Criticism of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Role of Discernment Blogs: Part II

Finally, there remains an unexplored possibility to explain why there’s so much internet outrage expressed over so-called “discernment blogs” coming from Southern Baptists. Jason Allen hinted at it but did not develop it in his rebuke of Capstone Report. After demanding that the “anonymous blog” retract and apologize for its false report about him, Allen acknowledged the retraction as “a small, qualified victory in a larger struggle the SBC seems to be losing” (Note: as anyone can observe, Capstone Report is not anonymous).

Truth is, it may be that SBC leaders are exceedingly fearful that they are losing the ear of the internet consumer, especially the ear of evangelical Christians. Such a fear could very well explain why SBC leaders have become so vigorously vocal and, in some cases, unreasonably hysterical toward the so-called “discernment blogs.” Less than a decade ago,  established blogs by SBC leaders like Al Mohler set the SBC agenda and ruled the information network in SBC circles. But suppose now blogs like Pulpit & Pen, Capstone Report, and some others who are, by and large, critical of the SBC and its stated agenda, rule the internet traffic, perhaps even obtaining the lion’s share of SBC internet consumers.

If such a scenario is correct, one can understand why SBC leaders would be so fearful. But, is such a scenario correct?

Consider the following chart which shows the internet ranking of many of the most popular sites by Southern Baptists, sites recognized by SBC leaders as reputable sites, and sites that most SBC leaders would most probably view as “discernment blogs” about which they counsel us to avoid. Rankings are slippery and often different criteria will produce different rankings. However, Alexa, the site from which the chart was produced, remains among the most reputable. Rankings are based upon internet traffic over the last 30-90 days.

Conclusion

The bottom line is, cracking down on internet inaccuracies and falsehoods by arbitrarily creating an evil category of websites to avoid—i.e. “discernment blogs”—is a strategy that obviously has not worked in the past and is not working now. As the chart seems to suggest, those speaking loudest about the evils of “discernment blogs” are the very ones the least amount of readership. In essence, they are speaking to a very small constituency who’s already loyal to them and hardly ever read “discernment blogs” anyway.

In addition, on the one hand, publicly complaining about the “cancer” of these blogs that “make a living telling lies” and therefore it’s high time we expose them and “call them out,” while on the other hand, making vague references without ever naming the enemy one has identified is as absurd as it is humorous.

Finally, whether Jason Allen knew it or not, he actually demonstrated how to ultimately conquer falsehood, error, mistakes, misrepresentations, lies, innuendo, etc. Not by banning readers or websites any more than by banning movies or certain books. Only frustration driven by emotional reaction offers inadequate answers like these. Besides, SBC leaders just don’t have the internet traffic muscle to do it. They’re lagging way behind in overall readership, preaching to the choir, so to speak.

Instead, like Allen, show the goods. Post the proof. State the evidence. Then, let interested readers decide. In short, Jesus had the answer all along. Knowing the truth, you will be set you free (John 8:32). Most of us (hopefully) have enough sense to see through the flimsy claim based upon hearsay not hard evidence.

And for heaven’s sake, quit the perpetual virtue-signaling about how you don’t normally respond to “discernment blogs” because you never read them; but this time, for the sake of truth, you’re going to. How interesting. You never read them, but you’re now responding to those you insist you never read.

Note: some may wonder why I did not place my blog in the listing. Was I ashamed my score might be embarrassing? Simple. I’ve been virtually inactive as a blogger over the past three years. From Feb 2017 until today, I’ve posted a total of 20 times. Hence, it’s hardly a fair picture to include my rankings. Even so, for the record, my present Traffic Ranking USA is 92, 614 while globally it’s 642,668. I’m virtually neck-and-neck with SBC Voices–not bad since I’ve been sitting on the bench for a hefty spell. So no, I’m not embarrassed, but I am quite surprised! 

Part I is here.