The Internet is Dangerous at effective web ministry notes

The Internet is Dangerous

filed under Culture by rob on 27Mar07 @ 8:30 am EST

So what are we going to do about it?

Some want to boycott some sites for good reason. Sometimes a conversation can turn it to pro-activism.

Some endure death threats and other horrible and unspeakable acts — so much so that it keeps them from interacting online anymore.

And still in the US a third of the population does not have nor intends to have internet access at home.

Can you blame them?

So what are we to do?

There are a few options for us. One is to create “safe havens”. Family-friendly or Christian duplicates of other places (like a Christian MySpace or a place like GodTube). These have their place. It’s a good thing for Christians to gather to encourage, equip and train each other.

Another option is to be a little bit of light in the dark places. Of course its tough out there.

Campus Crusade has traditionally taken the second route by going on Spring Break in Panama City and having summer projects in resort areas where lots of people already come. The intent is to reach out to these people.

How different is the internet in this regard? It certainly is different. It’s more intense. It’s dangerous.

So, Christian brother, what do you do?

If there’s enough interaction on this subject, I’ll tell you what I’ve chosen and why. But before I do, I want to hear what you have to say.

15 Responses to “The Internet is Dangerous”

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1 Maggie on Mar 27th, 2007 said:

I have kids and a husband who asks me to help keep enticing things away from the computer screens, so my decisions come from different goals.

I pre-approve sites where my kids are allowed to surf if I’m napping or away from the computer when they are using.

Searches are limited to certain key words they are interested in.

youTube, I preapprove videos and put them in My Favorites, but they are not allowed to watch them unless I’m in the room working.

So, at some point they have to learn discernment for themselves, but mine aren’t old enough to know what is harmful yet. They DO know that there is a lot of inappropriate junk out there, and that I want to help protect them from it. I hope that sets the stage for responsible viewing and choices later on. I can only pray that they choose to keep a clean heart and mind.

Thanks for the link.
Maggie
2 Andy Beal on Mar 27th, 2007 said:

While I think it’s important to have Christian “safe havens” I think we should avoid the temptation to hide away among other Christians. The Great Commission would suggest that we should take the message to the Internet as well, which means engaging, even when it means some pushback. I’m all for being “a little bit of light in the dark places.”
3 Chris Huff on Mar 27th, 2007 said:

It certainly is dangerous, but I don’t think the answer is to not use the internet. Television is dangerous, radio is dangerous, heck…even postal mail is dangerous (think anthrax, mail bombs, etc). As with all other things, we must be careful, and we must be responsible. We must do our part as the light of the world and use this medium for God’s glory. This will mean different things for different people in different places. Sometimes it will mean making safe havens. Sometimes it will mean doing as Jesus did and seeking out lost people in order to lovingly call them to repentance. I think all these things are good and have their place.
4 rob on Mar 27th, 2007 said:

Great comments! Thanks. I totally understand Maggie’s take on it. I’m not a parent so I look at things quite differently. I applaud Maggie for how she’s dealing with it.

But for me, I tend to take the same route as Andy. Now I realize that even this site is a “safe haven”. So is church. And that’s good! We need these kinds of places. But as for me, I want to be in Facebook (I hate MySpace, but it’s personal), YouTube, Flickr, etc. And personally, I’m not a fan of boycotts. If I were, I’d want to be consistent and personally I don’t want to follow up on every company I use.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t take a stand and try to bring value and perspective to the conversations. Even protest.

In general, I’d rather “mix among them” and be a light. I love the group in Flickr I started called Central Florida Flickrs. And I’m not shocked when a non-Christian posts a photo that a mature Christian wouldn’t. But I can still share myself and my work, world-view, and even Christ.

At least that’s what I think now anyway.
5 Maggie on Mar 27th, 2007 said:

We can certainly overdo the “boycotts” , being “against” everything.

We see people vulnerable or oppressed or not considered enough, and feel compelled to stand up for them. In that case, it’s not just a activist sort of mentality, but moving as God leads. Just because I can’t tackle every issue or treat everyone fairly, I’m not sure that should stop me from doing what I can, where I can. A bit at a time, we change the world by the grace, power, leading of God.

