Is Vox too Christian?
I have a fear we’re being too Christian here at Vox..and that’s in a bad way. I realize that some might be ready to get violent here, but hear me out and then feel free to lay into me…I might be wrong, but I might be right…or something else…
I realized that coming here and reading posts is, for me, a lot like church. Actually could BE church; I can easily come and read post after post and spend several hours here reading. There is some really great stuff being published here, by some really insightful and intellegent people (much more than me).
But are we being too Christian, doing the Christian “thang” here. By that I mean this:
You’re probably like me and want to see people come to Jesus; you want to reach out, share and bring the gospel in new, relevant ways; you want to go out and meet people where the church hasn’t; you want peoples’ lives to be transformed.
Here’s what I realized today: I’m attending a pretty traditional church plant (less than a year old) and we’ve got a couple of guys coming who are serving and helping in great ways. One is our sound guy, he’s there every week helping to set up, do sound…he came to our evening Christmas service, he came to our New Year’s service (after being up ’til 5am)…all with a smile and cool attitude. The other guy is playing drums now and is just a great guy.
Neither are Christians, and they take smoke breaks between sets (rarely see anyone hang with them while smoking…) and they are there at “church” every week.
So here’s my point, niether of them would come to Vox…or at least I don’t think they would…it’s too Christian here…I know we’re the “beta” team, I know we’re practicing, I know we care…but can we do better by working to make this a place where those who don’t know Jesus will want to come here and find him and not be preached at (like at most our churches each week)…?
I know we want to, I know we can…and I’m not talking about sugar coating anything or being “underground” followers of Christ…but different, this place should be different.
Not another place that feels like a Christian club.
Am I wrong? Set me straight…
Peace.
February 12th, 2006 at 9:34 pm
hmmmmmm…I’m thinking…
I will say i don’t think it is everyone’s intention here to make it Christiany…it certainly isn’t my intention…but I see what you are saying too. I think right now it is hard to see what Vox is truly about when you can only see what a few people at a time are talking about on the main page.
If you started following bunny trails you would see people talking about work, and kids, and music, and art, and sure church. But you see that everywhere, xanga, myspace, blogger. It is just hard to see that when the top ten are the only ones showing.
So…still thinking…no answers really.
February 12th, 2006 at 11:47 pm
each individual blog is able to determine it’s own tone and address it’s own intended audience. it’s kind of like asking is xanga too christian? well it depends on where you enter. compare your xanga links to your vox links. is one set more Christian than the other? Compare you Vox posts to your own xanga posts. Is one more Christian than the other.
I would understand Vox as a small but growing cloud of luminous gasses in a huge blog universe. This blog universe contains millions of voices and our small civilization and it’s voices are being released into it from the edge of the galaxy.
I suspect that 200 hundred Christ following voices will barely be able to keep up with the growing VOX population much less with the population of the entire bloguniverse.
Maybe we should ask this: is my own blog too narrow in focus to interest anyone except other christians? I’d rather ask this: is my blog honest? Is it about stuff i really care about? Is my writing and thinking so narrow that only Christians would be interested? A lot of blogs [whether Vox, xanga, blogger, etc] by Christians are only of interest to other Christians.
Good news. I saw the first Vox blog today that had nothing to do with church or faith. Soon the vox popluation of 200 will become 2000 and eventually 20,000. By then our 200 Christ following blogs will seem like a drop in the bucket even within Vox much less in the larger world of blogs.
So scream. It’s silent out there.
February 13th, 2006 at 2:43 am
I’ve had similar questions and thoughts, Eric. It’s good that you’ve raised them. I agree with what Alex has expressed above though and know that as Vox takes off, the Christian majority/dominance will fade as more and more voices get added. Alex’s questions are good. It’s not about telling people to stop blogging about what they are passionate about (Christian related or not), but it is about encouraging people to feel free to be and to express themselves authentically. Stretching people to think beyond writing and expressing themselves in ways that would be only relevant to Christians is important too. Perhaps the way forward though is for people like ourselves to do/model this. What would my collegue at work think if they found and read my blog? That’s a question I know I need to consistently bear in mind. I have a long way to go, but I do want to be genuinely able to point anyone I meet - Christian or non-Christian - to my blog.
February 13th, 2006 at 5:51 am
Thanks for the comments. This is sort of catharsis for me, just by asking the question.
I think, as Alex says, there is more happening here than meets the eye, and there is an interesting sub-text as we grow and develop. As I wrote this post I started remembering my previous reading Deana, and the stories I read about family and such, too true.
Alex, good questions: honesty, focus, scope…
Sam, I’ve often wondered the same thing; and feel very much the same way. Even told folks at work about the blog, but never the address, and I feel really silly about that on one hand, but then think about “revealing” myself too much on the other…sort of “old school.” I’m working on that too. I know some friends and family have found it by reading to the bottom of my email. But maybe I should put that address on the top from now on…?
I want to stretch and encourage others to do so as well. And I think it’s important we don’t get too comfortable out here on the edge of the universe.
So, I’ screaming.
