[CS-FSLUG] Internet Evangelism: Casting a New Kind of Net

[Christopher Rose]

Alright, let me pull back on the hand brake just a little. I agree that the internet can be a great evangelism tool. I also agree that the internet can be used for helping to keep in contact with missionaries and local/national church bodies. However, I still favor the traditional church over the "Internet Church". Indeed, even Pastor Joel Osteen tells his viewers (internet or television, take your pick) to get "plugged in" to a good Bible believing local church. The "Internet Church" does have some usefulness, I will grant that. However, there is still much that can and should be said for the traditional church. Let me give an example: I occasionally participate with First International Church of the Web. All participation was via the internet. Members of an internet church rarely meet face to face and develop the type of friendships that you will find in a traditional church. Brother Dave, the lead pastor of First International Church of the Web, realized this a few months ago and established a "Brick and Mortar" church that is tied in directly to his internet ministry. Still, I will allow that an internet church can be useful if there is not a church of your particular denomination within a reasonable distance from you (why drive from Central Arkansas to Kansas just to attend church, unless you really like driving?). Indeed, I listen to the Lutheran Hour on my computer every sunday. However, I do this in addition to traditional church attendance. Likewise, I like to watch Pastor Joel Osteen. My wife and I enjoy his jokes and he usually has a really interesting and relavant message to get out. Other times, he simply spends the sermon reminding people of God's mercy (still relavant).

The internet can be a great evangelism tool, but it should not be used as a substitute for the traditional church.


Pax,
Christopher Rose

P.S. Gabe, I changed the church redirect to the site you are hosting. I felt that many of the congregation would appreciate the lack of advertising. I love what you have done with it. Looks better than anything I could have done on my own. Thank You.



----- Original Message -----
From: "國產 Wei-Yee Chan (Made in Chinar)" <survivor at brisnet.org>
To: "A Christian virtual Free Software and Linux Users Group." <Christiansource at ofb.biz>
Subject: [CS-FSLUG] Internet Evangelism: Casting a New Kind of Net 
Date: Sat, 14 May 2005 20:48:11 +0800

> 
> http://cbn.com/cbnnews/news/050415a.asp
> 
> CBN.com – (CBN News) - "I got saved on the Internet" – that is what more
> and more people are saying, after logging onto religious Web sites.
> 
> The Internet is just one more tool that many ministries are using to
> reach the world for Christ. When Jesus gave the commandment, 'Go ye into
> all the world and preach the Gospel,' the disciples were on foot. There
> was no television, no radio, no airplanes, and certainly no Internet.
> What a difference 2,000 years can make! Or for that matter, 10 years.
> Today, more and more people are coming to faith in Christ by logging
> onto the World Wide Web.
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> ChristianSource FSLUG mailing list
> Christiansource at ofb.biz
> http://cs.uninetsolutions.com



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