Why Write the Same Thing Over and Over…: Kevin H

…and over and over and over and…

It is often alleged that I am repetitive in my writings. To such allegations, I plead guilty.  The evidence here and on Facebook is manifest and for me to contend otherwise would be quite disingenuous.

The question then is, why do I do this, because isn’t doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results the definition of insanity?  Because when we look at the landscape of Evangelical Christianity in our country, one can certainly argue that I’m not at all getting the different results I so desire.  All the more, it would be insane for me to expect that my one little voice could have any impact of significance on the landscape, in the first place.

To answer this question, I start first by asking another question:  Is it wrongheaded for one to keep preaching the Gospel over and over, even in circumstances where it appears to be having no effect?  Maybe one should try to find different ways or strategies to present the Gospel in a fashion that may be more understandable or effective in reaching the ears of their intended audience.  However, I don’t think we would ever fault the Gospel preacher for continuing to preach the Gospel (outside of, of course, them becoming disrespectful or obnoxious in their approach).  Surely, what I am doing is not a direct preaching of the Gospel, but I believe that there are enough overlaps and parallels, that the principle of faithfully preaching stands.

I have many times taken pains to clearly claim nothing close to an equivalency of status, and I do so again, but I do once more point out the many times that the prophets in the Old Testament were vilified by God’s own People for their (likely oft repeated) message to repent and turn from sin.  Jesus, Himself, even proclaims Jerusalem as the city and people who killed their own prophets.  Despite this vilification and even death, nowhere in the Bible do we see it said or even intimated that it would have been better if the prophets had cut back on their message.

Secondly, I have found that voicing myself in these ways has actually led to encouraging other Christians.  Sometimes they are those who share similar concerns as myself and they are heartened to see someone speaking to the issues.  Other times I have found, on an even deeper level, that there are those who are heartened to see me consistently speaking about these things because they have personally struggled with or have even been harmed by them and they are joyed to see someone standing up against the evil.

Thirdly, I have found that persistently speaking about such things has given me opportunities to share the Gospel, both to those who seemingly do not profess a Christian faith and to those who are uncertain of and/or struggling in their faith.  Sometimes there is an overlap with the previous group who are encouraged, but I have had multiple opportunities over the years to share the Gospel with those who have reached out and thanked me for writing the things I have written and taken the stands I have taken, and have said that they find me different from many other Christians they know.

Fourthly, and lastly as I have thought through this, I have come to see that my writings are also an exhortation to those many Christians who may not much participate in the behaviors I denounce, but who also sit idly by to keep the peace, or to maintain their comfort zone, or in willful ignorance to recognize just how prevalent and harmful the behaviors are of many Christians around them.  I am not saying that everybody needs to speak out in the same manner or to the same level that I do, but I also believe that the state of conservative Christianity in this country would be far healthier if so many Christians didn’t just accept or turn a blind eye to so much wrong that is being committed by their fellow believers all around them.  Oftentimes, such people require a considerable amount of prodding in order to move off their neutrality and complacency.

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless.  Not to speak is to speak.  Not to act is to act.” – often attributed to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, but seemingly of unknown origin

And yes, my own biases, inclinations, and habits most assuredly contribute to my repetitiveness, and such factors cannot just be dismissed.  However, please know that the reasons for my tedious repetition go far beyond that….. reasons, to the best that I can tell, are of God.

Hence, until Michael or myself believe the Lord to be leading me away from consistently writing about such things or the posting of them here at this blog, some manner of repetition will probably continue to be seen.  More importantly now here in the meantime, may we be there for Michael as he endures a very tough situation in life.