By David Ettinger
Back on August 17, I posted a blog titled, “Sadly, Blogs Christians Read Least.” The main point of the post was that blog readers – CHRISTIAN blog readers – will read just about any category of blog over good, old-fashioned Bible-teaching (expository) blogs.
To me, expository-teaching is by far the most important category of blog because it teaches Christians more about God and the Bible than any other blog category. Despite this, expository blogs are my least read – when they should be my most read.
Unfortunately, this truth was proven yesterday when I posted what I thought would be an interesting read: “Who Killed Jesus?” It received consistent but modest traffic, that from my core readers, who are strong Christians well-versed in the Bible. However, it was intended for marginal Christians, as they would have learned quite a bit from it.
Six hours later, though not planning it, I posted a “practical” or “technical” blog on a topic I had been reading more and more about from bloggers: The new “Block Editor” WordPress format. Most people don’t like it, and I just wanted to toss in my 2 cents worth on the subject.
So, there they were, 2 blogs in one day: “Who Killed Jesus?” and “No Problem With Block Editor.” I knew exactly how it was going to end.
It took but an hour for “Block Editor” to catch up with and soon after pass the far more serious, weighty, and important blog dealing with Christ’s death.
And the really unfortunate part of it is – I expected nothing else. Sad commentary!
ken riddles
September 10, 2020
Yes – strange but true as they say. That’s why I try to balance my poetry and my Christian teaching, as I am not on any other media platforms, so ‘traffic’ is not sought any other way by myself. I simply put it out there, with little promotion on my part. My internal jury is still out on whether I’m right or wrong with this approach. Blessings KR
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dettinger47
September 10, 2020
Hi Ken. I’m on other platforms, but they don’t do much good. The most serious of readers is on WordPress, so the vast majority of your readers will come from there. Your current approach is probably just fine.
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Jenny Mothershed
September 10, 2020
So sad, but so true, personal experience as well. May the Lord bless in your continued efforts to write ” read worthy” teachings in the instruction of God’s Word.
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dettinger47
September 10, 2020
Thank you, Jenny.
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Angel at Watchyourlifeinpictures
September 10, 2020
I’m going to give you a few reasons why I personally didn’t spend much time with that particular post.
1.) Generally speaking: Sometimes it’s a time issue. I don’t have time to read paragraph after paragraph.
2.) It started off and seemed to blame the Church at large for what is a Catholic-type doctrine. The Catholic Church is anti-Semitic even to this day in their Catechism. In their written materials they unabashedly claim a much closer allegiance to Islam, saying that together they worship the same god.
They do, but it’s the god of this world, not Jehovah.
It’s a Catholic Church doctrine that the Jews killed Christ, not a Christian doctrine.
3.) To me, expository teaching is taking a portion of Scripture and teaching from that. It’s not taking a topic and matching Scripture to your topic. That’s topical teaching. Different things.
You may have done that later in the post. But I didn’t stick around to find out.
Which isn’t to say I don’t enjoy your blog, I do. 🙂
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dettinger47
September 10, 2020
Sounds good, thanks.
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seekingdivineperspective
September 12, 2020
For me the issue is often time, too. I get about 150 emails a day, and at least half of those are blogging related. Yours is one blog I almost always read, though I don’t always comment. As cliche as it might sound, trust that God will lead to your posts anyone He wants reading them, and He will speak through them, whether you get feedback or not. (At least that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. 😉 )
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dettinger47
September 12, 2020
It’s a good story to stick to!
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vicklea
September 10, 2020
Very sad, but a small picture of the world that we inhabit.
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dettinger47
September 10, 2020
Indeed, Vickie.
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Blue Collar Theologian
September 10, 2020
Jesus and me always “sells” better than just Jesus.
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dettinger47
September 10, 2020
So true!
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Tom
September 11, 2020
Truth, David.
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Tom
September 11, 2020
My “top performing” posts according to views BY FAR are an off-the-cuff critique of televangelist, Jimmy Swaggart, and my recipe for homemade clam dip!
The Lord keeps a person humble when their blog is a discernment ministry specializing in one particular pseudo-church. 🙂
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dettinger47
September 11, 2020
Hmm, maybe I try writing one on homemade salsa! That will rake in the readers!
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Tom
September 11, 2020
LOL! I love good salsa! One old blogging friend who is on hiatus once said facetiously the best way to garner views and likes is to post photos of food and attractive young women. But how does that explain Jimmy Swaggart?
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dettinger47
September 11, 2020
Good point. Definitely an enigma!
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jarilissima
September 12, 2020
I personally stay away from most Christian blogs. I think yours and two more are the only Christian blogs I follow.
Why? Because my jaw has hit the floor at the amount of blasphemy people write. Whether intentional or not, there are a lot of “edgy” Christian bloggers that like to stir the pot for views, and that doesn’t sit well with me.
My top disliked are things like “Jesus is a communist!” and “Jonah was just a darn racist!” Oh, and the one that made me unfollow almost every Christian blog: “We all know God made people before Adam.” Oookay, I’m out!
Just writing those examples made me cringe.
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dettinger47
September 12, 2020
I’m with you 100 percent!
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