Christian commentator Bill Muehlenberg who is a longstanding partner of Vision Radio with a weekly segment on the 20Twenty program has clocked an incredible milestone with his blog CultureWatch.

He’s just marked 20 years of faithful, fearless Biblically based commentary.

The American-born apologist and ethicist has a BA with honours in philosophy (Wheaton College, Chicago) and,an MA with highest honours in theology (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston).

Bill teaches ethics, apologetics and theology at several Bible Colleges in Melbourne where he moved with his late Australian wife Averil.

WHAT IS CULTURE WATCH?

He explains its purpose on the blog’s website:

We live in an age where we see evidence of cultural decline, the erosion of values, the decline of civility, the denial of truth and the elevation of unreason.

Many people are asking, “Where is our culture heading?”

This website is devoted to exploring the major cultural, social and political issues of the day.

It offers reflection and commentary drawing upon the wealth of wisdom found in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

BILL MUEHLENBERG’S AMAZING PRODUCTIVITY

Since April 2006 he has written on average, one article a day, which makes around 7,300 in total.

He told Vision Radio he can punch out a 1,500-word article in just 30-to-40 minutes, but he needs a lot more time to moderate more than 100,000 comments he’s received.

They are in reaction to his Bible-founded views which often courageously challenge the accepted ideology of the day.

Many cover hot-button issues such as gender, sexuality, the sanctity of life and Islam.

Others have been deeply personal and extremely moving, especially those about his wife of 41 years Averil’s battle with cancer. 

“YOU GET HATERS AND DEATH THREATS”

As many as 10,000 comments were never published.

“You certainly get some haters on the way. Hate mail, even the occasional death threat,” Bill revealed.

“If you start doing this kind of work, you will get all kinds. Needless to say, there’s a lot that are not fit for public consumption.”

“They’re too full of horrible language and hate, and they can get some pretty nasty comments.”

“SOMETIMES THE HATERS COME TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH”

“You need a bit of a thick skin if you want to respond in a Christ-like way to some of these hostile critics.”

“If I get a few hateful emails every day, well, that’s part of what God has called me to do.”

“Some of them, by the way, have come around, saying: Bill, I’ve stopped attacking you, I’m stopped hating on you, and I’m now looking to find a Bible and find a church.”

“So that’s the pay-off, right, when you can say: Oh, I am actually doing some good — not just for those who are like-minded.“

“If you can win some of these critics, whether angry atheists or angry Muslims or angry homosexuals, then it’s all worth while.”

“YOU’RE NOT GOING TO HEAR THE FEEDBACK THAT MAYBE YOU SHOULD”

Bill Muehlenberg concedes: “We also have to bear in mind. You’re not going to hear all the feedback that maybe you should.”

“Christians are, I hate to say it, sometimes better at criticising other Christians, especially leaders or those in the public arena, than just giving them a word of encouragement or thanks now and then.”

“So we have to do both. There is a place for criticism, but often you just don’t hear, and you think: Well, am I doing any good?“

“For example, on a piece that I just wrote on 20 years of CultureWatch, there might have been a dozen or more people who wrote in saying: Yeah, Bill, I’ve been following you and CultureWatch for years, and it’s been a blessing.”

IS A DOZEN RESPONSES FOR 20-YEARS OF WORK SUFFICIENT?

“So I’ve had a dozen people thank me, but we always have to be reminded: It’s not the numbers,” the Christian blogger reflected.

“If there is one person that benefits from what I do and if God has called me to do it, that should be sufficient.”

“I’ll never have a million clicks a month like some of these others do.”

“I won’t have fancy podcasts with nice studios and all the equipment like some of these influencers and activists have.”

“So I’ll be content with my humble little computer in my own room, as you can see, turning out a piece every day.”

“GOD ASKS US SIMPLY TO DO WHAT HE’S CALLED US TO DO”

“And if it does some good, if some people are helped, well that’s fine. That’s all.”

“God doesn’t ask us to have a million followers.”

“He asks us simply to be faithful to do what He’s called us to do and leave the results up to Him.”

“So that’s not a bad place to be in,”  Bill accepted.

WHAT ABOUT THE LEGACY OF BILL’S BLOG?

“You do want to leave a legacy for your kids, any grandchildren that come along,” Bill Muehlenberg mused.

“You know, you want them to inherit a world that’s actually a better place than the one we’re living in.”

“And there’s so many issues right now. You know if I had no other reason, I would say I’ve got three reasons to continue my blog — my three sons.

“That’s why I do what I do. That’s why I take all the hate mail. I care about them and their future. I won’t be here forever.”

“MAYBE MY MINISTRY CAN HELP MY SONS STAND FOR CHRIST”

“Maybe a ministry like this — 7,000 plus articles — can be a small part of the help they will need to stand for Christ, to turn things around, to resist evil, to be salt and light, which we’re commanded to do, right?”

“It’s not an optional extra, it’s something we’re all told to do.”

“That’s even if I know it’s going to be a slightly better world for my three sons and some of the battles we are fighting now maybe won’t have to be fought, right, as they continue to grow.”

“Just think of slavery. Wilberforce and others fought it like mad a couple hundred years ago.”

“That’s a battle basically won, and we don’t have to refight that anymore, thanks to him and other Christians fighting the good fight.”

THERE’LL BE NEW BATTLES TO FIGHT

“Or maybe say a similar issue, abortion, right?”

“We’re fighting like mad for the rights of the unborn, the rights to babies, to have a right to life.”

“Maybe one day, because of our efforts,  together by God’s grace, maybe, the abortion fight will be over.”

“There’ll be new ones, there’ll be other battles, obviously, but we just have to be faithful.”

“I’LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL HEAVEN TO HEAR WHAT PEOPLE REALLY THOUGHT OF MY BLOG”

“We’re simply called to do what God has asked us to do, be faithful in that, and leave the results to Him.”

“So again, I’ll have to wait till Heaven, till I really hear how many people thought I was doing some good or were impacted by my ministry.”

“The least we can do is fight the good fight on His behalf for His glory.”

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