"How do you evaluate the Christian “experts” that compete for your attention?"

First, those people in the panel wouldn't survive the first round of Q&A in a blog discussion before they lost their minds. I've dealt with these types before...they want unquestioned authority, and their attitude is "I am the authority because of x,y,z." to which I respond, "we shall see about that."

Is blogging – or mega-pastoring – inherently untrustworthy?

Yes, and the point I will take is that any person, male or female, and regardless of whether the institution is a mega church, or a down-home, corner church of mean population the pastor is slaved to the paycheck he is being given, and thus, slaved to the check-writer.
It is the golden rule, he who has the gold makes the rules; and nothing rules with more authority than the mob with a pile of gold to make the good pastor dance like the little chimp he is.
Hence, ergo, therefore, forwith why so many of our institutional churches, Catholic, and otherwise have fled the bible to cater to the mob mentality.

"How do you choose your experts?"

Good question...I go on personal encounter, and if short that, then I read everything that person has ever written, taking into account that people change over time, and if an individual shows maturity, wisdom, and biblical compatibility...then I'll give them the time of day.

If the person is a blow-hard, self-promoter...there's the door, don't let it hit you on the way out.

Paul,

Well said, it can be difficult to moderate one's self when your voice can be published with a simple click. There are no filters other than one's virtue and the voice of the Spirit. Yet it is the world in which we live.

Long before I got into blogging, I met pastors who were cranks: They didn't know what they were talking about, couldn't back their statements up from the scriptures without doing great violence to the text, and demanded that their authoritative voice go unquestioned. Many bloggers are simply the written variation.

Yet at the same time, there are pastors and bloggers who have the humility to say, "Don't just take my word for it. Read the scriptures for yourself; let me point you to some other folks who are saying the same thing I am; it's not about my authority, but it's about what the Holy Spirit is saying to the churches."

Any pastor who spends too much time railing against bloggers (and likewise, bloggers who spend too much time railing against pastors) either has an unjustifiable paranoia about them, or a totally justifiable fear of them--because they're likely wrong, and their fellow Christians are calling them on it.

I imagine pastors have been talking about this in different terms for decades. Before there was a blogosphere there were radio preachers. In one of the churches I pastored folks were always quoting the pastors and evangelists they listened to on the radio or saw on tv. Authority has always been so decentralized in evangelicalism that few people look only to their pastors for spiritual direction or theological instruction.

I look for what conforms to Scripture as I understand it; but I count such pastors and bloggers as teachers who inform me rather than authorities I must conform to.

Limp wrist-ed experts = Elephant Room 2

How about having Jake's on and never clearly defining Triune theology! Or not once addressing the fact that he proclaims a health and wealth gospel.

The elephant room is a joke when they really can't bring themselves to talk about the real elephant in the room.

Who's idea was this any way? !Bad idea, poorly executed!

I like what Zack Hunt had to say, especially about the power of the internet and the hypocrisy of decrying blogs when you have one (most of those pastors do). I honestly don't know who these pastors are referring to, and without any of the bloggers there to defend themselves it reeks of a straw man argument. The only religion blogs I've seen have been by pastors, former pastors or veteran church attendees. All knew their way around a Bible. I'm still very stubbornly Protestant in many ways, so if Chandler, Driscoll and friends are attacking the ability of us lowly "unanointed" simple folk to comprehend the greater mysteries of the Divine then, yeah,I'm gonna bristle at that.

The wonderful thing about the blogosphere is that it levels the field of access to those with less power -- women and minorities. The wonderful and terrible thing about the blogosphere is that it levels the field to anyone. I think so called experts having a problem with that is silly.

We are all responsible before God for our thoughts, words and actions, and I must say the culture of blogging/commenting creates a level of ugliness that's shocking.

I respect that my pastor stays offline, cares not a hoot about what is going on online. Or his reputation in that more public regard. He is lovingly, humbly shepherding his flock. No tweeting, or blogging, or books. Power corrupts.

I think one must look at the life of the individual as much as you can, but then people like Scot McKnight (college prof and nt scholar), or Eugene Cho (pastor), Rachel Held Evans (blogger) or anyone that I "listen to" regularly on their blogs, I do not know and can only weigh their words against my own life experience and scripture. And watch their public "reputation" over time.

