-Seizing The Internet For Christ
Not surprisingly, evangelists have seized the Internet as another way to reach people with the good news of salvation, because they are willing to try new things.
Seizing The Internet For Christ
Did you know that Mark probably published his gospel on papyrus – a readily available, paper-like material that was easily bound, transported and read? At the time, books were written on thin leather parchment that was more durable, but more expensive and harder to distribute. Mark innovated with a format better suited to wider distribution.
One of the first things printed in movable type on Gutenberg’s printing press was the Bible. Before 1456, the Bible was hand copied by scribes, making them very expensive and difficult for commoners to obtain. When radio first became popular, Moody Bible Institute dared to use that medium to present God’s Word to listeners. Some Christians asked, “Is the radio of God or Satan?” Today, both printing presses and radio programs are used to present material that is both good and evil. Christians avoid the evil, but don’t reject books or radio as evil mediums.
The same should be true of the newest medium, the Internet. When the medium of television began, many said it should be seized by Christians – and it was, for a time. But then in the 1950s Christians began pulling back, departing from advisory boards. And today the “idiot box” has very little redeeming value. Let’s consider why Christians should seize the opportunities the Internet provides and not abandon it just because unregenerate sinners are using it to spread depravity.
Advantages Of The Internet
Apollos, Paul, Peter, John the Baptist and Stephen all participated in public discourse to present the gospel. Sometimes people accepted Jesus as Savior; at other times they said, “We want to hear you again” (Acts 17:32 NIV). God’s messengers have always used all the means available.
Let’s face it, making the most of your ministry resources is difficult. Renting meeting space is expensive, maintaining buildings is not cheap, and getting printed matter into the hands of readers around the world is a big challenge. Radio and TV are expensive, one-way communication media that people soon forget. On top of these challenges, actually reaching those who will benefit from your ministry is difficult. The nature of the Internet can overcome some of these barriers.
1. People are paying attention to the Internet. E-mail addresses, @ signs, and web site addresses appear on cereal boxes, business cards, billboards, TV commercials, newspaper and magazine articles, and even in conversations. Using existing communication methods to draw attention to your Internet ministry is an effective way to capitalize on public interest. Internet users cut across all generations and are more exploratory.
2. Increasing numbers of people are using the Internet. In their Seventh WWW User Survey, Georgia Tech reported that the United States had over 30 million users. There are probably 50 million users worldwide, and this number is increasing by a steady 10 percent annually since this survey was conducted in 1997. Over one-third responding said they replaced TV watching with web browsing because the Internet provides more control and broader scope – they can find what they want when they want.
3. Information is distributed inexpensively via the Internet. With a computer, modem, phone connection, and an Internet service provider you can dialog with people, provide gospel and discipleship articles, and post information about your ministry. Distributing your message takes three steps: compose the text with pictures; put it in a public place (or send it to an e-mail address that sends to many others); publicize where you put it. It’s the same cost whether you send it to just one individual or many.
4. The Internet audience is not limited by physical proximity. You can communicate internationally, regionally and locally at the same time. While web sites with local/ regional focus are more common and relevant, a web site such as the one associated with this magazine, which has a worldwide readership, is accessed by Internet users worldwide.
5. Time and distance are not issues in communicating via the Internet. Because web sites can be reached from any Internet connection in the world, while a pastor sleeps in Nigeria I can access his web site from the Bahamas. The computers running his site respond any time.
6. Current information can quickly be provided globally and locally. Making revisions, correcting errors, adding information, and releasing news are not constrained by the lead times associated with other media.
Drawbacks Of The Internet
Contrary to all the marketing hype, the World Wide Web and e-mail will not solve all your problems, and you can’t go everywhere “you want to go today” as one advertiser says. Does this mean we should reject this medium? Christians use other media for kingdom purposes, so it’s reasonable to use the Internet too, while being aware of four drawbacks.
1. Passivity is the most obvious one. It’s difficult to push your web site into people’s minds. Unlike telemarketing, you don’t have immediate two-way communication on the Internet. It’s easy for people to ignore e-mail messages, skip web page content, and never even hear about your site. Statements like “Build your site and people will come” are not true. There are ways around passivity, but web site builders must use them.
