A Blog of Edification?

It is healthy to frequently ask ourselves why we do what we do. The blog-world is no different.

My hope is that this blog will be edifying to those who read it. Like the silly icon the the left, my desire is that the discussions of this blog will build up and encourage all those who read it regardless of background.

As for the specific nature of the edification, we can look to Paul's first letter to the Corinthian church for that. In 14:26, Paul makes a very important statement concerning the gathering of the church. Paul writes, "Let all things be done for edification." The specific nature of the edification is clearly being built up in Jesus Christ. A primary goal, then, of the church gathering is to build each member up in faith in Christ.

I realize that this blog is not a church. It would be absurd to claim that it is. However, as Christians we can certainly learn from what Paul has written to the Corinthians. We ought to be building up our brothers and sisters in Christ in all we do.

Another key verse related to blogging comes from I Corinthians 10:23. Paul writes, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify." The context of this passage is a discussion of Christian liberty. How does this impact blogging? I am free to write about a whole host of things on this blog, but will those things build up those who read Hammer and Nail? Will what I write have a positive or negative impact on the Christian walk of a brother or sister who may read this? Also, if an unbeliever reads this, will it cause him to be more interested or less interested in the things of God.

So as far as blogging goes, how can we be certain that our blogs will edify? What rule can we live by? What filter can we use to see if our posts pass the test?

Let me suggest Ephesians 4:29 as a verse by which we ought to test not only our speech but also our writing. This verse says, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers." Whenever we are about to speak or write, we should simply ask ourselves whether or not what we are about to say or write will build up another individual.

This all sounds so simple. However, if you look around what we might call the "Christian blog world," you will see much that does not edify. In fact, some of it is downright mean.

We, myself included, will do well to try to edify one another at all times, whether in speech or in type. If we strive to express ourselves according to Ephesians 4:29, we should do well.