To Surf or Not To Surf?
When we think about all the bad stuff that evil people post to the internet, we ought to ask whether surfing the internet has any value to Christians, or whether we should spurn it altogether? In a “round-about” way I think the Scriptural answer is found in 1 Corinthians 5:9-10. Paul said, “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people– not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world” (ESV). Christians are not of this world, and cannot live as if we were, but to save the world we cannot retreat from it, and while some of us may have no interest in the internet (and that’s fine) and others of us may need to avoid it (due to weakness), some of us need to surf, because the world is there waiting to be influenced for Christ.
Not only is the world on the internet en masse, but so are our brethren. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of websites maintained by faithful brethren that offer edifying reading material, audio sermons and lessons, and more. There are free Bible software programs and websites that allow one to read or listen to the Scriptures in several versions. There are online Bible schools, interactive Bible studies, and many universities offer Bible degree programs through internet study. There are also email groups, religious chat sites, and discussion threads that enable discussion of questions, religious debate, and helpful interaction between brethren all over the globe. People are finding Christ and growing in him through the internet every day.
Finally, a word of caution: there is a lot of bad stuff on the net. Not only is there material that is obviously evil, such as pornography, but groups and individuals that hold to ideological and religious error use the net as a means of disseminating their doctrines. In summary, the internet is simply a technological mirror of the population of earth. Everything in the world is represented on the net. All that is ugly and immoral is there. Every religious idea is there—right and wrong. The truth is also there: presented, defended and effectively planted into the hearts of those who seek and find. Should you surf or not? If you are morally weak, or too curious for your own good—NO! If you will vigorously maintain your purity, and can think critically, perhaps the internet is a medium through which you can learn much and do much good for the kingdom.
—JLP
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