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