See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:8

Please note that I want you to test my words and test them with fire - just as you should every sermon and utterance. Just as I hope you will test the words of Mr Denee.

I first picked up this story here but it is also reported by The Register.

Today I expose hypocrasy for all to see.

Let us start by defining a blog. We will (try to) use the same measure of judgement as Kevin (however his definition is at best silly, including as he does every form of social networking).

"When truly understood, social networking pages and actual blogs are slightly different, and it is sometimes hard to distinguish the difference between the two. Therefore, in the case of this article we will consider them all blogs."
thercg.org, Kevin D. Denee

So with this broad-stroke definition let us begin.

a public web site where users post informal journals of their thoughts, comments, and philosophies, updated frequently and normally reflecting the views of the blog's creator.
worldwidelearn.com

and from a second source:

Blogs often provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. Most blogs are primarily textual...

Early weblogs were simply manually updated components of common websites. However, the evolution of tools to facilitate the production and maintenance of web articles posted in said chronological fashion made the publishing process feasible to a much larger, less technical, population.

...Some blogs were an important source of news during the December 2004 Tsunami such as Medecins Sans Frontieres, which used SMS text messaging to report from affected areas in Sri Lanka and Southern India.
Truncated from: The Wikipedia

Blogs have a number of common features that make them easy to identify.

• Posts or articles
• Archive of posts
• Dated entries
• most recent items at the top
• Commenting
• The authors name or psudoname clealry attached
• reflects the views of the blog's creator

Let us continue now rememebring that Kevin D. Denee is talking about both blogs and social networking sites which he claims are not easily seperable from each other. (that alone shows a lack of understanding so much so that I am tempted to apply Ecclesiastes 5:3 which says “...a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.”).

However, by the broadness of his own deffinition we can conclude that the very site, that says that blogging is wrong, itself fullfills all the requirements of a blog.

• commentary or news on a particular subject
• The authors name or psudoname clealry attached
• reflects the views of the blog's creator
• Posts or articles
• Archive of posts
• Most recent entries on the main page
• newest to the top

While this does not proove that a thing is a blog we can inductivly take it to be so especially with his broad defination that Kevin uses.

This is called hypocracy.

From this we can possibly already conclude something - Kevin D. Denee is, aside from commiting hypocrasy of the first order, commiting a series of gross logical fallacies. (see Practical Discernment: Lesson one - discernment for beginners. and any other articles tagged discernment on this site for a deeper explination of testing the logic of an argument).

I want to call on two of Matt's points from Practical Discernment: Lesson one - discernment for beginners.

Assumption
The speaker starts from an assumption or other unproven stance. Everything that follows is, therefore, a conjecture and nothing is proven. The foundations did not actually exist and so what was built was imaginary.

and

Theological Point without theology
Sometimes a preacher uses a really good illustration but rather than enhancing a message with a great illustration the illustration takes the place of any real evidence. A perfectly reasonable sermon can actually be found to be a little light on the substance side on a second inspection when you notice no scripture backs the theological point being made.

I also wnat to take you on a quick trip to another web page "E2: Logical fallacy" and suggest that the author of the argument has commented all of the following failures of logic in making his point (and possibly others).

• Slippery Slope: a series of increasingly unacceptable consequences is drawn
• Complex Question: two unrelated points are conjoined as a single proposition
• Consequences: the reader is warned of unacceptable consequences
• Prejudicial Language: value or moral goodness is attached to believing the author
• False Analogy: the two objects or events being compared are relevantly dissimilar
• Fallacy of Exclusion: evidence which would change the outcome of an inductive argument is excluded from consideration
• Irrelevant Conclusion: an argument in defense of one conclusion instead proves a different conclusion
• Straw Man: the author attacks an argument different from (and weaker than) the opposition's best argument
• Too Broad: (The definition includes items which should not be included)

In examining these faults and the bad theology and logic required to weave this deception that the man is trying to weave I will do my best to avoid any such pitfalls. However as my username indicates I am but human and claim nothing but the grace of God that keeps me. I am human and I am not perfect, I never claim to be, but even I can see the lies here for what they are.
However do not take my word for it. Test, test and test again. Examine and try by fire and see what is true and what is false.

