I Struck a Nerve

I write a lot of posts that don’t get a reaction.

That’s part of the process of becoming a better communicator. I will write/say a lot of junk in the process of communicating something of value.

So when I put something out there and gets a reaction I take notice and try to learn from it. The goal has never been to drive traffic or be outlandish, but when something seems to register I try to understand why.

For the last year or so I have been sending out a monthly email to subscribes. It is the first place I share resources, any news, and try to pass on quality original content.

It is an interesting tool because I can see how people interact with the email and, of particular interest in this instance, if they unsubscribe.

There are always a few unsubscribers each time I send something out. I’m all for cleaning up the clutter in the inbox, but I saw a spike in unsubscribers with this one. Maybe it was the tipping point of enough junk that caused people to give up.

I’d probably go with that answer if I didn’t see a spike in positive reactions as well.

So maybe you could help me understand what happened. After reading it below if you would unsubscribe (or did) tell me why, and for those that love it, I’d appreciate your comments as well.

Here’s what I sent out:

A split is coming.

We all know that American society have increasingly become more partisan.

Don’t believe me? Put something partisan on your Facebook page and see what happens. It may be positive, it may be negative, it may be both; but you will get a reaction.

Notice that I am saying partisan, not political. The Gospel is inherently political, there are implications all through the Bible that we all have to reconcile. However my fear is that the coming split will be between those that embrace partisanship and those that reject it.

There are strong pressures within Evangelicalism. The generation before helped form the Moral Majority and became a strong voting bloc that helped elect countless politicians. Agendas were advanced and casuses were championed. While the generation that is just coming into its own is leaving the local church and holds starkly differing views on political issues, than the generation of the Moral Majority.

At the national level you have, what I believe to be, a fracturing Republican party with members challenged in the primaries by those farther to the right and moderates going extinct. The left is building a wider coalition, but without balance will only move farther to the left. Creating a partisan system of extremes that looks to score points and co-opt any institution that can further their cause.

Including the church.

I shared my thoughts on Giglio here. It was a hatchet job pulling a sermon from last century that was as mainstream as it gets, but this isn’t McCarthyism.

The gun debate is the definition of polarizing, and I’ve been a little shocked at the misguided passion on either side.

It is easy to become partisan, tempting even. You join a side that you intellectually agree with and/or believe in. It classifies things for you in a clean, neat sort of way.

But you are being used.

Used to advance a message that is secondary to the message of the Gospel.

Have opinons. Vote. Preach the political messages of Scripture.

Do all that, but don’t let yourself or your message be reduced to a partisan soundbite or agenda. When you do you are compromising.

Our task is too important and our audience is too distracted for us to waste any of the few opportunities we have.

Keep Going,
Josh

If you like it I would love to have you on the list, and if you hated it tell me why in the comments.