For a while I have not written on CVC, read Christian blogs, or watch twitter. There is so much venom and I’m just no longer interested in arguing; and it always comes to that. Very few conversations have led to actual thinking and wrestling about theological or practical issues. Grandstanding, positioning, and winning have become too prominent and I am not interested in being a part of it. 

Some groups will always be who they are. They will be following a tradition handed down from their grandparents and will only view things in that way. I have no interest in winning over Christians. What they have works for them, and it will be more destructive for them if I keep after them. I can’t be a part of it because so much of it is destructive, but I can leave them be.

Other groups say that they embrace the conversation. The problem is that so many of these voices are either in seminary, planning on seminary, or completed screwed up by seminary. Then there are the fanboys; those who have read a couple of books from an author, or at least part of it. Their version of the conversation is really regurgitating bits and pieces of that in hopes of saying something they hope is profound, or to one up the fanboy of the other guy. I’ve seen it. Too much.

I’m not interested in entering those kinds of conversations; and in a larger sense I am not interested in writing and contributing to an online argument that turns into venom.. Recently I have seen twitter posts, blog entries, and forums that have forgotten the good spirit of the conversation; the exploration, and has replaced it with comparing credentials and not listening. When did online and real life Christianity turn into and group of trolls?

And the spirit of openness? There are different camps fighting with each other all over the place. Snide remarks back and forth while the other side will take the bait and lash out. This is not what this was supposed to be.

So if this is what it is going to be, I’m out. I’ll be watching, sharing some ideas, and occasionally contributing. I may even change my mind later. Right now… I am tired and have ran out of things to say, grown tired of listening to so-called new ideas and the arguments that follow.  I suppose this will always be the way of things. Sometimes, I just have to breathe.