Being blacklisted.
written by Julie R. Neidlinger 18 comments link this postUPDATE (1/4/07): If you are looking for a Slice of Laodicea parody site:
- It's not me.
- Stop sending me preachy emails.
- Read this post.
- Thank you.
I am blacklisted at the Slice of Laodicea blog.
I just attempted an agreeable comment, if you can imagine, and got the following message:
Comment Submission ErrorPerhaps it my last post, regarding something I'd read on Slice that seemed a bit two-faced, was the final straw.
Your comment submission failed for the following reasons:
You are not allowed to post comments.
I'm not a true Christian, maybe, not enough points? I can't goose step high enough? Not willing to take someone else's word for it?
What was that about being a Berean?
And yet, I'm not a non-Christian either. It's good to get a taste of both worlds and understand what it's like to not get a word out despite having a word to get out.
Was it the disagreeing? The phrasing of my comments not quite in tune? Was it because I "attacked" Bublitz and Silva? Since they call-out other Christian leaders on a regular basis for inconsistencies, I cannot believe that would be a reason for blacklisting me.
I am actually quite disappointed in Slice and the authors there because I found them after a Worldview Weekend that meant a lot to me, via one of the WVW email updates. I eagerly read the books often talked about on Slice, from Bob DeWaay to Ray Yungen, learning a great deal and not at all disappointed in reading them.
But now I'm not Christian enough because I took the time to disagree with them. Or maybe I wasn't lady-like enough. Maybe there's no room in some Christian discussion for going after a bothersome point or question full bore, no room for brashness, no room for someone in a discussion who doesn't know all the polite code words, the right way to hold a tea cup...no room for a female Peter. I really don't know.
It is difficult for me to separate all the good I got from these bloggers, writers and book authors and not associate them with the not-so-good of being told, basically, that "you don't get to say anything here, anymore."
I sent the blog owner of Slice an email, not to bother, but to say goodbye and thank you and why at the same time. Here's a few excerpts:
I am sorry that you have seen fit to block me from posting at Slice.
[...]
I do not believe I have broken your comment policy or been out of line with my comments that question. However, it is your site and you are the judge of all that and I fully understand the right of a blog owner to edit comments as he or she sees fit. I do admit to being surprised at so quickly being denied access to Christian discussion because I know in my heart I was not trying to be argumentative. I can see and understand now that there is nothing for a person like me on Slice nor a chance to understand through questioning. I still have too many rough corners, perhaps.
I thank you for the valuable information I learned the past two months since I discovered your website [...]. I also appreciate the many book recommendations [...]. Perhaps that is part of what surprises and hurts: that I am now lumped with the "troublemakers" and the "apostates" or whatever it is I now am, that are discussed on the site. I admit to being confused as to what it takes to be good enough to be allowed to participate in discussion. Regardless, that's all water under the bridge.
I will no longer bother nor visit your site, nor keep you or similar sites on my blogroll since I can see I do not belong in that group.
I'm a bit ashamed of them and of me for not seeing that this was coming, to be honest, and glad I only spent three months reading everything on the site before I realized this great truth: follow not man (or woman). You'll only get burned.
Like I said in my email to the blog owner, I don't know what it takes to be "good enough" to post on such a blog as Slice and others, but I do know this: I don't have to be "good enough" to be saved by Jesus, and that's the main thing.
Out of all the confusing posts over the past months and the efforts to sort it all out - as regular readers are well aware I'm trying to do - I haven't a doubt there's a reason I've learned what I've learned both in reading books and blogs and then being rejected by some of the same sources I admired. Very good lessons in all of it; I'm just not sure, exactly, what the lessons mean.
This lesson I'm very sure of: I don't have to sort it all out. Sorting and ordering everything is not the point, though it's a hard pill to swallow. I see that it is better to have the unsettled feeling of knowing things aren't sorted rather than the comfort of never asking the questions. I don't have to understand everything because frankly, that's an impossibility. Anyone who indicates they know it all exactly no questions what-so-ever are exactly the man (or woman) you should not be following. Instead, I have to have faith that where I'm going, despite the confusing road signs along the way, is the right direction because the Map I'm using is the True Map, a map you gotta read every day. And that, I'm finding, is a very great lesson indeed. Even with such minor hurts as being blacklisted by a Christian web site.
Ah well. Another day. It's kind of funny and ironic in a way; Slice regularly posts on Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Church plan calling for the removal of people who don't fit his movement. I've just gotten a little taste of such removal from the pot; I've no desire to follow the black kettle, though.
