photo credit: mtsofanIn the Sunday service yesterday at church the preacher was teaching on the characteristics of a new believer in Christ.  Colossians 3:9-10 teaches us that we are to put off the old man and put on the new man – meaning that once we are saved we become a new person.  In Colassians 3:12:-25 the Bible gives us a list of virtues that a believer in Christ should strive for.

While the preacher was teaching on each of these virtues described in Colossians 3:12-25 it became apparent to me that each of these virtues could, and should be, incorporated in our blogs. The fist virtue I want to talk about is mercy and how we can incorporate mercy into our blogs.

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” Colossians 3:12

The verse above tells us that we are to put on “bowels of mercies”.  So, what is mercy?  God shows us mercy by forgiving our sins and not punishing us for them.  God withheld judgment from us.  Mercy is not receiving the judgment you deserve.  As a Christian we are not to judge others.  According to the Webster online dictionary mercy is:

1 a: compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power ; also : lenient or compassionate treatment <begged for mercy> b: imprisonment rather than death imposed as penalty for first-degree murder

2 a: a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion b: a fortunate circumstance <it was a mercy they found her before she froze>

3: compassionate treatment of those in distress <works of mercy among the poor>

As a believer in Christ we are to show mercy to others.  We are not to judge others but to show compassion.  So how can we incorporate this into our blog?

1. Dealing with hateful and rude comments.
   Have you ever gotten some rude or down right hateful comments on your blog? I’m sure most of us has at some point in our blogging careers. It is a fact in the blogosphere that everyone is not going to agree with you and your opinions.  The real question here, though, is how do you deal with those comments?  Are you quick to judge the commenter based on just those typed words?  Instead of being judgmental next time you get a rude or hateful comment respond in a kind and loving fashion.  Let the commenter see the Jesus in you.
2. Be respectful to other bloggers.
   Did you often make assumptions about other bloggers?  I am guilty of this.  It is easy to assume that just because a blogger is getting invited to events, have obtained sponsorships, have a large large Twitter following, and great blog traffic, that they have the perfect life.   Or that they are stuck up and snobby.  Or that they are undeserving of such success.  None of those things are for us to decide.  Assuming things about a person is the same as judging them unfairly.  We should be respectful to fellow bloggers regardless of their success or lack of success.
   
3. Support other bloggers.
   Genuinely supporting other bloggers is often easier said then done.  Sometimes we think we have nothing to offer to help or we think we just don’t have the time.  Of course, another reason could be, “Why help them if it isn’t going to help me?”  Part of showing mercy is having compassion for others.  This includes helping when you are able to.  Many times we are only supportive because we get a reward for it, whether it be some link love, getting contacts, or just for kind words.  Part of showing mercy is to be compassionate.  By being compassionate we support and help others without looking for a reward.  We do it because it is the right thing to do and it is what Jesus would do.

Of course there are many additional ways we can incorporate mercy in our blogs.  By incorporating mercy in our blogs we are become the type of person God wants us to be and thus will also bring us closer to the Lord.

The next virtue I will be talking about is kindness, something the blogosphere definitely lacks at time and excels in at other times.