| When you think about all the pros and | | | | in hopes that he might win some for |
| cons of the internet one topic always | | | | Christ. (1Cor9:22) He also said he ran |
| seems to surface, the fact of community. | | | | this race of life as to win the prize! |
| There are both positive and negative | | | | (1Cor9:24) Sometimes I wonder if we get |
| aspects to online community but there is | | | | more excited about our kids little |
| no denying that online communities have | | | | league soccer competitions, Sunday |
| formed a spiritual and relational tidal | | | | afternoon football, or climbing up the |
| wave that is sweeping our world. | | | | corporate ladder, than we do the |
| The fact is that the internet allows for | | | | competition for lost souls! |
| community in a unique and powerful way | | | | Paul was a great winner of souls because |
| that has never been possible until this | | | | he was available. Simply, he was willing |
| millennia. Look at the explosion of | | | | to do God's work in God's way! (K.P. |
| sites like MySpace or Facebook. Go to | | | | Yohannan) Paul didn't limit God's |
| any college or high school in the U.S. | | | | avenues of reaching the lost, he was on |
| and you will find people who are living | | | | the cutting edge. |
| in community on the internet. Now more | | | | It is time as Christians that we make |
| than ever even the older generations are | | | | online communities a priority! Very |
| utilizing the internet to find | | | | simply, we are losing the race. A whole |
| communities of like-minded people. This | | | | generation is being impacted in online |
| networking is growing every day and is | | | | communities and we are sitting on the |
| exciting to some and very scary to | | | | sidelines booing! If we are going to |
| others. | | | | bring the transforming love of Christ to |
| As Christians we must do more than just | | | | all nations and fulfill the Great |
| realizing the fact that online | | | | Commission (Matt28:19) then we must not |
| communities are changing our world. We | | | | forget about the new nation of "the |
| must actually begin to embrace this | | | | World Wide Web". So far, it is our great |
| change and use it for God's glory. It is | | | | omission within the Great |
| true that the internet's unique and | | | | Commission...But I believe this is |
| powerful opportunity for community comes | | | | changing... |
| with some negative repercussions. One, | | | | What must we do to continue the change? |
| the availability of all kinds of sin and | | | | First of all, get involved in a |
| temptation at your fingertips. Two, the | | | | Christian online community. Use it as a |
| lack of accountability for what is done | | | | tool to disciple and edify other |
| within online communities. There are | | | | like-minded people. For the more |
| many more, but my focus is not on these | | | | experienced and those with bedrock |
| negative repercussions. Rather, on the | | | | integrity, get involved in a |
| benefit that we as Christians can bring | | | | non-Christian community like Myspace or |
| to God's Kingdom if we will embrace the | | | | Facebook and let your light shine! |
| concept of digital community and use it | | | | Further, make your voice heard. Support |
| strategically for His purposes. | | | | the pioneers who are out there trying to |
| I believe God frowns when His people are | | | | make a dent in the internet for Christ! |
| cynical toward new or progressive | | | | Encourage your local church to put a |
| concepts such as online communities. I | | | | budget toward online marketing or to |
| can just hear God saying, "Why not use | | | | partner with an online Christian |
| that for my glory?" So why don't we? I | | | | ministry. Lastly and most importantly, |
| mean, why not really use it! Why not get | | | | support Christian online community! We |
| involved in such a way that we, as | | | | need more places on the internet that |
| Christ followers, become some of the | | | | are safe. Places where you can tell your |
| forerunners in this digital age instead | | | | kids that it's okay to chat, it's okay |
| of always the tale sniffers? | | | | to get advice. Support online |
| When we see something like online | | | | communities that you feel are spreading |
| communities exploding across the world, | | | | the gospel and if you can't find one |
| most of which seem to be ran by people | | | | start one! Online community is here to |
| who could care less about Christ...why | | | | stay. Question is: in the online arena, |
| as Christians do we not get some unction | | | | are you a contender or a spectator? Let |
| in our function and start figuring out | | | | the Gospel ring loud in all our |
| how to compete? The apostle Paul was a | | | | communities! Christ in us, the hope of |
| competitor! He competed for lost souls | | | | glory! |
| by which he became all things to all men | | | | |