2. Anonymity is one of Satan’s favorite ways of attacking people, separating them and propelling them into loneliness. God made us sociable beings, and He even chose bodily presence as the most effective means of communicating. People admit to having acquaintances via the Internet whom they’ve never met in person. People sometimes go days without leaving home because they are “meeting” with others via the Internet. Pastors, ministry leaders, and teachers need to consider the implications of this separation. Deception, ill-advised decisions, and temptations can come from not talking face-to-face.
3. Immoral content is another drawback of the Internet. Pornography, bomb-making instructions, the stuff of hate crimes, etc. can all be found on the Internet. While similar evil can be found elsewhere, the Internet removes one significant barrier – you can search for it privately. Ultimately, accessing evil content regardless of the medium is fundamentally a moral choice. We need to recommit to doing what is right because we love God and want to obey Him (Jn. 15; 1 Jn. 4). We should not fear what could happen. Righteousness comes from departing from evil.
4. No checks and balances makes it easy for anyone to publish. There are no editors to review the messages. As a result, e-mails and web sites need to be scrutinized and compared to other reliable content sources. Blindly accepting everything published is not a wise use of the Internet.
Demographics
To be effective in ministry you need to know your audience. The Internet can provide the demographics to help. Some understanding comes from studying the Word, but some also comes from knowing the stresses, priorities, and characteristics of the people you serve. The U.S. Census Bureau maintains a web site with the results of many recent surveys, including the 2000 census. American Demographics publishes useful marketing information that could be adapted for church outreach. Perspectives about culture and what people are thinking can be gained from various feedback pages. One site asked, “How many friends are enough?” Answers displayed how much people struggle with loneliness.
Apologetics And Evangelism
Apologetics (explaining the faith) and evangelism are two more ministry areas that can be found on the Internet. The Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry, Leadership University (Campus Crusade), and the Christian Classics Ethereal Library are three examples of apologetics sites. If you are good at answering questions or explaining doctrines of the faith, you could publish apologetics articles on your ministry site.
Not surprisingly, evangelists have seized the Internet as another way to reach people with the good news of salvation, because they are willing to try new things. While in-person contact is the desired means to solidly establish people’s faith, the Internet is a great vehicle for delivering private gospel messages to seekers. Hutchcraft Ministries and Leadership University are two such sites. One Hutchcraft Ministries newsletter indicated that 20 people from four countries were saved in one month via their site. One was from a closed Muslim country. Leadership University has a dozen sites that direct the gospel specifically to musicians, athletes, homosexuals, scientists, and students.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association held a conference in May 1997 to consider how to use the Internet to evangelize. One result was a site for follow-up. Regardless of a person’s location, this site provides helpful teaching about growing in the faith. Another result was an on-line immediate resource for counselors doing phone or Internet counseling.
Cross-Cultural Ministry
The Internet allows those doing global, cross-cultural ministry to communicate internationally at little expense. They can send and receive information despite being many time zones away from the other party. Information on “people groups,” Nance Prayer Profiles and international cooperative missions efforts can all be found on the Internet. Missionaries, scholars and church members can all find regional resources in the SIL Ethnologue, and the Africa Missions Home Page.
Growth for Believers
Evangelists know the potential of the Internet, as do defenders of the faith. Now pastors and teachers are beginning to help believers grow. Practical answers to questions about doctrine, discipline, prayer, elders and ministries are appearing on church and ministry web sites. Insight for Living allows listeners to hear their program via the Internet whenever it’s convenient for them, not just when the program is being broadcast. Moody’s “Today in the Word” and Radio Bible Class’s “Our Daily Bread” are sites frequently visited by people seeking daily encouragement.
Christians Have Great Advantages
The two characteristics of generosity and a people focus are essential for seizing the Internet for God. Over 90 percent of Internet users say they are looking for high quality content and free services. The desire of Christians to serve people matches these two major requirements. Christians should not leave Internet communication to those who are technically astute but ministry unaware.
When I hear business people, my mother-in-law, my phone company, SIM and my friends at church all talking about using the Internet, I know it’s here to stay. So why not use this new medium for Christ?
By Phil Barker
With permission to publish by: Sam Hadley, Grace & Truth, 210 Chestnut St., Danville, IL., USA.
Website: www.gtpress.org
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