I'm a tiny little blogger in a giant world, but I feel the burden to faithful prayer and study as I perfect my knowledge; I keep learning, knowing that on some small level I to am teaching.

Blogging is just another way of communicating. As a small church pastor, I blog primarily to communicate with my own congregation.

To criticize all bloggers is a high handed generalization. You might as well criticize all pastors, all theologians, etc. "Everybody else shut up and listen to ME."

But I suspect that what these guys are complaining about is the bloggers who are shooting at them - for whatever reason. They don't like the criticism and it is hard to "win" internet battles. Perhaps some of the critics ARE cranks who don't know nearly as much as they think they do. (Perhaps some mega-church pastors are in the same boat.)

We all need to keep our eye on the ball - preach, teach, blog God's truth for God's glory. We get in trouble whenever we see ourselves as the hero and are worried about our standing in the crowd of racers.

I am seeing two extremes here. One side doesn't take Christian bloggers seriously at all and the other side wants all blog voices to be treated equally. My suggestion to Christian leaders is to find blogs that are a cut above the others, read them whenever a new entry is posted and take seriously by analyzing and prayer any criticisms.

Pro 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens the wits of another."

Why are we so afraid of this?

The weight of truth (real wisdom) is its own validation, regardless of the source, for those who have an ear to hear what the Spirit wants to say. What Melody and Elegance have said here also resonates with me. "Watching their public reputation over time" is, in matter of fact, a key component of recognizing those who become and are officially declared "Saints" historically within the Church. Seeing how Scripture is interpreted (i.e., lived out) in these "living letters" of Christ and His Apostles, written by the Holy Spirit in human lives as they come to fruition and maturity is, it seems to me, one of the best guides to a proper understanding of the truth as it is recorded in Scripture as well.

May I point out that not all blogging is about asserting an opinion or defending or attacking one? Many people now are blogging simply because that is what one does in this day and age if they want to write. If I post about my encounter with a neighbor and how I see God's hand in it, why would I need anyone to approve or disapprove of it?

That said, I was taught as a mere youth to take what anyone said, go look at my own bible and see if I understood it in the same way. If not, I was free to assume that the speaker was most likely a false teacher and could be ignored. And oddly enough, the older I get, the more I find that if something makes me uneasy, to pay attention. Sooner or later the truth comes out and all too often it's not pretty.

i think the process of discernment is the same with blogs as it is with walking into a christian bookstore and deciding which authors' books to read. use the discernment God has given us, see if what they are saying conforms to our understanding of scripture, be led by the holy spirit and your experience of the author. also, consider--but do not blindly follow--the opinions of those you trust.

"Why are we so afraid of this?"

Why are we...we being the pastors, or we being the denizens of the blogosphere?

lets travel down my memory lane, because at the end of it I think you'll find your answer...

Listening to these men speak makes me think of a pastor I once knew...old school fire and brimstone preacher, non-denominational, but would have been home in any "turn or burn" theology.
I questioned him on his...um..."rendering" (yes, I specifically chose the word "rendering" for both the literal and symbolic sense) on some bible verses he had been teaching on dealing with "spiritual warfare", and the associated interpretations.
He didn't much care for my...uh...well, for lack of a better term, inquisition and the supporting biblical facts against what he felt was "a burning fire of truth" which I was "quenching" with my insistence that he explain himself better than his "when you question the bible you question G-d."
He didn't like the fact that I brought up that there is nothing wrong with questioning G-d, and by association, him since he was now "equating his opinions to holy writ."

Thus the end of that tale, and the reward for putting up with it...I want you to note that last sentence...the lot of those boneheads in that video have that mentality...they have made associations of their knowledge as equitible to holy writ, and thus unassailable by the mere mewlings of us "lay" people, aka, bloggers, who are not "professional pastors" edumicated in the nuances of running a Church business...er, sorry, Church financial portfolio...rats...I mean, theology.

So, in truth, what these men were participating in was not an "elephant room" discussion, but rather an old school elitist "echo chamber."

