Pride.
I have to make a confession today. What I’d like to confess is that I want this blog only to be used for the glory of Jesus Christ and to lift Him up. What I’d like to confess is that I don’t want to use this blog to spread my name. But, what I’m confessing is actually the exact opposite. My human nature is fighting, fighting with the fact that I know I need to give up my thoughts of spreading the word about what I write. My human nature is fighting the fact that when I look at my stats and see them rising I know that it shouldn’t matter. My human nature is fighting pride.
God’s Name or Our Name?
Especially as bloggers - we tend to do what we can to build our followers, promote our blogs, trade links, whatever - but why? Are we truly doing it so that God’s glory can be known and exalted through our blogs - or are we doing it so that our name can be known? I don’t know about you, but I am fearful that there will be a constant struggle for me as I write and continue to make new acquaintances that I will want more and more to promote myself.
I pray that God is always rightly exalted through me and that I would continue to decrease while He continues to increase.
I guess I just wanted to confess this to the world today, ask for prayer - and encourage us all to keep things in perspective. Is it wrong to want to promote ourselves? If it’s under the guise of “oh - I’m doing this so that Jesus will be lifted up” but really, deep down we just want ourselves promoted - yes, I think it’s wrong. If we truly have the desire to lift Jesus up more than anything, maybe not.
What About You?
So, those of you who are bloggers out there - what do you do to remain humble? Are you justifying self-promotion because “it’s all about Jesus” but it’s really all about you? For me, thankfully, God used a couple of different circumstances to say, “Hey, Ryan, slow down - this is about me, not you.” And it was right when I needed it. God’s Word says,
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5) as well as
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
My prayer, for all of us, is that we would have humility and wisdom before everything else.
Pride is something that, I believe, we all fight. I mean we could just keep a written journal of our thoughts and not publish them at all. We publish our blogs hoping that someone will read what we have written and agree with us or be inspired or take something useful away from it. I think that when it becomes about us then we need to take a hard look at ourselves. There are bloggers who give us play by play of their lives. For what purpose? If you are sharing how God is working in your life then I do not have problem but when it just becomes “look at me and what I’m doing” then I tune out. I try to filter my posts through two questions. First, is this post telling of what God is doing through my life or through the lives of those close to me? Secondly, will this post help others in their ministries or churches?
Ryan, I have mostly seen both types of posts from you and I appreciate your knowledge and reflection. Keep it up!
Comment by Ernie Stevenson — July 29, 2008 @ 12:02 pm
I appreciate your thoughts. What I try to focus on is executing the vision and staying in the calling that God has placed on me for my local church. Then being an encouragement to the global church as best as I can and learn from as much of the global church that I can. For me that’s what’s been great about running a blog. I get to talk with so many other leaders I otherwise would never have and learn from them and encourage others as best I can. The humbling thing has been interacting with so many people so much more talented and smarter than I have a hope to be and seeing how God is using many others so powerfully. I think if anything, my blogging experience has helped me stay humble.
Comment by Kyle — July 29, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
@Ernie - thanks for your thoughts and encouragement. Much appreciated!
@Kyle - Right on. I like your perspective and need to adopt the same thing. It’s just so hard sometimes - you feel like you have something good you want to share with the rest of the community - so you want to get the word out, yet, you start to feel like you’re promoting yourself after awhile.
And by the way, Kyle - anyone with a gravatar like that must have a little bit of humility in them
Comment by Ryan Egan — July 29, 2008 @ 12:25 pm
Ha! Yeah I should have added that to my last comment, “interacting with so many people that are smarter, more talented and *better looking* than I have a hope to be.”
Comment by Kyle — July 29, 2008 @ 12:34 pm
Wow-I can’t tell you how many times I have been concerned with the same thing, especially on the internet. I have had to make myself fast from checking my stats and analytics before.
I have had to come to terms with it, part of blogging is always keeping yourself in check, kinda like remembering you are a worship leader and not a rock star-so is there a real reason you want that haircut.
The guys that I talk about blogging with always come around to this and it is a tough question to answer. Thanks for opening up on this one.
Comment by chad — July 29, 2008 @ 6:01 pm
Chad - thanks so much for your thoughts. It’s good to know that I’m not the only one who struggles. I’ll be praying for you in the days to come. Fasting from stats might be a fantastic idea for me as well.
Comment by Ryan Egan — July 29, 2008 @ 7:03 pm