February 13th, 2006 at 10:33 am
Eric,
Good post and you’re raising some important issues, I think. I would say that part of the church/faith/christianity bias has a lot to do with who’s here right now. Lots of church leaders who spend an awful lot of time thinking about and then writing about the church, their role in it, and its role in the world.
I think, as Alex said, that we’re going to grow up as we help push this thing further. The stretching of the borders is going to come from us being willing to write honestly and from positions of vulnerability - and then inviting others in to see what we’ve written.
Also, I might say that people might not be as hesitant to come into something like this as you think. I suspect we can write about church and christianity in a way that’s compelling enough and provocative enough to be attractive, even to those who aren’t churched or familiar with all the lingo. We can strip it of all the unnecessary layers, and find something underneath all those layers that is worth communicating. That’s what I believe, anyway.
Keith
February 13th, 2006 at 11:22 am
Having come to Vox through a comment on Lu’s Blog, and knowing that it’s a Mosaic-sparked project, I assumed the residents would be followers of Jesus. I don’t know how wide-spread the net is for bringing in new residents, but given the fact that 160 people have joined since I did, I’d say you’ll get your wish for diversity. I think that’s a good thing.
We do need, though, a better community directory. When the list of residents was only 60 lines it wasn’t too hard to find a voice I’d heard once. Now… it’s nearly impossible. We need a “Community Page,” which would list all residents by a choice of Blog name or user name. A searchable database would be even better, but most modern Web browsers have a “Find on this page” feature that would stand in.
I have some ideas of what a “City of Voices” could be. A small Blog community has grown up on Blogger since Lu started hers there. People will find a way to make community in any format.
February 13th, 2006 at 11:59 am
The proof of the pudding will be when the next generation of features roles out. Right now, Voxtropolis doesn’t offer a lot of new features that would attract people here over places like Blogger or Xanga. I look forward to seeing planned innovations and increasing Web 2.0 tie-ins that will make this a place for any kind of people, not just people with relationships to me or my network of acquaintances. That’s more the issue than what faith we are to me.
February 13th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
Larry, good idea about “community page” i’ll bring it up at the next meeting. that would be an excellent resource. oh, Voxtropolis is not a mosaic project. though obviously there are mosaic people who’ve started blogs here because we’re all friends.
Parke, our primary audience is not bloggers who have xanga and blogger, but those who do not yet have a blog. as people come of age or as people finally decide to try one and join vox, they won’t be missing the features on another blog. of course, there are lots of people who are flipping over from other blogs to this community too. about new features…there are three Vox innovations that we’ll roll out as we move towards our public launch in january 2007 that i think will rock. we’ll see.
feeling our way forward as the say.
February 13th, 2006 at 2:59 pm
I guess what I’m trying to say is that new bloggers will either choose to go to where their friends are at Vox or at Xanga or at Blogger. Our friendship is a key part of the connection, but interesting features and ease of use will be important to reducing the learning curve and increasing the wow factors that keep a person blogging faithfully in part.
February 13th, 2006 at 3:18 pm
Good thoughts Eric… Alex… i’d love to hear more about these new vox innovations… and here i was thinking voxtropolis was cool already…
February 13th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Hey man… this voxtropolis community seems great, haven’t looked around much yet at others so i can’t really speak to your question specifically as it pertains to voxtropolis. I will say, however, that I ask the same question about my own “church plant”… is it too churchy? Are we going to end up preaching to the choir and simpling floating aimlessly in space (or cyberspace)? What encourages me is that the spiritual current that draws us together, the very ways we impact each other through dialogue, openness to new ideas and concepts, and building community, are universally appealing and speak to something greater than image, style, rhetoric, the hipness factor, etc.
February 13th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Howdy…I’m new…which is to say, I signed up to for this Vox thing today. I do however keep a few other Blogs out there in the Blog Universe, and am lucky to have a lot of non-Christian readers….in fact, more non-Christians than Christians by far. I have found that the readers don’t really mind how “Christian” I am…they are far more concerned with how “real” I am. If you are implying that Vox is too Christian because the subject matter is about God, then yes…you might be wrong. If it is too Christian because people are afraid to say “shit” or admit that they drank a beer last night, then you might be right…so it could go either way.
I guess that I hope that Vox is the place where people can just show up and be real…that’s the way of the gospel. It meets you where you are..whether it’s a Bible or a Beer in your hand.
But like I said…I’m new…so feel free to disregard me as needed.
February 14th, 2006 at 2:45 am
Hi Eric,
Because you mention the fellas who play drums and help with sound, and yet smoke cigarettes and neither are Christians, I am wondering if you want to get people (and maybe yourself) away from playing the part of God in this (particularly verse 8):
John 16
The Holy Spirit Promised
5″But now (I)I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘(J)Where are You going?’
6″But because I have said these things to you, (K)sorrow has filled your heart.
7″But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the (L)Helper will not come to you; but if I go, (M)I will send Him to you.
8″And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…
This is something the Lord has been showing me lately in several ways. As you know, I come from a church where I did try to help God out in this area of His. Oh, how arrogant I was. I was a fool for thinking of taking on this Holy prerogative of His and His alone…to convict the world of sin. What a joke…I would be better to keep my day job…AMEN!