I contest that Kevin D. Denee abuses the Bible to make it fit his world view. Rather than giving strong theological evidence for blogs themselves being wrong he details the dangers of social websites and then goes on to list common "sins" that bloggers commit. Somehow he thinks he has proven something by doing this.

He then uses losts of old testiment passages and some complex theology from the book of Revelation to brow beat his point that blogging is bad.

However, he has only proved that social networking has dangers and that bloggers commit sins (like all humans). Worse still he is doing exactly as he claims that they have in publishing such an item.

Just because you do not use modern blogging software does not mean you are not blogging. The first blogs were maintained by hand too.

However, ignoreing how this man can confuse social networking and blogging let us recap on what the Bible really says on the subject of the Law and then apply it.



When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.
Colossians 2:13-15




And remembering that a thing should be established not just on it's own by by witnesses (the law of Moses required two or more witnesses and so while we are establishing it's passing we should do likewise).



It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
Acts 15:28-29 (NIV)



Kevin D. Denee states that blogging "not to be done in the Church". However in doing so he places himself as a giver of Law. The Bible clearly states that the power of sin is the law (1 Corinthians 15:56 in case you wish to check). One could easily say, then, that this man is giving sin power over lives. When Jesus came to set us free from the power of sin giving it power is a very seriouse waste of the death of Jesus.



"Should teenagers and others in the Church express themselves to the world through blogs? Because of the obvious dangers; the clear biblical principles that apply; the fact that it gives one a voice; that it is almost always idle words; that teens often do not think before they do; that it is acting out of boredom; and it is filled with appearances of evil—blogging is simply not to be done in the Church. It should be clear that it is unnecessary and in fact dangerous on many levels."
thercg.org, Kevin D. Denee



Let the bible answer directly.



Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
Colossians 2:16



You could look also to the story of Pauls arrest by those that hated him in Acts 21 and then ask youself who Mr Denee seems most like.



When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, shouting, "Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place."
Acts 21:27-28 (NIV)



However what is most important here is this:



See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:8



This is what Kevin D. Denee says about blog and social technology.



"All that said, you can—and SHOULD—maintain friends the “old-fashioned” way, through actual personal contact, as well as letter writing, emailing or instant messaging..."
thercg.org, Kevin D. Denee



So basicly he is saying that this new technology is bad.

A number of years ago when talking movies were new people used similar arguments against going to the cinema. As such an the church lost touch with an entire generation.

Again, this argument was used for popular music. At one time it was thought sinfull to use more than one note in church music. (dark ages).

It was considered sinfull to use lyrics not in the book of Psalms but we do not think Matt Redman, WWMT, DC Talk, Martin Smith or Kevin Prosch are sinners.

Yet, because of these last few strange bans the church mostly missed entire art movements and the greatness of development was allowed to be claimed by secular artists.

It is the same spirit of fear that rejects everything that is new untill some long time after it has passed from being significant.

This man, somehow, seems to think that dictatorship is the way.

These things are all listed as bad:



"This trend is seen in the splinter groups, where lay members dictate how their church is run and what they are taught. Obviously, democratic governments and their leaders are held accountable by the people. Corporations are often owned and directed by the people at large (stockholders). Families today are directed by the impulses of children—another form of the people ruling."
thercg.org, Kevin D. Denee



So, not only is democracy bad but people having a voice is bad too.



"The Internet—and more specifically blogs—has enabled everyone to have a voice on any matter. Now everyone’s thoughts are “published” for all to see. Whether or not it is effective, as soon as something is posted the person has a larger voice.."
thercg.org, Kevin D. Denee



This is where we see the true evil of his claims. Kevin D. Denee feels that he should have "voice" but others should not.

Kevin D. Denee believes that people should listen to him and not question him. He would like to be your ruler. (In other words he would like to take the throne of God. Where have we seen that before?)



Perhaps the largest problem with blogs is they cater to one’s vanity. Human beings are naturally self-centered and proud, and young people are certainly no exception! Note how the Bible describes this generation: “There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up” (Prov. 30:12-13).
thercg.org, Kevin D. Denee



Very true Kevin D. Denee vanity is bad and you show it in great quantity!

