gentle touch and engagement of a believer. We’re not shy to jump in to those areas because the people there need Jesus just as much as those that just check email.
Our enemy isn’t you; it’s the idea that there are places that a Christian just can’t go; I’d take you to Scripture and show you countless places where some of our strongest fathers of the Christian faith jumped in without thinking twice. Sure they didn’t have internet brothels, but they had real brothels.
And Christ was there.
JayCaruso says
Word.
Ben Cotten says
Heck yeah.
Now I’m browsing looking for the controversy that I missed. Is that wrong? 😉
Rodlie says
Ah, man. I feel the same way. I’m wondering what the controversy is about. I guess I missed it somehow.
Andrew says
Me three. That’s what I get for only reading the comments when I want to leave one.
Eric says
Yeah did i miss the controvesy?
Erik Scottberg says
I missed the controversy too.
The funny thing is that I saw this post on Flipboard. Of course they showed the picture of David….perfectly and randomly cropped right around his “junk”.
Adam Shields says
You have made it to the big time. People complain to Christianity Today all the time for actually reporting the news. I am friends with Mac Powell the leader singer of Third Day and he said that on their second album they had multiple people complain that they literally said the name of Jesus less times than on their first album, even if they had more theologically deep content on the second album than the first. The editor of the Illinois Baptist newspaper was forced to resign because he reported on a pastor sex abuse case that was reported in other media.
Christians need to start learning that reporting is not destructive to the cause of Christ, it is actually hiding things that is destructive to the cause of Christ. And the second lesson, deeper theological content is better than repetitive speaking the name of Christ.
JayCaruso says
Of course, one does have to love the irony of reading “we’re getting racy” about 1.5 inches away from David’s junk. 🙂
Ben Cotten says
Dude, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was staring at the floor the whole time like when I’m in the gym locker room. I didn’t see nothin.
Tony Alicea says
Some people are just easily offended (love the pic by the way). You guys are doing an awesome job. Keep up the great work!
Eyvonne says
I wanted to respond to this yesterday, but didn’t feel like I could do it with the level of grace required (that’s a dig on me — not you).
Chris Brogan’s post today addresses this better than I could. You probably follow him already, but I wanted to pass this along because I literally thought of you when i read it.
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/push-past-the-defeat-feeling
John Saddington says
Thanks Eyvonne!
Chris Brogan is a good guy and a friend. We built his latest blog project, Escape Velocity!
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/escape-velocity-is-live/
So yes, definitely subscribe, but I had missed that one! thanks so much.!!!
Graham Brenna says
Well said John. I read this post just after I posted an opposing opinion to https://churchm.ag/the-church-needs-to-go-analog-on-sunday/ . haha… I know you know I’m not hating on what you do here. As you said… the nature of the web requires a bit more of a thicker skin to navigate.