Just venting…

Last time I posted here, I wasn't sure what I wanted to share.

Unfortunately, tonight I am.

Why unfortunately?

Like most of you, I spend a great deal of my online time perusing other gospel music sites and blogs.

It was during my perusal of a couple of them(well, one in particular)that I began to feel sad about the quality of discussion in general on these sites.

I'm not sad about the comments I get here, primarily because almost all of them come from thoughtful, insightful people who express themselves in the tone of this little corner of the internet, and contribute to my understanding and that of the readers who come by here.

I'm grateful for that, and to all to whom the above applies, take a bow.

But today, I noticed that in one thread, the subject of royalties in gospel music was introduced, and almost immediately devolved into a discussion of homosexuality in the gospel music business, and(naturally)into yet another set of tired diatribes about Kirk Talley.

In the past three or four years, what really new, insightful, or helpful insights have been introduced in such discussions? The answer: Zero. None. Nothing.

Yet some feel compelled(as if on a crusade)to keep the subject alive, and continually respond to each other in vain attempts to convince those who disagree with them the errors of their ways.

Don't resume it here, please! There comes a time when enough is enough, and we need to spend the seemingly endless energy we expend in those pointless discussions on more relevant, pertinent things...like living productive, useful lives!

If that would occur during what's left of my lifetime, I will be most grateful.

Then, I noticed in that same corner of the web, a new discussion that started innocently enough...with a question about former members of bygone gospel quartets and their whereabouts.

From there, it went to posts about prominent successors to those quartets, and their relationships to each other, as if that were any concern to any of us.

Also, there was a sub-discussion of the nature of subterfuge that quartets performed on each other back "in the day".

Look, I understand that being fans, we all want to know as much as we can about our favorite singers. I'm like that, too. But to go from there into presumptions about what they did and why they did it without really knowing them or how they really think and feel is a bit disingenuous, to say the least.

Why do we concern ourselves so with how people we don't even know live their lives? When we get that way, we're not that far removed from people in grocery store lines who eagerly leaf through the latest tabloids(which are ALWAYS there), and try to sneak them into our purchases without anyone else knowing.

And in this case, it's not just people I noticed...some of those who commented are people I'm familiar with, and respect a great deal for their opinions and insight.

It just gets me down a little bit...I know we can do better. The question I need to ask myself is, what can I do here to make it better? Well, for openers, I can stop contributing to those discussions myself(I'm guilty as well).

Then, I can post more fruitful areas of discussion myself.

But for now, I'm in a very temporary state of mourning for the level of discussion on gospel music sites.

This will not last long...I just saw a question my friend Daniel Mount introduced on his fine blog that I can comment on...he's always been a balm and inspiration for topics to me.

That's coming next...stay tuned.

Page 1 of 1 pages

Reader Comments

   Daniel J. Mount ~ 08/19/2008

Wow! Surprise ending (for me). Thanks!

---

   (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) ~ 08/20/2008

I couldn't agree with you more. We all need to live by the old adage, "if you can't say something good about someone then don't say anything at all".

---

   (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) ~ 08/20/2008

Another good way of looking at it is, if you wouldn't say it to their face, just don't say it on the internet.

Deon Unthank
SoGospelNews.com
My Blog

Some people are like Slinkys…  Not really good for anything, but they
still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs -  Author Unknown

---

   (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) ~ 08/21/2008

Inevitably when I dwell on the sins of another I begin to feel the heat of guilt over my own transgressions. The advantage that I have over some people is that my sins haven't become public. But there's coming a time when nothing shall be hidden and our works will be tried by fire and we will be judged by the Righteous Judge, who has the true and holy perspective on good and evil. God help us all when we stand before him. The only hope any of us have is the covering and washing of the blood of our Savior who has made us acceptable unto God.

All the shame and reproach of our multiplied iniquities is buried with Him and while we are still flawed humans the Father only sees us through the purity of the blood of His only Son.

I would rather be found guilty of too much forgiveness than too much condemnation. So I try to be careful of my criticism of a brother's failures knowing that, God forbid, if I should ever be found guilty of similar offenses I would hope with all of my heart that my brothers and sisters would extend the hand of support, fellowship and understanding that I would so desperately need.

---

Page 1 of 1 Comment Pages

Add Comments

Name:

Email:

Location:

URL:

Please enter the word you see in the image below:

* Note: Members of Southern Gospel News.com who are logged in do not have to fill in the above information each time they post

By posting you agree to our Comments Policy

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?