I read a lot of blogs and books everyday. This was just one more road sign I'm passing by. I will not visit there again; I get the hint.
Is there a blog called Slice of Sardis anywhere?
| tag: slice of laodicea |
Labels: changed my mind, religion, slice of laodicea
Copyright (c) Julie R. Neidlinger 6/17/2006 10:00:00 PM
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18 Comments:
Dear Julie:
There are a LOT of Christians that treat others quite rudely because they're different. In fact, YOU are the exception rather than the rule in that regard. Non-believers are often scorned instead of welcomed and communicated with.
Distrust is what many Christians give to those that don't follow the same dictum.
YOU have been exceedingly understanding and welcoming. There is a whole stable of your fellows, however, that do your faith worlds of harm.
Sorry that the "God-fearers" over at that blog have become the God-detractors.
Welcome to my world.
By 
Nodak Jack, at
18/6/06 06:39
I have little use for those who only write about what they are against, even if I agree with them. They seem to fancy themselves to be the Dutch boy with his finger in the hole in the dyke, saving the church from certain destruction. It must be an awful burden to have God depending on them much.
It's too bad they don't spend more time "stimulat[ing] one another to love and good deeds."
By ThirstyDavid, at
18/6/06 08:33
Julie,
Sorry you got burned. That's sad. I linked over there a few times because of some things that Brandon (of badchristian.com) wrote about being blacklisted himself. I just wanted to see what was going on there.
As Thirstydavid said, it seemed to be mostly about the writers were against... I guess that's probably why Slice has the title it has. I found it uniquely uncompelling.
Blogs like yours are much better (and I'm not just blowing smoke). I like it here because your faith lives in the real world, and even allows for (re)formation.
I think you're wise to leave and look back... you might even shake a little dust off those feet as you go.
By Jim, at
18/6/06 10:07
Juls, I know this must have made you to feel rather sad and disappointed. It is like I always say, WE are our worst example. I know you will understand what I just said. In the big scheme of things this is so unimportant and in the end it is their loss not yours!!
By Jacqui, at
18/6/06 10:29
Well, I'm shocked and amazed... That they didn't blacklist you sooner, of course.
:-)
In all truth, I'm saddened to hear about your blacklist status. I'd be interested to hear of any response you get from SoL's management.
I always figured that there was some censorship of comments on there. In my own analysis, I attributed that to the need to control the comments lest every thread devolve into a flamewar (complete with Nazi references). Perhaps there's a bigger % of not-so-noble motives, eh?
Oh well, just spend the extra clicks reading my blog. Everyone wins that way.
[Fully expecting this comment to be trashed... especially after that shameless plug. *grin*]
By HeavyDluxe, at
18/6/06 14:25
I am sorry to hear about this, Julie.
By Oengus Moonbones, at
18/6/06 19:50
You know what? Thank you. I was feeling a bit bummed after the fact but I appreciate these comments, even if some sort of make me sad in their reality.
I confess I've "disinvited" (i.e. blacklisted) two people from this blog by not publishing their comments. One kept posting things like "this blog is boring" and "why do you write this dumb stuff" on every post. I told him to just go away if he hated it so much. The other was some guy from Italy who kept leaving marriage proposals that I never allowed to be published - it was just weird all around.
In the end, this was just a bummer moment but it's all fine now, shameless plugs and all. :-)
By Julie, at
18/6/06 20:04
Ah, the old Mickey Spillane counterargument: "'Shut up,' he explained." If I had Slice blogrolled, I would de-blogroll them for that.
You're doing right to stick to the Map.
By MichaelBates, at
18/6/06 22:28
I'm probabluy on my way to being blacklisted. I made the mistake of agreeing with a topic, but I only agreed to 90% of it. Then my intellect, discerment and integrity was questioned. Can you feel the love?
By 
, at
13/7/06 04:10
I know I'm commenting on the distant past (at least in blog terms), but I thought you'd be interested to see this article on TeamPyro.
By HeavyDluxe, at
17/8/06 08:15
SoL certainly is a piece of work! I used to read it just to see who they would bash next. It got me worked up thinking "who the hell do they think they are?!" so I stopped reading it. Most of my comments on their posts do not show up. They seem to think that only churches who follow specific protocol are effective and teach orthodox truth. ("Orthodox" so to speak, don't get them started about Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches and their various "evils"!)
