Undoubtedly, the Internet is a dangerous place for Christians, or anyone else for that matter. With the unlimited access to pornography, gossip media, etc., there are a plethora of dark avenues that can be traveled while surfing the web. Beyond that, the Internet provides a way to present yourself as something that you’re not, replaces face-to-face relationships, and brings about laziness over hard work. The negatives can go on and on, but the question before us is this:
Is the Internet good for Christianity?
The easy answer is to say “no.” It would be easier and less tempting to avoid it altogether. We could follow the lead of Kirk Cameron in Fireproof and trash our computers. Perhaps that might even work for some. But I submit to you that instead of hiding from the evils of the Internet that seem to be ruled by Satan, we place it under the lordship of Jesus Christ as God surely has (Hebrews 2:8). We are at a point in history where this type of technology has risen beyond a mere invention and into a culture-changing catalyst for the way we communicate and live our daily lives.
Though temptations will always come, the Internet can be (and has been) extremely helpful and beneficial to Christianity. Here the two majors reasons why the Internet has been good for me and can be for you, too:
- Resources – Books are great, I read them all the time. But I must say, I have benefited personally as much or more from online resources like Desiring God, IX Marks, CARM, blogs, articles, and sermon audio and videos. Without the Internet, the world would not be reached for the Gospel in such a massive way. One click of the mouse can do more than a box of tracts could ever do on this massive a scale.
- Social Networking – Though many Christians disagree with me, I am an unashamed (possibly even shameless) advocate of social networking Facebook and Twitter reign supreme right now, and for good reason. They give people opportunities to follow each other’s lives and update family and friends on their lives. What is really encouraging is the way that pastors, churches, and Gospel-centered organizations use these networks to edify and inform the Church universal. Although it should never replace true, day-to-day community in the local church, social networking is a meeting place for Kingdom movements and can be greatly beneficial to the work of God.
Brothers and sisters, the Internet is what we make it. Either you will fall into Satan’s traps or use it for the Kingdom and the good of your soul. You decide.
Of course the internet is good. How else could I blog?
I thnk the access to free resources (software, podcasts, etc) is very beneficial. It’s just like anything else, you’ve just got to watch where you go. I mean, you wouldn’t turn on your TV and just let whatever came on spew forth into your living room. You just have to use the internet for what it is, a tool, and know how to find stuff you’re looking for when you’re on there.
Good points, Joe.
The internet doesn’t reveal, demonstrate, show, or tell anything that’s not already there in man. In fact, it all comes FROM man.
And man probably asked the same question of the folks that invented the printing press.
I cannot count the good things that have come into my life via the internet, and I will probably put up a blog post about just a little corner of that in the morning. It’s already written.
A verse I will be using Sunday is Matthew 12:33, “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.” That seems to me to cover the internet and its use. Or to restate it another way: in of itself, the internet is neither good nor evil nor sinful; the determinate is all in how an individual uses it. Just like most (if not all) other “things” in this world.
I think part of my Second Amendment speech I used to use at NRA and God and Country meetings will work here.
A gun is a tool. It is as good or bad as the man using it.
I think that works for the internet also.
I think it sounds better when one is actually speaking about the Second Amendment. 🙂
The internet has been wonderful for Christianity. It has allowed some pew sitters (some call them laity) to see behind the institutional stage in some respects. And it has been a wake up call for the Body of Christ. Some think we should bury all negatives because it hurts the cause of Christ. I disagree. I say the world already sees us as hypocrites so when we discuss issues, behaviors, problems, it means we are concerned about the purity of the Bride what it means to be a pure Bride. It also means we must strive for “Spiritual unity” and… Read more »