Dane Ortlund has posted a really good application of 1 Timothy 6:4 for those of us with our own little soapboxes out here on the web:
. . . an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people . . . –1 Timothy 6:4b
Hard to imagine a text more relevant to the blogosphere.
In context, Paul is describing someone ‘puffed up with conceit’ who doesn’t promote ‘the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness’ (6:3-4a). And he says that this kind of person has a ‘craving for controversy.’ Interesting phrase. This person has a weird impulse within him that enjoys ‘quarrels about words’ (lit. ‘word-wars’). The result–’envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction.’
How well we know this in blogdom! Of course the internet and blogs did not create the problem. But they do exacerbate the problem, giving a disturbingly natural platform to act out what 1 Timothy 6 warns against.
He goes on to draw out 8 very useful and correct points of application from this passage. Whether you are a blogger or just like to discuss doctrine and theology with those around you, these are valuable points that all of us – maybe myself most of all – should heed.
