Blogging is not for everybody. Some people rightly hesitate to develop or host a blog. Some may feel that blogging would promote too much pride in their heart and life. Others may sense the gravity and power of writing and are therefore reluctant to write publicly. Still others may not consider blogging a good use of their time.
Each of these three reasons are legitimate. I would suggest that a person should forego blogging if they find their pride inflamed by writing their thoughts publicly. I respect those who realize how powerful writing is and therefore keep themselves out of the arena altogether. I also understand the struggle to correctly align priorities and decide on how to best use one’s time. But I wonder—I just wonder—if some are kept from blogging, not because their are humble, but because they are proud.
Too proud to blog? The question almost doesn’t make sense. It seems like it would be the other way around, like the person who declines to blog because they are afraid of how public recognition for their writing will stir up sinful pride. It seems like pride is what might drive someone to start a blog—they think their thoughts are so worthy of public attention they can’t wait to enlighten others with their wisdom.
This is probably the case with some. But I would like to suggest that perhaps others keep themselves from blogging because they are afraid of having their thoughts challenged and examined and critiqued and criticized. They fear having their errors pointed out, their illogical sentences scrutinized, and their fuzzy thinking confronted. Perhaps some people think they are such excellent writers and thinkers, they can not stand the thought of encountering any evidence that proves otherwise.
One of the benefits I see with blogging is the opportunity to receive comments and feedback. Comments (if we are willing to hear them) can help us approach our writing with greater care help us develop our ideas more fully. Receiving comments and feedback about what we write will guard us from error and from pride, and will actually serve to strengthen our writing and hone our thinking. On the other hand, the person who thinks he is a great writer already will, in reality, never get any better because does not consider the comments of others worthy of his attention.
So, are you too proud to blog? It may be the case that you should not start a blog because you know the ill-effects it could have on your spiritual life, or because you are not ready to bear the responsibility of writing, or because you do not believe it would be a good use of time. But perhaps it something else.
From the Study 
I know that sometimes I hesitate or am apprehensive before posting some of my thoughts because I fear someone will criticize them or refute them. This stems from pride, and I should take some of the things you said into consideration. All criticism and insight, no matter how much it may hurt my ego, will help me to be a better thinker/writer/communicator. Criticism and questions should be desired, welcomed, and wanted, but pride interferes with this reality.
Lucas,
“All criticism and insight, no matter how much it may hurt my ego, will help me to be a better thinker/writer/communicator.”
I agree. If we receive it with a teachable heart, we can always profit from criticism, even if the criticism is given in an angry or condescending manner. In fact, being able to benefit from criticism is probably one of the primary ways we survive and thrive in life and in ministry. In fact, getting our ego hurt might turn out to be the best thing for us.
Derek
Hi, I just started a blog here on wordpress, and although I haven’t done much serious writing, have always really wanted to get into it. And you’re right, the thing that kept me so long from starting it was pride. It’s amazign how pride can mask itself as humility – my fear of what people would think of my writing, and of me as a ‘blogger’ might look modest and humble to some, but was actually pride. Anyway, there’s not much on there at the moment, but feel free to give me feedback if you want:
http://www.starofthemorning.wordpress.com
I think about 5 people have seen it so far :)
I really like your blog by the way – although I’ve only just discovered it!
Ryan
Hi Derek,
This is a great blog. But I’m wondering … as a husband, full-time student and active church-man where do you find the time and energy to crank out all these articles? (this is my question for most bloggers, BTW).
David,
This is a good question and one that I have personally wrestled with as well. I want to always make the best use of my time; this requires a constant reevaluation of how I am currently using my time.
Although I am working full time, seeking to fulfill my responsibility to love and care for my wife, and am also active in our local church, I am not currently taking any classes. A number of credit hours transferred over from the seminary I attended in San Jose, so I was able to use this summer to focus on earning money for the coming school year instead of taking classes. Without any school work to do during the summer, I have some extra time I can spend elsewhere. I choose to spend it in writing. I enjoy writing, I desire to serve others by writing, and I want to become a better writer. This takes practice; and I find blogging to be an excellent venue in which to regularly write.
If you were to click the monthly archives, you would find that the frequency of my writing adjusts according to the seasons – the school season, namely. I write far less during the school year because I am not only intensely busy, I am also writing regularly for my classes, so the need to practice writing is not as immediate.
For me, it comes down to priorities. This summer, I wanted to make writing – not just “blogging” – a priority. I have been told that those who desire to become better writers do not find time to write, they make time to write. This does not mean one needs to write two hours a day – I don’t. But it does mean making time daily to put some serious effort into writing. This summer I decided to spend about 30-60 minutes a day writing. Some days it might be more, some days it may be less, but it is always on a regular basis. During the school year, I figured I could carve out 15-20 minutes a day to write for my blog. That equaled about a post every week to every two weeks.
And to be quite honest, writing on this blog is not just a hobby I pursue because I’ve got some extra time to fling around. I blog because I think it is a good use of my time. So for me, it is not a matter of finding time to write as much as it is making time to write. If I ever sense that it is no longer a good use of time, I will stop blogging. I don’t intend to stop writing – Lord willing, I will be able to pursue writing for the rest of my life – but it may move to a different venue.
Derek
Thanks for your insights.