Criticism has its place. Paul did it. Jesus did it. The prophets did it. Sometimes critics are out of line, falsely accusing. Judas did it. The devil does it. False prophets do it. Then there are those who don’t criticize not because they produce no criticism, but because they produce no they. That is, they lob their criticisms from the safety of anonymity. They have no shame in that, not because it isn’t shameful but because, again, there is no they.
What I believe is likely to follow from this piece, based on my experience, is three things. There will be the anonymous who will hurl insults and criticism. There will be the anonymous who produce arguments about why anonymity is a good thing. Then there will be critics and arguers in favor of anonymity who boast that they are not anonymous. Well, for the third group, I’m not criticizing you for anonymity.
As for the first two groups, I can’t hear you. Because you aren’t a “you.” You’re a nobody. By that I don’t mean that the true you is not significant, that you aren’t imbued with the same dignity as every other image bearer of God. You are. You just leave that all behind when you determine to write as a non-person. Your words fall to the ground as soon as they leave your lips, by your own choice.
It is true enough that your words often find purchase, but only among gullible fools. Only among those whose discernment can’t make it past the plain truth of God’s ninth commandment. That you have made yourself immune to the God-given penalties of the false accuser (see Deut. 19: 16-21) doesn’t change the fact that your accusations are nullified by your cowardice and your audience nullified by their own foolishness.
Anon chest thumping is as hollow as anon chests. Anon threats are as meaningless as anon criticisms. You may have a mountain of legitimate criticisms of me. That’s because I’m a sinner, saved by grace. I fail. I have weaknesses, blind spots. I’ve had very public sins tied to my name, some rightly so, others not. It’s also because I use my name. I have no anon accounts.
You anons, however, are likewise due a mountain of criticisms. You too are sinners, I pray saved by grace. You have weaknesses, blind spots- one of which I am publicly, using my name, addressing in this piece. Unless you come into the light, I’ll never know if you’ve been helped by this. That’s ok. I’m not trying to get credit. I’m trying to help you anons and those who listen to you grow up, become men, behave like honorable Christians.
It’s long past time for this nonsense to stop. Criticize all you like. Promote your racial or political or theological ideology all you like. If, however, you don’t believe in it strongly enough to say it using your name, the rest of us don’t have time to consider its merits. Stop hiding. And start seeking.