Serving Christ in Internet Services?

Good question: "do you have a facebook?" It doesn't stand alone. How about Twitter, AIM, Blogging, Myspace, iChat, or Youtube? Heard of these? There is a pretty good chance that the number of people who haven't heard of any of these internet services has almost diminished entirely. These "services" simply exist to connect people to other people. Sounds like a good thing, right? Sounds pretty fun to me. Anyways, wouldn't you like to stay better in touch with your friends?

The Age we are in has undeniably taken technology to the next level. Possibly better stated, technology has taken us to the next level; swaying generations into the technologically advanced niceties at the touch of a finger. But amid the "technological sway", brother, sister in Christ, let me ask you another more important question, "Is it being used to take us to the next level in our sanctification?" Isn't this the most important question for the believer to ask pertaining to the rapid growth of internet community?

In Scripture, we find no other method to carry out the one anothers (to "forgive," "submit to," "prefer," "love," "show hospitality to," "humble yourselves toward," "confront," etc) than in community with one another. We clearly were made for community. Even from the creation account we find that it was not good for man to be alone. As the Church, we are described as a body working together with each part working together properly (Eph 4:16) as Christ, our Head. In John 17, Christ prays to His heavenly Father that "they (believers) may be one even as we (God the Son and the Father) are one" (v. 22). It is here, in the presence of God through Christ, that we may be one seeking to glorify the Father and point the world to God's glory.

But being a part of a mega "online community" brings its own unique set of challenges to the redeemed. Below are some warnings, borrowed from the blog of Al Mohler, which he calls "suggestions for safeguarding social networking."

1. Never allow social networking to replace or rival personal contact and communication. We cannot permit ourselves to substitute social networking for the harder work of building and maintaining personal relationships that are face-to-face.

2. Set clear parameters for the time devoted to social networking. These services can be seductive and time consuming. Social networking (and the Internet in general) can become obsessive and destructive of other relationships and higher priorities for the Christian.

3. Never write or post anything on a social networking site that you would not want the world to see, or anything that would compromise your Christian witness. Certain words and comments are said online that utterly ruin the testimony we want to be to the lost world.

4. Never allow children and teenagers to have independent social networking access (or Internet access, for that matter). Parents should monitor, manage, supervise, and control the Internet access of their children and teens. Watch what your child posts and what their friends post.

5. Do not allow children and teens to accept any "friend" unknown to you. The social networking world can be a dangerous place and parental protection here is vital.

6. Encourage older friends and relatives too sign up and use the technology. Grandparents can enjoy keeping up with their grandchildren and with friends and loved ones separated by distance or mobility.

7. Use the social networking technology to bear witness to the Gospel, but never think that this can replace the centrality of face-to-face evangelism and discipleship.

8. Do all things to the glory of God, and do not allow social networking to become an idol or a display of narcissism (which is "excessive or erotic interest in oneself and one's physical appearance"; self-centeredness, self-absorption, pride, or any other form of selfishness).

So ask yourself, am I really serving Christ with the internet services I am involved in? You may benefit yourself, and your "friends," to step back and think about how you are growing closer to God in all that you do.