We are not in Kansas anymore Toto. I’ve never seen the Wizard of Oz and am glad for it since I don’t care for musicals or their highbrow equivalent (opera). But readers, friends, and enemies may conclude otherwise about my musical-unfriendly demeanor.
I am not sure what this phrase means but it seems to connote a change in circumstances that are difficult if not impossible to recover. In which case, it does seem to capture the new ways available for personal communication on the interweb. I am not on Facebook, again gladly, so I cannot begin to grasp the kind of intimacies and private circumstances that surface in that cauldron of networks. But when someone apologizes in a blog post, I believe it is safe to conclude that we have achieved a whole new environment of Matthew 18.
Tim Bayly has posted one apology for comments about a book review, and has followed up with another. This is actually the first time I have read his first apology. I only go to Baylyblog intermittently (now that I have Stellman and Cross to keep tabs on), a factor that suggests the inadequacy of social media for communicating messages of a personal nature. The second apology is just out.
I accept Tim’s apology and hope for better things.
Old Life 
Well, that’s nice and all, but I’m not crazy about his tagging the second one “Repentance.” Only time can prove that.
“Tags: Repentance”
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A most welcome turn of events.
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Andrew, you’ve watched Wizard of Oz too many times.
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Darryl, maybe. But seeing as you tagged this “forensics,” rememeber, my church tells me I’m forensically justified. I let this freedom get to my head at times. So there (emoticon).
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“or their highbrow equivalent (opera).”
Though David defeated the Philistines, they continue among us (emoticon)!
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Alan, I hear you.
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Truth be told, this is an issue that divides our family. While we all love music of various genres, including orchestral, my oldest son, whom you met, is also no fan of opera or AMT. He is, however, a devoted baseball fan (his first love among many other sports that he loves): I think that’s one upon which we can all agree!
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I see no apology at their site.
This morning in Sunday school we were talking about 1 Peter 4.12-16:
Suffering as a Christian
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.
What does Peter mean by “meddler” and why is that linked with being a murderer, thief, or evildoer?
Our teacher suggested that in the time that Peter was writing a meddler was one who forcefully tried to make non-Christians conform to Christian standards, something that was of concern to the Roman authorities because it was disruptive to society.
Now look a 1 Peter 3. 13-17:
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
I fear that any apology that the Baylys make will be Sowers-esque, in that they are so wrapped up in their overly-aggressive, insulting, bullying, censoring, culture-warrior mentality that the next insult can only be a few days away. Guys like them, Bret McAtee, and Doug Wilson (to a lesser extent) thrive on ginning up outrage, using inflammatory rhetoric, and frankly just drawing attention to themselves. There is little gentleness or respect – just an “us” vs. “them” mentality, complete with “sodomite” language and all of the chest thumping that goes along with it. It’s just tiresome at this point.
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Erik, I don’t let my smartphone wander into chatrooms like theirs, so for me, it’s ofbno consequence. I let Darryl do the heavy lifting around here.
By the way, good Sunday school at your church. Good comment, you can never get enough of the good stuff (scripture, I mean), so thanks as always for sharing, bro. Later.
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Andrew,
Thanks,
We had 2 young guys at worship and Sunday School this morning. One is a freshman in college and one is a senior in high school. They live about 40 minutes away. I asked the older one what brought him to our church and he said, “I haven’t been to church in a year and I’ve figured out that this is what I believe.” He found our church online while searching for Reformed churches. Hopefully they keep coming. Our pastor would be a great guy for them to learn from.
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Erik, delighted to hear. We press on with confidence, my friend. Take care.
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Erik: That’s the thing about DGH. He’s so winsome. He never says anything inflammatory to draw attention to himself. Neither aggression nor insults from him. No sir.
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Erik,
I don’t think TimBee has really apologized. I think he simply wanted me to take the post down. More to come.
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Wholesome,
One big difference – Hart allows people to disagree with him without censorship. Try disagreeing with the Bullies, I mean Baylys, on their site. You have a better chance of disagreeing with Kim Jong-un in North Korea and living to tell about it.
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I’m not holding my breath for the apology they owe me.
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RGM, I hear you. Keep breathing.
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