I really enjoyed your post on debate. It, in light of my most recent post, made me consider the value that anonymity can have in debates. Do you think anon accounts can be profitable in the sense that they provide a venue for debate that raises the ideas and lowers the personal aspects? TheFakeEvans
Thank you so much, I am so happy you enjoyed my article! Great Question! I actually plan on writing an article dealing with this next week!
As we consider the nature of being a Christian Anon and the dynamics of public debate I think it is very helpful to remember that for the Christian worldview, Anonymity is something that must look different than in the world. Part of the mission of every Christian is to be not only to be salt to the world but LIGHT as well. Jesus makes clear in Matthew 5:14-16 that light should and cannot be hidden but should be presented to the world. Here is how it applies to Christian debate, "Christians cannot separate their character from truth." I can't tell you how many times I have heard Bill Clinton heralded as one of Histories greatest leaders. However, If you ever bring up his public adultery, the world will quickly remind you that it has nothing 2 do with the man's credibility as a leader. he is just one example but the world makes a clear separation of character and credibility. The Christian, as light, recognizes that "their light is what undergirds the credibility of their truth." Being an Anon can potentially, but doesn't have to, separate the two like the world does. The temptation behind being Anonymous is 2 think that your character, who U are, does not have any role in the credibility of your opinion. I have read many Anon tweets & engagements with others in which the "Law of Christ (Law of Love)" is almost completely non-existent. People hide behind Anons as oppose 2 recognizing that being an Anon calls for even more greater expressions of Christ-likeness because you can't be seen. To answer the first part of your question, in a sense, a "lowering" of personal responsibility being an Anon is not a strength but a great weakness to being an Anon. Christians Are to stand and be willing to even Die for truth. If we ever feel that we must hide our identities in order 2 say it, we have already compromised too much.
On the other hand, There are great benefits to being an Anon. Can I be honest with you? As a minority Theologian, many times people automatically assume that I am a second rate theologian. Reformed? Minority? "Yeah he is probably knew to the realm of intellectual theology." After establishing a base now on Twitter through my articles, I'm more confident now that people would embrace my alter-ego as a Theologian than they would without this platform. I have been able to demonstrate God's gifting to people without the stumbling block of my ethnicity. Anon women are able to demonstrate their gifting w/o the stumbling block of being a female in a complementation demographic. Creativity, humor, and a cool cape has given me a platform to speak to God's people in a way that my alter-ego could not. Being an Anon makes debate easier but also makes it easier 2 separate our personal light from our credibility of opinion. If i was a neglectful husband, bad father, lazy churchmen, would U want 2 listen to me?
As we consider the nature of being a Christian Anon and the dynamics of public debate I think it is very helpful to remember that for the Christian worldview, Anonymity is something that must look different than in the world. Part of the mission of every Christian is to be not only to be salt to the world but LIGHT as well. Jesus makes clear in Matthew 5:14-16 that light should and cannot be hidden but should be presented to the world. Here is how it applies to Christian debate, "Christians cannot separate their character from truth." I can't tell you how many times I have heard Bill Clinton heralded as one of Histories greatest leaders. However, If you ever bring up his public adultery, the world will quickly remind you that it has nothing 2 do with the man's credibility as a leader. he is just one example but the world makes a clear separation of character and credibility. The Christian, as light, recognizes that "their light is what undergirds the credibility of their truth." Being an Anon can potentially, but doesn't have to, separate the two like the world does. The temptation behind being Anonymous is 2 think that your character, who U are, does not have any role in the credibility of your opinion. I have read many Anon tweets & engagements with others in which the "Law of Christ (Law of Love)" is almost completely non-existent. People hide behind Anons as oppose 2 recognizing that being an Anon calls for even more greater expressions of Christ-likeness because you can't be seen. To answer the first part of your question, in a sense, a "lowering" of personal responsibility being an Anon is not a strength but a great weakness to being an Anon. Christians Are to stand and be willing to even Die for truth. If we ever feel that we must hide our identities in order 2 say it, we have already compromised too much.
On the other hand, There are great benefits to being an Anon. Can I be honest with you? As a minority Theologian, many times people automatically assume that I am a second rate theologian. Reformed? Minority? "Yeah he is probably knew to the realm of intellectual theology." After establishing a base now on Twitter through my articles, I'm more confident now that people would embrace my alter-ego as a Theologian than they would without this platform. I have been able to demonstrate God's gifting to people without the stumbling block of my ethnicity. Anon women are able to demonstrate their gifting w/o the stumbling block of being a female in a complementation demographic. Creativity, humor, and a cool cape has given me a platform to speak to God's people in a way that my alter-ego could not. Being an Anon makes debate easier but also makes it easier 2 separate our personal light from our credibility of opinion. If i was a neglectful husband, bad father, lazy churchmen, would U want 2 listen to me?