Virtual Reality: Part 1

Since I spend a lot of time with teenagers, the online, virtual, myspace/facebook culture is a reality. I think I could get away with staying out of the virtual community at my age but then I would just be uncool. But, working with teenagers forces me to engage it if I want to be apart of their lives and understand the world in which they live. I have also heard many a sermon about the online culture whether its about pornography from the “Big Church” pulpit or about “being real” or simply “being where you are” in a student ministry setting when technology gives them an easy, easy way to never live in the moment.

It seems like almost everything I am hearing the Church discuss has to do with the negativity and the sin that is possible through the virtual world which to me, sends the picture that the Church views online community as almost inherently bad. I think that it is a huge mistake and if all we are talking about is ‘caution’, we are missing a huge cultural change and opportunity. Caution is needed, but so is spiritually intelligent curiosity and exploration.

Major Ian W. Thomas in The Saving Life of Christ writes this in the context of Israel in the old testament: “Let me remind you again that nothing is good or bad by virtue of what it is. It is good or bad only by virtue of its origin…” I didn’t agree with this statement at first until he explained on the next page what he meant by ‘origin’: “…they were unable to discern between the genuinely good, with its origin in God, and the evil in the “good,” which has its origin in Satan.” To me, this perfectly describes the Internet and in some ways perfectly describes the world’s (including the Church) lack of discernment in using this technological marvel. What is so different about the invention of the telephone and the invention of the internet?

Ok, the focus of this post is not just about the internet but about the online communities within. There has been lots of discussion about the virtual world being a place to escape, hide, be someone your not, replace authentic relationships, or live a made up life. Sure, with just the right mix of relational issues, the flesh, and Satan’s schemes, all of these are possible and likely. However, there is just as much potential for encouragement, expression, edification, equipping, and genuine relationship. We have to choose to live in that potential.

2007 was really the first year I joined the virtual community. Of course, I’ve been online ever sense my first juno email account back in the early 90s but never really participated in community outside of checking sites of offline communities I was apart of. I started a blog for personal expression and started a facebook to enter the virtual world of my students. It was also a test to see if the negativity that I have heard from the Church was true in my own experience. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Here is what I have found:
* Most students are extremely real or as real as they are in real life if not more so (yes, even the students and adults for that matter who are taking the sexy pictures and posting party pics.) [Side Note: Do we really want to continue to communicate to the next generation of Christians to put on a facade and cover up your sinful actions/choices so that our Christian family still looks “Christian”? Which then allows “us” to still look good enough to judge the “others” who aren’t covering it up so well? I’m still trying to get this filth out of my own mind and praying that I don’t pass along an ounce of this to my students or, God-willing my kids. Yes, we need to be a witness. Yes, our sin affects the reputation of The Church. But does hiding and lying about it do any good? Does judging do any good?]
* The draw appears to be out of a desire for community rather than an aversion to it
* Students are more connected to the lives of their friends than I ever was and are able to respond quickly and with words rather than just physical touch or a shrug of the shoulders
* The blogging community is powerful for everything I mentioned above and more (encourage, equip, edify, etc)
* Opportunities to stay connected with old friends and to develop new friends (I did say friends…not just an online ‘buddy’) are more easily accessible
* Blogs are books for the 21st century and anyone can be an author
* There is more opportunity to hear what people are thinking about when otherwise, you would never know
* It is a great way to keep up with needs of those around you, to know the latest update to pray for, to get the word out about events and opportunities, and to support causes
* In our revolutionized, 21st century world, it really does provide a “place” for everyone to have their “space” and to have an opportunity to do something with it…at least if you live in the United States. Remember this is written from a little U.S. American perspective, not a third-world country perspective. That’s a whole different post. Maybe a whole different blog!

Here’s my thoughts on discerning the “evil in the good”:
* It is just as easy to be addicted to codependency, seeking affirmation, or keeping relational score in online communities as in offline scenarios
* It is easy to supplement or replace face to face community with virtual (This is what I am most aware of. If I have blogged about it, I have a tendency to not explain myself in person, but cut my conversation short and say “check my blog” when I am really bypassing a valuable face to face opportunity)
* Expressing yourself in text to an unseen audience leaves lots of room for error on both sides. It also takes time to get to know someone virtually whether you knew them previously or not.
* It can rule your life instead of being a resource or a tool
* It can be a replacement for Truth. Instead of reading The Book and seeking The Truth, it can easily become a search for what others think or become “The Book” in their life. I think we will really have to watch this as time goes on and continue to emphasize Christ in you and the supremacy of His Word as The Truth.
* It can be very easy to be a spectator and not a participant which can sometimes lead to an almost reality TV experience. You are not commenting or staying tuned to vote people off an island or off the show, see if Jack gets killed in the next episode, or see who The Bachelor chooses. It is not a soap opera; it is real people, real experiences, real life.
* You can be so moved or inspired by what you read, be so humbled by someone’s faith or circumstances, or be caught up in the deep emotions of someone else that you….do absolutely nothing!…unless you mean that you comment on how horrible their situation is, or how awesome their faith is, or how you will be praying for them because of how much you sympathize with them….instead of allowing Christ to work in you. He is not working in someone else just so you or I can sit and watch.

The LBD Dual Significance: I’m not saying that encouraging others or praying is doing nothing or that reading a blog secretly or often is wrong. I’m just concerned about the “evil in the good” of those who are living vicariously through someone else’s faith rather than their own. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever (Heb 13:8) and His same power and life is available to you and to me. Also, 2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence…” And that power has been given to us in order to live an amazing faith filled life that glorifies God.

Super Faith Blogger isn’t any better than you, me, or anyone else and we have the same power in Christ to all be Super Faith Bloggers (Or Super Faith Women, Moms, Wives, Husbands, Fathers, Teachers, Friends, etc) with our own God-stories and our journeys of faith. As one of my favorite people says, there are no Varsity Christians, just those that act like there should be. Let’s be sure that our pursuit of knowledge begins with the “knowledge of him who called us to His own glory and excellence” rather than the latest blog post. And let’s have confidence in Christ (IN me! IN you!) and trust that “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

This is my prayer for you (whoever you are) and for me. Thank you that we have LIFE in you Lord Jesus!:

Ephesians 3:14-21: For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.