In the last year, I’ve heard from several corporate heads from rational, polite, and considerate letters. After hearing all the stuff they do…some seem happy to just talk to people who are thinking and make sense. I’ve seen corporate policies change and shift due to exchanges, and that’s very fulfilling.

This verse keeps rolling in my head this week that I think alludes to both sides presented here so far:

“Be thoughtful and careful in the way that you live. Not as unwise, but wise, making the most of every opportunity, for the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
6 Jerry on Mar 27th, 2007 said:

Hmmmmm…I am not sure I believe the internet is itself dangerous. In fact, I believe the internet is a marvelous global communication tool. Never before have we so easily communicated with people in nearly every corner of the world 24/7!

Rather, what is dangerous is the dark heart of man. We must be careful not to “throw the baby out with the bath water”! We need to be committed to engaging people at every opportunity to bring them into/further into the light. We can do no less.

One of my eDreams is to literally flood the internet with websites full of light to overtake the reported 60% that is porn.

I agree with the idea of creating safe havens (I even labeled my old Xanga site eSafe Haven!) They provide a place to escape the darkness created by the uninformed for a time of refreshment.

Regarding boycotts: Initially I was against them, but I believe God spoke to me to use this powerful tool selectively. Since profit is the motivation of all corporations, it can be very effective. The biggest problem is that we typically do not focus. Thanks to the power of the internet, we are bombarded by invitations to boycott many things. As a result, we rarely muster enough energy for any particular cause to any response. We need a boycott clearing house to help identify the key issues and then focus on those. While I do not agree much with rev. Falwell, I do agree with his supposition that we are largely a “silent majority”.
7 rob on Mar 28th, 2007 said:

I couple of other verses came to me last night as I was going to bed that go along with what Maggie quoted: “everything is permissible, not all beneficial” and the one about not being a stumbling block for others.
8 Maggie on Mar 28th, 2007 said:

Good ones to mull, Rob.

There was a very creative comment addressed to you on my blog overnight:
http://5purposedriven.wordpress.com/2007/03/22/1466/#comments

Blessings!
Maggie
9 Fran Williams on Mar 28th, 2007 said:

The internet is simply a tool. The information and communication facets specific to the internet are especially attractive to our human flesh. Combine that with the anonymity of the internet and you have a particularly dangerous mix of attractions.

Therefore for the Christian the danger is that since you can be anonymous you can express ideas that are extreme in any direction. There is the notion that your ideas cannot/will not be traced and that is attractive if the Christian is not grounded in grace and is legalistic in his/her faith and wants to be perceived as intellegent, insightful and enlightened. And the images you see affect only you.

The Bible warns us that (2 Timothy 4:3)
“You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk foodâ€”catchy opinions that tickle their fancy. They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages. But youâ€”keep your eye on what you’re doing; accept the hard times along with the good; keep the Message alive; do a thorough job as God’s servant.”

There is the desire to be thought of as “spiritual” without acknowledging God as God. Think of The Secret.

The immature person (i.e. teenager) hasn’t enough basis on which to reject lies presented to them online. The culture in which they are being raised does not define truth as the Bible does and therefore the thoughts and images posed on the internet are not percieved as lies. Of course, this can happen to the mature adult as well. Think about the soap operas that grandmothers everywhere can be attracted to.

Enough of my soapbox.

WHAT we can do…..I think we owe it to our children to teach them the dangers of all media…easier said than done. We need to monitor their online activities because “it only takes a little yeast to contaminate the whole loaf”. Then, when they can understand, we need to teach them how sin harms them. We cannot hide from evil. We have to confront it and live wisely.

It’s easier to teach rules (don’t use the internet), harder to teach truth. We cannot teach truth unless it is in us. We need to hold each other accountable and teach our disciples truth.

Can I get a witness?
10 rob on Mar 28th, 2007 said:

yes, I agree that the internet really is benign in and of itself. It’s just a medium like paper: it can be used to print a Bible or a pornographic image.

But that’s not so much the issue here. I think the question isn’t about the internet as a whole, but more about the social medium that it has become. Where do we go interact? And do we go places online that aren’t encouraging places (or can be)?

