If you were wondering what happened, if you were ‘friends’ with me on FB, or followed me on Twitter; I deactivated both accounts. Much of my networking on those platforms orients around contact with theological academics and that whole world. What I have found, in the main, is that contact with that world, and aspiration to be accepted in that world (at some level) has been tarnishing to my soul and Christian spirituality. There are many people in that realm who see themselves as gatekeepers to God, and it is sickening to me. God shows no partiality, but academics do; no matter what they say to the contrary. It is an industry of pure self-promotion, and on social media one where one’s chops take center-stage; mostly by letting the world know how you have risen through the ranks through publishing feats, and career leaps. I have found myself aspiring to these things too, in a world of self-promotion; and it has done serious damage to my walk with Jesus Christ.
As a result it is most prudent at this time for me to walk away from that whole complex. I don’t really want anything to do with Christian academia, at least the industrial side of it, and so it is best for me to walk away from it. I once aspired to get the PhD in theology, but for what ultimate purpose I don’t really know; except maybe to be accepted into a guild that has already damaged me more than I can even realize. Are there some quality people in that realm? Yes, I know some. But it’s the industry itself that retards spiritual maturation, almost by insidious design, that I must repudiate at this point. And so removing myself from FB and Twitter is the best thing I can do at the moment; since this is where I have contact with that world most.
I will always keep blogging. Ironically, I will keep reading academic theology, and posting on it. But I will only do so for purposes I ever started doing that in the first place: to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. I am uninterested though in the opinions of academics on my life; how much “I know,” or don’t etc. These are all things that don’t matter before God; but things that are tantamount in the Christian academic world. No thank you. I might start a new FB account down the road, one that has contacts with friends which isn’t shaped by the academic world; we’ll see. Pax
Refreshing writing and important thinking.
Thanks. Trevor
Trevor Faggotter 4 Berwick St. Clare, SA, 5453 M 0438259206
>
Bobby,
An insightful self-revelation that calls us all to evaluate why we do what we do via social media. Thank you for being so transparent on your blog. His peace is perfect.
Jeff Ferg
Chester Township
Ohio
Trevor, thank you.
Jeffery,
Thank you. Sometimes I might be too transparent, that might be my problem on social media and what some find off putting; particularly in the academic realm. But I know that I seeking acceptance by others in that field shapes that field in some significant ways; and I don’t think that is consistent with the Christian reality. Of course, this is part of the sinful condition, but to institutionalize it as a guild does not cohere well with the expectations of the Kingdom reality in my view.