Why does Mr Kevin D. Denee think he is special enough to publish his words when "the Church" should not?

Hypocracy or Pride?



"Job 35:16, which talks about multiplying words without knowledge, summarizes the mindless, mundane nonsense found on weblogs..."
thercg.org, Kevin D. Denee



...and on the pages of the blog of Kevin D. Denee: thercg.org



"Many teenagers do not stop and think about what they are to represent. Some have their tongues sticking out; others are dressed inappropriately. One young person who apparently attends a splinter group actually states on her blog, “I used to wait tables at Hooters”! Although she may not have been familiar with God’s Way at the time of that employment, and so may not have known that this was wrong..."
thercg.org, Kevin D. Denee



Is this man actually saying working as a waiter at Hooters is a sin?



"Another element is that inappropriate advertisements can show up on one’s webpage."
thercg.org, Kevin D. Denee



Then make sure you buy paid hosting and/or control your advertising model. "Inappropriate adverts" are shown on TV so perhaps good christians should not make TV programs.

Jesus had dinner with sinners and did not worry that he was with "Inappropriate" women. It upset the leagalists but brought freedom to those he met with.



"Let me emphasize that no one—including adults—should have a blog or personal website (unless it is for legitimate business purposes)."
thercg.org, Kevin D. Denee



So is Mr Denee running a "legitimate business" website? (By his own words why is he running it at all then? Do as he says and not as he does it seems.)

He is setting a law and it is clearly by his own authority. However Jesus I know, (even the devil knows Jesus) but the authority of Kevin D. Denee I do not know.

Jesus said his sheep would follow only his voice and he warned that there would be many imitators.

In times gone by (book of Acts, the bible) a demon possed man once shouted to some want-to-be-exorsits "Paul I know, and Jesus I know but who are you?!" Then the demon possed man beat up the twelve men and they ran away naked.

This Kevin D. Denee should be carefull.



"Let me stop and say this: The young people of God CANNOT get involved in such things! Not even a little!"
thercg.org, Kevin D. Denee



"Don't do that" they cry "sinners do that!"

How about: Don't breath becuase sinners do that!



"Is this article saying that every blog in the world is wrong? No, of course not! Again, there are some professionals and specialists who use blogs to serve a proper purpose."
thercg.org, Kevin D. Denee



It is silly isn't it. Who defines "proper purpose"? Certainly I don't trust a man who can not tell the difference between blog and network.

The "ungodly" went to the temple of the unknown god which no Jew would go near but Paul went there and preached and many were converted.

Only gentiles did certain things and a good Jew never entered thier house yet Peter went to the house of one gentil and preached and the Holy Spirit filled the room and every one began to speak in other languages. Indeed only occultists use traces yet Peter went into a trance in which he saw a vision and in the vision he was instructed to eat "unclean" foods by God. This happened just before he went to the gentiles house and shocked the followers of Christ by allowing the Holy Spirit to fall there.

The law required that the saturday (sabbath) was a day of total rest and yet Jesus did miricles on that day, his disiples picked food (which was not allowed on that day) and they did not fast as other rabis including John the Baptist and his followers did.

Good jews did not assosiate with prostitutes, tax collectors and other sinners but Jesus did the unthinkable and declaired them friends (like brothers) by eating with them. From this alone I think it is quite likely that Jesus would have had a very popular blog.

But this is not a new thing. David was not of the order of Aaron (a priest) but he ate food from the temple when he was in need and God did not judge him for it.

Now days only very "hardcore" leaglist "christians" would claim that music of more than one note, guitars, art and the cinema are evil and yet if blogging and social networks are then so is music and the cinema.

This man has a form of godliness but denies it's power.

So to conclude blogging is just a technology like art, music, song writting and cinema. It is not inherently evil.

The arguments against blogging are the same arguments against Jesus eating dinner with sinners. We would all be doomed if he had not.

Worse still the arguments are as thin as paper and do not stand up to anaysis. The arguments used are watery and opinionated with little true theology and little to no evidence to support the conclusions given.

I conclude that Kevin D. Denee is a power hungy leagalistic dictator. He is not so different to the leagalistic leaders that hated Jesus so much.