It’s that time of year again for sharing some stats. It has become my usual practice to share the most read posts over the year. I will also, in upcoming posts, share a rundown of the most read posts of all time.
My numbers are by no means huge. This blog has been read around 300,000 time this year. Readers access my writing from all over the world. Unsurprisingly, the overwhelming majority of readers are from Britain and America. But I see people accessing articles from some very interesting places indeed. I am amazed where some posts end up: the countries where it is read, the other platforms onto which they find themselves and the places they get passed around. It never ceases to amaze me.
This year review reflects what you have found interesting and provides me with an opportunity to say thank you for reading. Bloggers write to be read and I am no exception. There is no point doing this if nobody reads it. Some posts here have been read by thousands upon thousands of you. 2024 has been the highest readership I’ve had since starting a blog. I am really grateful for every one of you that has clicked a link and read anything I have posted here. There are so many other things you could spend your time doing, and I am conscious time is squeezed for most of us, so choosing to take the time to read the thoughts of an insignificant pastor like me speaking from a town that I love but is not highly regarded by many is significant to me. So, truly – let me say again – thank you for reading.
I say something to this effect every year and it remains true. The most regular comment I get when I meet people for the first time is, ‘I read your blog’ usually followed up with, ‘I don’t always agree with it though’. I feel like getting printed on a t-shirt at some point! As I also say every year, I am not aiming for full agreement. It isn’t credible to expect and it would be weird if I somehow managed to attain it! In some cases, I would be disappointed to have got it. After all, Jesus says ‘Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for this is the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets’ (Luke 6:26).
As ever, what I am aiming for is interesting. Agree or disagree, I want to be interesting and, preferably, helpful. Even when not that interesting – and, more usually, probably not that helpful – I at least making you think a bit. So, I hope, regardless of how much you like or agree with anything I have written in 2024, this blog has been interesting and at least made you think a bit. If I am even close to achieving that, I am happy.
So, with all that said, let me share numbers 10-6 of the most read articles on this blog in 2024 in this years edition of Top of The Posts:
Alistair Begg, weddings, wise application and adding mandates to scripture
At number 10, you may recall Alistair Begg made some controversial comments concerning whether or not it was appropriate for a Christian – whose views were widely known and who was biblically orthodox on the issue at hand – to attend the wedding of a transgender family member. In response to those comments, I wrote a series of blog posts. This was the first in that series, trying to parse the issues – without stating what my personal position would be – and address how we should engage with otherwise faithful, godly people who may disagree with us on the application of some principles we agree on.
What are spiritual gifts and how do I discover mine?
At number 9, this article looked at what spiritual gifts are and how we might come to figure out what spiritual gifts we might have. The article was partly prompted by some comments on John Piper concerning the definition of a spiritual gift.
End-of-life music & songs worth singing
At number 8 in the rankings, the Marie Curie charity published research on the most popular songs requested at the end of people’s lives. The songs were something of a depressing hit-list reflecting modern sensibilities. This post looked at the songs and offered some analysis on why they might be so popular in our secular age and offered some suggestions of end-of-life songs for Christian people that reflects the hope we have.
Cremation or burial: why I’m not convinced it matters nearly as much as some think
At 7, this article responded to a Gospel Coalition article that argued for “Christian burial”, not as a command, but as a preferred practice. The article didn’t insist that burial was a necessity, but nevertheless argued that it should be preferred for biblical and theological reasons. My post, by contrast, did not argue that burial was wrong nor that cremation should be preferred. Rather that it simply didn’t matter biblically nor theologically and the primary issues to consider when determining best mode are cultural.
Who did Jesus die for?
Finally (for today), at number 6, this article simply answered the question: who did Jesus die for? It is a question that Christians disagree over and centres around the scope of the atonement.
Tune in tomorrow to find out the top 5 most read posts of 2024!