By Rhonda, at
7/12/06 12:20
Wow I am sorry that happened to you. I love the Godly people on Slice and I appreciate that they keep the comments listed that only refer to the topic they are speaking about. I like that they rebuke the apostate members of the true church which is the body of Christ. See, now you have your own site in which you can bash them all day long and you can remove whatever comments that you wish. I've never had a chance to disagree with a comment on Slice because I only comment about what I have knowledge on and have done my research about. In these last days you can expect these kinds of things to happen (blacklisting) because of all the hate mail that is received by Ingrid from people who claim to be Christian yet spew hate and cursing in her direction. So I expect her to be guarded. Again I am sorry that you were blacklisted and I hope that no matter what you continue to keep your faith anchored in the Cross of Christ.
By , at
4/1/07 21:06
Alexandria, that's lovely and all, but I think you have mistaken the "battle" as being right doctrine against wrong doctrine when it more often is one of pride.
Now, you certainly signed off with a nice tone, but I don't think what I've said about the Slice would come close to being a "bash" when held up next to their daily dose, so I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say.
Part of my point here in the above post and the others I've written about Slice is this: I don't delete comments just because I don't like them. I must reiterate that the only comments I don't publish are those which are perverted or inappropriate on a personal level.
I don't think Ingrid or Ken or anyone blacklists based on hate mail because I have never sent hate mail. I was blacklisted for minor disagreement and perhaps other reasons I still do not understand. I was not vulgar or crude; read the comment I tried to leave. Read the email I sent to Ingrid regarding the entire matter.
I believe the blacklisting at Slice has less to do with the "last days" and more to do with power/control issues, as well as pride. Not every action taken by the Slice authors is holy and Christian-based; they are human and they are making judgements while doing things that are sinful. I don't blame them for being human and therefore, sinful. I do hold them accountable for being prideful and refusing to humble themselves.
I will continue to keep my faith anchored in Jesus Christ as I hope you do, too.
By Julie, at
4/1/07 21:30
I seem to be a recent Slice blockee too. Why? Well, 'kuz they took a tirade against one of their
"apostate" churches for using the same tactics that every fundy church I have ever known as used as well. This was about how the "bad" church was using ambush evangelism and bible notching over conversions, how many new members and baptisms in a week, etc.
I simply tried to point out that what they would consider "good" churches had done the same things, and all heck let loose. Sure proved their tolerance level!!!
Well, it was fun and I learned a lot about some issues I do agree with them about. I don't think I will miss them in the long run.
At least you got a message that you were blocked. I just get sent on to another website, no explanation.
Oh well. Their loss!!!
Ann Jones
By , at
6/1/07 12:24
okay, now you know that there are chunks of time where I don't read anything on line because real-life things are happening but I was muddling around some of those sites after both you and Gene referenced them. I was shocked at the meanness. I think being blocked by them should be taken as a badge of . . . well, SOMETHING good - they are very wrong to trash others so willy nilly instead of looking for some good and commonality more often especially if they are not going to take to being trashed themselves a bit. And knowing you, your comments were not 10% as vitriolic asd theirs - so - congratulations. Oh, and I bet they ARE sexist and I bet they are also AGIST - you are too young to have legit views - maybe you should computer age those self-photos you post.
By plannedscapes, at
24/5/07 09:30
"Look – I just came here to see your website. I was not looking for an argument." I came across SoL bc I have just started using WordPress and SoL was listed under a theme as an "example" website.
Holy smokes. Man, if Rick Warren ain't good enough for you... if you regard people like him as "apostate" then you must be occupying a pretty narrow end of the theological/ideological spectrum. A shockingly narrow, judgmental, "our way or you just ain't Christian way!" point of view.
(And if one looks at who they associate with... that sword cuts both ways eh?)
-a "can I be a Christian and yet not perfect?" fellow fan of J.C. Ryle, thank you very much
By Richard, at
2/7/07 14:17
Julie,
I guess I'm another Christian that doesn't measure up at slice of pharisee. Jesus didn't measure up either to the religious extremists of the day which puts us in good company. God bless,
Chuck
By , at
12/7/07 14:52
Jule--------
I am a bit confused. You sound as if you don't care very much for the folks over at Slice, yet you seem upset over the fact that they may have "blacklisted" you. Why continue knocking on a door that keeps getting slammed in your face?? Even if you could log on to Slice, they'd only piss you off and ruin your day. Forget 'em!!
If they don't need you, then you don't need them. Find somebody who WILL listen to you and who cares about what you have to say.
By booboo, at
7/9/07 21:09
