Enough Already!

OK, so I need to write more. I am both honored and miffed by the steady stream of emails and comments on other blogs that I need to write more. I write sparingly for two primary reasons. First, because I'm busy. Blogging is avocation only, and not necessary for my existence. I am trying desperately to finish the preaching commentary on 1 Corinthians, so that is writing enough for me right now. Mostly, I am trying to bless the dear saints at Buck Run Baptist Church with sermons worth hearing. Right now I am preaching through John on Sunday mornings, teaching through the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 on Sunday evenings, and doing a study from Genesis on the life of Abraham Wednesday nights. Teaching a full load at Southern, going on visitation Tuesday nights, preaching here and there, spending time on the phone with my sons nearly every day, capturing time with my wife every spare moment I have, and making sure that I spend time in the Word and in prayer keeps me plenty busy.

The second reason I don't write more is that I don't want to make a fool of myself like so many bloggers seem to, confusing sharing my thoughts for having thoughts worth sharing. I recall a time when a guy had to have a track record of faithful preaching, winning souls to Jesus, regularly baptizing and building a great church before he dared venture any advice beyond his own sphere of ministry. Now the most pathetic preachers can still find an audience, not unlike a train wreck finds an audience, mind you, but still an audience--and that's all that seems to matter. Bloggers who admit the churches they planted have failed marvel that their words are cited in newspaper accounts beside those of denominational leaders. I recently read on one blog the most inane set of fifty questions for premarital counseling I had ever seen. No wonder. The one who thought his questions so brilliant that he had to share them had never been married. Worst of all were the sickening sycophants who congratulated him and asked permission to use them. Wouldn't that be like me sharing my tips for great golf? I don't happen to play the game, but I watch the majors and I read John Feinstein's A Good Walk Spoiled. Am I getting a bit smarmy here? See, this is why I don't write more. this stuff just spills out of me.

Hey, there's a third reason I just thought of. As a result of my notoriety for nothing I might be invited to the New Baptist Covenant Celebration in January and actually believe that my participation in a conference with people who deny the exclusivity of the gospel of Jesus Christ is worthwhile. I might forget that those people use our words but their own dictionary. I might fail to see the disingenuity in Carter's previous statements about the SBC and his recent efforts to act the peacemaker. If frequent blogging were to do that, the risk would be far too great.

Still, at the risk of adding to my busy schedule, making a bigger fool of myself, and believing rubbing elbows with inclusivists and universalists might accomplish something . . . I'm going to write more.

At least for a while.

By the way, the photo is of me beside the pulpit from which John Wesley preached at the Foundry for so many years.