Anonymous preachers, prophets, blogs and posts
Have you ever spent a lot of time on a Christian blog or forum and when you go to find out something about the author, there’s nothing there? No way to get a hold of them, no clue as to who they are, no name except some generic “screen name”?
I spent much of the day today reading blogs that I guess you could say are “discernment ministries.” I was reading about things that are going on in the prophetic and revival movements, that quite honestly, I think are appalling. But that’s not what I want to talk about right now. I want to know why hardly anyone is using their real name? I’m tired of Christians who author blogs, and people who post to them, hiding behind some kind of anonymous title. What’s going on here? Why are you afraid to post your real name? Do you believe what you’re talking about? Then have the guts to sign your name to it!
Please don’t try to spiritualize it, and use the excuse that “it doesn’t matter what my name is, or who I am… all that matters is that I speak truth…” All I know is that God uses people with NAMES! Like Peter and Paul, Jeremiah and Stephen, John, Mark, and Timothy… All of them putting themselves out there to live and die by what they believed and spoke. I don’t have a bible filled with anonymous preachers and prophets. If you believe you speak for God then stand up and be counted, and ACCOUNTABLE.
I can understand why you want to take the easy way out, but what honor does that bring to the Lord? Elijah, fearing Jezebel’s retribution, was afraid and ran for his life after he’d spoken for God. (1 Kings 19:1) That doesn’t happen if you’re anonymous, does it? It’s much easier not to have to go through that! Too bad Stephen didn’t have the internet when he gave that speech to the Sanhedrin… He could have spared himself being stoned to death with a simple anonymous post! Of course, he was rewarded for his stand when he looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 6:8 – 7:7-59) He would have missed that by posting anonymously online. See, God wants people who will take a stand for Him. Hebrews 11 is the great “Hall of Faith”: I see Noah, and Abraham, David, and Rahab and many others, but I don’t see “anonymous”! God’s looking for those who will stand for Him and “love not their lives even unto death.”
I can understand wanting to be anonymous. When I began to advocate more “body ministry”, and the need for real “participation” of the body in church gatherings, (1 Corinthians 14:26), I knew some might not like what I was saying- they like the ways things are and see no reason to change. They may feel like I’m challenging “authority” by questioning the status quo, or possibly feel that what I’m saying will threaten their ministry positions. The decision to speak out on the things I believe could cost me friendships with people I love and respect. Whenever we take a stand for what we believe it can be costly. Being anonymous is all about loving our lives because we don’t want to deal with that cost. Why do you think so many write and post anonymously? Isn’t it that we’re afraid our pastor, a friend, our church–someone we respect and love–may not like what we have to say? We still want to say it, we just don’t want to own it! God showed me that I shouldn’t even bother saying it if I can’t own it; put your name on it and stand for something if you believe it!
The other thing signing your name does is make you accountable. Anyone can blast out a post if they know that no one will ever know who wrote it. You can spew anything! You can be utterly wrong and suffer nothing from your reckless words. You can be rude, obnoxious, and inconsiderate when anonymous, but that all changes once people know who you are. Sure you can still be a jerk; but you’re less likely to be, and you’re more likely to pay a price if you are.
A special word for “discernment ministries”…
I’m especially bothered by so called “discernment ministries” who blog anonymously:
You have a “discernment ministry” that specializes in calling out everyone else, on every issue, by name… but you’re afraid to post your own name? Get real!
If you’re speaking about people and calling them out by name, the least you can do is have the guts to use your own name and stand behind what you’re saying.
There is nothing spiritual or Christian in talking about others anonymously. I’ve just really come to a point where I take with a grain of salt any of these blogs that claim to tell the truth, blowing a spiritual whistle on others, while hiding behind spiritual sounding screen names. You have the audacity to make a public show of other Christians while keeping yourself so safe from scrutiny that no one even knows your name? And you want me to believe what you’re saying, and that God told you to say it? Sorry, my God doesn’t hide in a corner and neither does He call His servants to do so.
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