With Christmas behind us and 2012 on the horizon (seriously, it’s next week—what happened?) many of us are in more of a contemplative mindset. Looking back on the year that was and wondering, what could be different about next year. Sadly, I have succumbed to this as well. But! I am trying to focus on a few key areas, and one in particular is what I’d like to see in the Christian blogosphere in 2012. Here are three things I’d like to see happen and/or change in the coming year:
1. More solid theology blogs written by women. Too often the stereotype is that women write Mommy blogs (and get book deals) and men write about theology (and ask why they don’t have a book deal). In the “YRR” crowd in particular, there are a LOT of male voices. This is by no means a bad thing, but we do have a tendency to be much more direct in a way that can be off-putting for female readers. It would be nice to have more women who have a more delicate approach to point readers to. My hope for 2012 is that a number of doctrinally sound ladies would begin to address pressing theological issues from a female perspective to help balance us out. Incidentally, here are a few really well done theology and/or Christian-life blogs written by women that you should check out:
- Housewife Theologian by Aimee Byrd (she wrote a very kind review of Awaiting a Savior a couple months back, if you didn’t see it)
- Daily on my Way to Heaven by Becky Pliego (this site also hosts a terrific series called “Doctrines in the Kitchen”)
- Writing and Living by Staci Eastin (author of Cruciform Press’ The Organized Heart)
- The Upward Call by Kim Shay
- Theologigal
- Samantha Krieger
2. The self-appointed satirists and “discernment” bloggers need to chill out and grow up. The “satire” blogs (the majority of which, interestingly, tend to lean left of center theologically) occasionally offer interesting insights in their critique of voices in the new Reformed movement. But more often than not, they wind up playing kissing cousins with the whacked-out online “discernment” ministries on the far right whose writers only have one person left to call a heretic—themselves. They’re rarely helpful, edifying or funny. Far too often they’re mean-spirited, divisive and kind of pathetic. My hope for 2012 is that “satirists” and “discernment” bloggers would chill out, grow up and shut down their blogs rather than continuing to malign the name of Christ.
3. Pay less attention to controversy and more attention to Jesus. Let’s be honest, 2011 was a great year for Rob Bell—and the “YRR” crowd played a huge part in that. Another dust up is surely on the horizon, though probably not to the scale of the Love Wins fiasco. So how about we try not to get played as badly as we did the last time? While obviously, I’m not suggesting that any Christian avoid rightly condemning heresy when it appears, I would strongly encourage that we all do so in a careful, Christ-exalting manner.
So those are three things I’d like to see in the Christian blogosphere in 2012. What would you add to the list?
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Aaron, how in the world did I miss this? Thanks for linking to my blog. I have enjoyed this exciting blogging journey with you and with the rest of the friends you mentioned.
May our words never fail to bring the glory due to His name!
I know I’m a bit late coming to this post by I wanted to highly recommend Wendy Alsup’s blog: Practical Theology for Women (http://www.theologyforwomen.org/). She is the author of “Practical Theology for Women” and “By His Wounds You Are Healed” which is a study of the book of Ephesians for women. She also writes for Desiring God sometimes.
I started a blog a little over 2 years ago, it was supposed to be about food and cooking but the Lord had other plans for me. It is HE who has turned my life upside down over the last two years. It is HE who has changed my heart and my blog. It is for HIM and HIS glory that I write.
Thank you for your encouragement to women who desire to write in a more theological vein.
I follow Aimee Byrd regularly! She is amazing in her authentic content!
Honored to be listed here, Aaron. Thank you. I’d like to see more Christian bloggers and writers stay true to who they are- their own unique voice. I’d like to also see more Christian bloggers defend the truth unashamedly.
Keep up the awesome work!
Agree with you completely. I might add one thing to the list: greater networking between solid Christian bloggers. I haven’t been blogging very long, and trying to find Christian blogs has been harder than I would have imagined. I mean, there are certainly plenty of “mommy” blogs, but I’m far more interested in blogs that deal with issues and topics that matter to me as well. Also, many of the “Christian” blogs I have found are either poorly written, deeply confused/misguided, or just plain weird.
Hi Aaron,
Thanks for this encouraging direction. Your first point has provoked me in my own thinking about my blog.
Thanks so much for the shout out! I really appreciate it. And thanks for the recommendations on other blogs written by women— there are a lot of inspiring men in the theology-blogosphere, but it’s good to see some female voices contributing to solid theological discussions as well.
Great list Aaron! Love to read the female bloggers for their reflections and insight. It would be such a great asset to the Christian blogging community to see their sites flourish.
I would also love to see more focus on Christ and less on controversy. Sadly, controversy will probably always play a bit into the blog world because of the immediacy of the internet. I think that if Christians manage to avoid making controversy the focal point of their blog and passionately deliver a regular stream of edifying content, the times in which they choose to engage with the issues of the day will be more fruitful.
Thank you Aaron for hosting such an awesome blog!
I’ve followed Aimee Byrd’s blog (Housewife Theologian) for over a year now, and find it to be one of the best, well-written, and thoughtful blogs I’ve seen, regardless of the gender of the author. I recommend it to everyone I know.
Thanks, Doc! And, Aaron, I’m happy to have found your blog as I really enjoyed reading your book. Thank you for raising awareness and encouraging theologically-minded women bloggers. My hope for 2012 is that good, theological blogs will stimulate even better, theological conversations.
We don’t need more Mathew 7 Ministries?
Good thoughts, Aaron. I’d like to add to your list of female bloggers with a Reformed worldview. My friend Elizabeth Turnage blogs at http://www.livingstorygrace.com and is the author of “Learning God’s Story of Grace” (the first of a 3-volume Bible study series published by P & R Publishers). Good stuff!
Thanks for sharing Aaron. I think your third point is key – Pay less attention to controversy and more attention to Jesus. I wish our churches in general would focus on Jesus more…
Thanks for your kind words, Aaron. What a nice surprise as I clicked on to read this morning!
I agree with all your points and would like to say that i also would like to see less blogs used to gossip and more to exalt the name of Christ.
I definitely appreciate your points here. We reformed folk definitely can tend toward number 2 as well. One of my favorite current female writers, whose theology connects with life, is Serena Woods, who writes at graceisforsinners.com.
Oh, my, Aaron, thank you, Aaron for your kind words. I agree with your points whole heartedly. Thank you for your continued blogging excellence over this past year. I had to laugh the other night when you tweeted that your 4 year old ate a whole roll of Halls. Our kids did stuff like that. God bless you in 2011 as you wait for your next little Armstrong to arrive!