Anyways, just wondering, and glad to STILL be learning His ways…
Dashboard
February 14th, 2006 at 2:47 am
I meant to say VERSE 8. Not VERSE smiley-face. I’m not even sure what the heck I did…
February 14th, 2006 at 9:24 am
Thanks for all your thoughts…
Keith, you’re right, as I’m finding, really as I let go of some of my issues, people love to alk about Jesus and even Christianity (especially all that;s wrong with it!).
Wayward, I agree, I think blogging lends its self nicely to people being able to read and even repsond without too many hang ups around and issue. We’ve all seen the occasional occurance of something out of the ordinary…but even that is nice spice to the mix.
I agree its all about being real…others are writing about it and I beleive we’re all trying to head that direction.
“Dash” (can I call you that now…?) yep. But at the same time “being” love to them AND everyone else…”but the greatest of these is love.” BTW, when you going to get a Vox blog? Now you know how it links to the f-2-f world (from our convo last night)…you need to “be” here…click in the link on my home page to enter the “real”…@:^g
February 14th, 2006 at 9:29 am
Lon, Parke thanks for adding to the discussion.
Erik, you should join in here too..bring your blogger over and hang… There’s a balance there: a need to be a community, but also not to become exclusive…especially with the langauge we use…how can we bring our message of love, hope and faith in ways it attracks and inspires and fuels life in the souls of everyone?
February 14th, 2006 at 9:55 am
I think I get the question posed here, and I think it is legit. Somewhere Alex said it is more about the individual users and what they talk about. I agree.
Yes, there are lots of believers that are part of VOX. Yes, lots of believers live in and around the bubble and they use certain language that is only decipherable by those in the bubble. But, we all have things we need to work on - me included.
So, I try to sculpt a blog that anyone can check out and that it represents who I am - and I don’t have to apologize for that - at least today : ) JVD
February 14th, 2006 at 10:24 am
I would never be part of just another ‘Christian club.’ Actually, the thought of that makes my stomach churn. I honestly don’t believe that is what is in store here at VOX.
All the Christians out there just need to keep it real. Be transparent about who you really are. Share your life, your feelings, your thoughts, your struggles, your successes. Be fully human. Knowing Jesus doesn’t make you special. Jesus is special.
February 14th, 2006 at 10:34 pm
Hi Eric,
Yes sir! You may call me ‘Dash’. I don’t think I have the time for a blog yet. I don’t know…I just like to read them and drop in an answer if and when I think it might help the sitcheation, ya know? Maybe later…
I hear you on the ‘loving them’ issue and keeping it real. People want to see legitimate words and thoughts and can smell out the insincere and counterfeit:
Proverbs 16:13
Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth.
Proverbs 24
26 An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
And…of course, so does He:
Psalm 51
6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts…
Character STILL counts…Amen!
February 15th, 2006 at 9:36 am
My Concern…..A fear of being to Christian…..HMMM…..Where does this fear come from? Fear of Man? Or fear of God? We would rather watch those 2 men perish (the guys taking a smoke break) than to make fools of ourselves? (The Gospel is foolishness to those who don’t believe 1 Corin. 1:18) So is it God or Man we fear? I know the reason I don’t share the Gospel when I should, because I fear man more than God! Sharing our life experiences, does not save man, it’s the Gospel that has the power to save.
Romans 1:16 for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes
Hey I am as guilty as anyone for being ashamed of looking and sounding like a fool! May God forgive me.
February 15th, 2006 at 10:50 am
I have to agree with you Eric. As an outsider looking in, this place is a bit “Christiany.” As a matter of fact, when I first came here, I thought it was exculsively a christian blogsite. How crazy is that?!
you have every right to be concerned.
still reaching
-E
February 15th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
“share” - appreciate the insight…I’ve been thinking about this as well…how much why I do (or NOT) is driven by fear…
And I wonder if God wants us to fear Him in the same way we might fear man…I mean, God is all about love and mercy and grace (AND He’s jealous and rightous and a consuming fire…), but does he wants us to live a life in “fear,” lest I do the wrong thing or in caring; a fear of missing the opportunity to love or a fear to NOT be human at our deepest levels…if we’re to honor God with our lives then its not really fear, its about desiring to make the choices that honor Him and not looking to Him as a punisher of my un-godly acts…
this is a good topic/conversation for another post…thanks for raising the thread and stopping by.
Peace
February 15th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Emmett- so STOKED to see you come by…hopefully the comments above help to explain who/what Vox is right NOW, verses what it will BECOME in the future…(BETA verses public). Good question for Alex and the Vox crew: At what point is Vox more than BETA, at what point do we invite John Q. Public to come in…? Maybe its already happening…?
‘Course as I think I realize this is very much like church (I alluded to this before) and in a true sense we’re a community of 200+ people coming together to share and grow in Christ…and the only way others will join us (Christian or not) is through our lives and introductions and invitations…
So, I’ll be inviting others to join us, to celebrate life, and to search for the mystic…
Love ya