Somewhere on the internet, I came across the question, how has blogging changed you?

My first reaction was surprise. I started blogging over twenty years ago and I never expected it to change me. However, as I thought about it, I realized it had. Blogging has exposed me to a far greater range of theological perspectives than I could have ever experienced in my day-to-day life. I’m part of a Christian denomination where most people believe exactly what I believe. However, through blogging, I have met Christians from other traditions who don’t necessarily agree with my theological perspective. I’ve had people respectfully disagree with me and engage in explaining why they believe what they believe. This surprised me too. I often find in my daily life, if people disagree with my views, they smile politely and change the subject. Rarely will people engage with me in a discussion if they know our views will differ. I have wondered why this is so? People tend to see me as a quiet and gentle person, so I’m not sure if they think they will upset me if they disagree or if they just avoid conflict.

I love the freedom the blogging world provides for people to say what they believe and not say what they think I want to hear, which can sometimes happen in churches. They aren’t being deliberately controversial, but honest. Consequently, I’ve had some of my beliefs challenged and I’ve even changed my mind about some things. Other beliefs I have had to question whether I believe them because they really are in the Bible or because they’re merely church traditions. This process has enriched and deepened my faith because now I better understand why I believe what I believe.

Overall, blogging has made me more open to the myriad of different ways God works in a person’s life. I have learnt time and time again not to put God in a box of my own understanding.

So thank you to those bloggers for widening my understanding, deepening my appreciation of God’s ways, and for your willingness to engage honestly.