I totally agree that we need to teach the less mature the realities of the dangerous places. I think the burden is on mature Christians to help our younger brothers and sisters.
11 Dan on Apr 17th, 2007 said:

There has been Christian communities that get a lot of flack even from secular press that they are hiding away but are in essence safe havens, one good example is the recent GodTube. We need these places to be encouraged like we are encouraged in church.
I think as Christians we are called to always be on the attack for Christ and by that I mean being on offense. We do have to go into those places that are uncomfortable. Shift back in history to just under 2000 years and we saw that Paul and Peter were doing just that, in environments they were nearly always persecuted in. If they hadn’t had been offensive encourager’s for Christ I can’t imagine what the presence of church would have been like today. Of course they didn’t do it in there own strength and it was a mission from God, but I just want to ask you what is the difference between you/me and them, we have the same mission the same Holy Spirit.
I think the sign of a good safe haven is one that encourages and equips you in your faith in Jesus and then gets you going to share your faith in the way I just described.
12 Maggie on Apr 17th, 2007 said:

I continue to mull as comments come in here. Great stretch point! I think all those I’ve known who’ve taken risks to reach people with thanksgiving for their great love and boldness.

Peter and Paul: Wow, that brings in a whole new line of thinking.

Personal thoughts: I’ve experienced times in my life where I really feel I could go anywhere and do anything to touch people for Christ. There was just an aura over me, a protection that was not going to let anything touch me…I could “trample the lion and the cobra”.

Flip Side: Yet, there are times I’ve come face to face with my own vulnerabilities — I thought I was stronger than I was. Yes, Christ met ALL my needs, in very real and deep way, but, at the same time, in the flesh, I was much needier than I thought! I likely experienced much more gratification from a risky area of ministry than I realized.

So, I’m thinking: We need to come face to face with human vulnerabilities, as well, even though we try to live on a higher plane.

I know people who are spiritual, in-touch, fulfilled, and strong who fall because they did not practice good boundaries in areas that are known by wise Christians to be dangerous pits that are too slimy to climb out of once a person slips in, falls in, or stumbles into. (Psalms are filled with examples of pits, even with those who experienced God in real ways constantly).

This principle astounds me more and more the older I get. The whole “Godly people who do ungoldy things” idea. “But, if they are truly ‘godly’…” and “Why wouldn’t God protect them?” and “What about the ‘covering’ to do mighty exploits in his name?”

Perhaps, we have to walk boldly without walking…what’s the word…”presumsuously”. Or, presuming “it” won’t affect us, get us, move us, or draw us. Coming to terms with the fact that we are human; things that affect humans, also affect us.

We can move so slowly into pits that we don’t even know we are being trapped. I’ve been in some situations where I did not know I was in the wrong for several years afterward I was so slowly moved into the wrong. That’s how what is clearly wrong, can suddenly seem godly and right, even to the godly. And they are deceived. I just think we have to address that reality. Vulnerability in ministry. I wish it were an areas I was more prepared for in my zeal and even self righteousness. I was self righteously very wrong because I thought I was above falling into trouble along the way. Ministry is not easy. There is a Proverb I think of that says, “be careful of trying to help another up, lest you fall.” I think that’s a very real possibility we don’t like to think about or prepare people for. Are we afraid of scaring people from ministry?

I hope not. I think we need to prepare people for the pitfalls of ministry, especially for untrained lay people, more than we do.

Motive, direction, ACCOUNTABILITY– Peter and Paul didn’t “go in” without that kind of support.

We need a clear direction, the kind they had from the Lord, before we just try to “live dangerously” for the sake of the gospel. I’m not advocating that we should live in fear, but Fearfully. If God leads…GO!

Well, this got long…sorry for that.

and had to steer away from certain environments to stay obedient to the sanctification process God was trying to work in my own life.
13 sarah on Jun 2nd, 2007 said:

You see, some use the “Great commission” as an excuse to bash everyone into evangelizing, the great commission is not a great commandment but a responsibility, that God will prepare each person and use them as He feels fit. If you are called into evangelizing on the Internet, then go ahead. But that does not mean all of us are called into it. Some of us are called into other areas that God sees fit to use us. Evangelizing is not the ONLY ministry of the church. You just follow your calling properly and let others follow theirs.