I like what Al Mohler said about Driscoll: Youtube makes a bad pastor.

The ultimate authority is always Scripture and no one can claim authority in the Christian church on any other basis. While local leaders may, also. within the scope of Scripture, have a special authority based on relationship, a distant leader whether a blogger or participant in the Elephant Room can only have authority as they help people understand Scripture. The size of the platform is irrelevant.

"The size of the platform is irrelevant."

I agree in principle, however, the caveat emptor is defined by the subject of the echo chamber...interjections of the
"blogosphere" in which discussion is disseminated and questions are birthed. Granted, some questions are inane, others, brilliant.

If a pastor at a local level feels challenged by a question, the issue isn't where the question formed, but rather can the pastor answer the question in a coherent fashion, relying on scripture; or, does s/he squander the opportunity, hunker down, and get defensive.

We do live in a world...and our nature is to question...if I write a challenging statement, and someone takes that to their pastor for an answer I hope in G-d that the individual takes that opportunity to have a dialogue with the questioner...rather than shooing them away with "you really shouldn't pay attention to the internet."

This article completely ignores the very definition of pastor. The pastor is a shephard- not simply a voice. The example is Jesus- the head of the church. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. It's not merely speaking with the loudest voice to the widest audience with the most palatable message. The pastor is one who knows his own sheep. He leaves the 99 to find the 1 who wandered off, and throws a party when he brings the sheep back home. Bloggers and internet discussers are a great and fantastic way for people to engage in diologue, but how many of them even know personally their audience, much less lay down their lives for their audience. (I suppose the same question applies to many mega church pastors...) However, when it comes down to the role of pastor vs. blogger; there is no question in my mind. Give me a pastor who knows me, will lead me to green pastures (Jesus), and if necessary, lay down his life for me.

It's important to consider context. If pressed, I don't think the panelists were blasting blogging, or bloggers who ask questions, or even bloggers who criticize them...in an even-keeled manner.

It sounds to me like they're venting a bit of steam about people who just go after them, constantly, with little grace or effort to understand what they're doing. These bloggers really are like snipers...hiding and taking pot shots wherever they want.

First of all - Is Christ being preached? --- Or is it all about something I must do? (Performance)

“Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advancement of the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is for Christ. Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly. Some, to be sure, preach Christ out of envy and strife, but others out of good will. These do so out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, seeking to cause /me/ trouble in my imprisonment. What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice” (Php 1:12-18 HCSB)

Second - If Christ is being preached - I don't care if you're a pastor or a blogger -I don't care if you're envious, religious, greedy, or a virtuous saint - I will rejoice in the fact that Christ is being preached !!!!!

Third - If Christ is not being preached - whether you're a pastor or a blogger - you're a heretic. I've sat thru hundreds of church services where pastors didn't even mention His Name. They tried to make it "all about me". 90% (from my experience) of what's preached in America is "shame management" - not Christ. Mostly - pastors/bloggers are tyring to "shame you" into doing what they think would prove you're a Christian. Very rarely does someone preach Christ and actually relieve the donkey buckled under the weight of his/her load.

David Platt's statement on heresy and his concerns - I agree with 100%. I was "born again" - my life was totally changed - and I didn't pray "the prayer" - I didn't "Come forward" - and I didn't "confess my sins". I said three very sincere words to Him - "Jesus Help Me" ...... AND HE DID !!!!!

I was totally different the day after my salvation - then I was the day before. I had a 1973 Buick Century - the day before I hated that car - the day after - I loved that car. That was not all that changed - EVERYTHING changed in that moment in time. I'm just telling you - Christ transforms people - he doesn't just acknowledge their stupid little prayer. "I see that hand!" (Yuck!!!!!)

I'm convinced many of the pastors/bloggers in this land don't even know Christ - have never been born again - and have never really experienced Christ in any way. They are only trying to make a living - mostly by preaching something they know nothing about. Yet if they preach Christ - I will still rejoice.

Who has Authority? Christ does!!!!

Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Mt 28:18

Pastors/bloggers only have as much authority as the Christ they are carrying.

When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. Popular pastors and leaders has much more responsibility and will be demanded the most, so get close to Jesus and follow his path. God bless