If you had told me a few months ago that I would be “blogging,” I would have smiled, and advised you to lie down for a while, since I could not have imagined why I would. I doubt anyone is interested in my vacation itinerary, sports opinions, or chili recipe.
But when the Corona Virus struck, I was out of the country, and barely made it back to the US before the flights were all canceled. Walking through the ghostly airports of Brussels and Montreal helped me know that we were experiencing something new and bizarre.
Naively, I thought this “crisis” would last a few weeks, maybe two months, and then things would get back to normal. I had greatly underestimated the power of fear, government overreach, and the sway of media. So here we are, nearly three months and counting.
That’s how and when it began, but what’s it about?
First, the point of view of The Blue Box is clearly Christian. Jesus, and all He came to reveal about God, underlie everything. His death, burial, and resurrection for sinners fulfilled the Old Testament Scriptures and demonstrated God’s love and righteousness. That is crucial because it is in this way and this way only we find forgiveness and can forgive others. And forgiveness is what enables relationships.
Second, the ultimate source of Truth is the Bible. So, what you read in TBB has value only to the extent that it aligns with Scripture. Be a Berean (Acts 17:11) and see for yourself. While there is such a thing as truth with a capital T, we do not have insight with a capital I.
Third, our goal is to interpret what is happening or what is being said through the grid of Scripture and a Christian world-view. We don’t champion a political party, but instead, try to compare our times to patterns found in the pages of Scripture. People are people, and human inconsistency is everywhere, so we try to avoid hero worship.
Finally, it is part of an all-too-easily accessed online world. If the medium is the message, surely part of the messaging is the increased power of words to edify or destroy. Scrolls and paper books have been published, then lost, but words online are nearly impossible to erase. When you hit “send,” there is no going back, and you have no control over where your words land, for better or worse. It’s James 3 on steroids, and should prompt fear and trembling, not swagger.
So while the Internet holds great promise for sharing ideas, it calls for greater vigilance. Our words should not be weapons to harm, but goads to help us think (Ecclesiastes 12:11). There is a big difference between a sword gash and a pin prick.
In the end, The Blue Box is just an attempt to walk with our church family through a strange time warp. Feel free to share if others find it helpful, but please correct any errors you find before sending it. Heaven promises perfection, blogs not so much.
While this is not a directly responsive, interactive blog, we welcome any comments and criticism you may have. Just hit “reply,” and reply.
I can do no better than leave you with this word picture from Solomon:
“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
Proverbs 25:11