I suspect most of us have people in our lives with whom we feel we must walk on eggshells, measuring our words carefully and avoiding hot-button topics in order to maintain some semblance of relationship.
I have spent most of my life walking on eggshells, it seems. I have a strong instinct for justice and speaking up on behalf of those who can't or won't for whatever reason. In recent years, I have attempted to tone it down, way down, in hopes of preserving relationships. In my writing, I have been attempting as of late to be much more gentle in my approach to controversial topics. I'm not always successful, but I'm trying. Unfortunately, ANY reference, however gentle, that disagrees with the dominant mentality of the American Evangelical church can get you cancelled these days. 💜
I am banking on the fact that if I address my own fear, I may end up being a bit more gentle when gentleness is called for, but also speak with courage (even, as they say, when my voice is shaking) even when it means I am going to make someone mad. May God give you discernment and courage to keep using your voice. The world needs your words.
As someone who knows all too well about speaking my mind and losing friendships, I resolve that to keep silent was far worse, until now. It's a frightening climate at present that has me being less vocal than in the past. Thank you for posting what a lot of us are feeling.
Amazon removed 170 reviews of books which began back in 2005. I even rec'd "thank yous" for 24 of them, which I'd sent around to folks on my email list. I'm still in contact with my high school English teacher who is 90 yrs old. When I told him he said "Wear it as a badge of honor." He's not a believer. The USA is getting better & bertter at censorship & I think we have to stand & speak out at any cost as believers. If we don't speak truth, who will?
You are right - It is our responsibility to speak the truth in love. I've posted reviews on Amazon for a long time and have not had the same experience you report. (None of my reviews have ever been removed.) I am curious what reason they gave you, if they gave one or if you have ideas about what specific thing(s) in each of those 170 reviews triggered the mass removal of your reviews.
"Sensitivity." I'll be the 1st to say without apology that the USA is headed for perdition if there's not a quick turnaround. Books I read & commented on were 2 of Schwaubs, "Red-Handed" (about China), one on Russia, Fault Lines, Goliath, Live Not by Lies, Reset, In, but Not Of, The Christian Left & Speechless: Controlling Words, Controlling Minds to name a few. I LOVE the Russian writers who suffered: Solzhenitzyn, Tolstoy & Dostoyevsky. It's not fair since not ALL those 170 were on controversial subjects. There's plenty of Christian content all over Amazon (like my own 7 books) so they shouldn't have been removed.
I have spent most of my life walking on eggshells, it seems. I have a strong instinct for justice and speaking up on behalf of those who can't or won't for whatever reason. In recent years, I have attempted to tone it down, way down, in hopes of preserving relationships. In my writing, I have been attempting as of late to be much more gentle in my approach to controversial topics. I'm not always successful, but I'm trying. Unfortunately, ANY reference, however gentle, that disagrees with the dominant mentality of the American Evangelical church can get you cancelled these days. 💜
I hear you.
I am banking on the fact that if I address my own fear, I may end up being a bit more gentle when gentleness is called for, but also speak with courage (even, as they say, when my voice is shaking) even when it means I am going to make someone mad. May God give you discernment and courage to keep using your voice. The world needs your words.
Beautiful and wise words, Michelle, thanks for sharing them.
Leonard Ravenhill
A man who is intimate with God never needs to be intimidated by men.
As someone who knows all too well about speaking my mind and losing friendships, I resolve that to keep silent was far worse, until now. It's a frightening climate at present that has me being less vocal than in the past. Thank you for posting what a lot of us are feeling.
Amazon removed 170 reviews of books which began back in 2005. I even rec'd "thank yous" for 24 of them, which I'd sent around to folks on my email list. I'm still in contact with my high school English teacher who is 90 yrs old. When I told him he said "Wear it as a badge of honor." He's not a believer. The USA is getting better & bertter at censorship & I think we have to stand & speak out at any cost as believers. If we don't speak truth, who will?
You are right - It is our responsibility to speak the truth in love. I've posted reviews on Amazon for a long time and have not had the same experience you report. (None of my reviews have ever been removed.) I am curious what reason they gave you, if they gave one or if you have ideas about what specific thing(s) in each of those 170 reviews triggered the mass removal of your reviews.
"Sensitivity." I'll be the 1st to say without apology that the USA is headed for perdition if there's not a quick turnaround. Books I read & commented on were 2 of Schwaubs, "Red-Handed" (about China), one on Russia, Fault Lines, Goliath, Live Not by Lies, Reset, In, but Not Of, The Christian Left & Speechless: Controlling Words, Controlling Minds to name a few. I LOVE the Russian writers who suffered: Solzhenitzyn, Tolstoy & Dostoyevsky. It's not fair since not ALL those 170 were on controversial subjects. There's plenty of Christian content all over Amazon (like my own 7 books) so they shouldn't have been removed.