Kingsway

One of the current concerns I have is the development of people’s belief systems based on what other people say on the Internet. I believe that the enemy is using the Internet as a platform for division, heresy and false teaching.  Of course this doesn’t mean that the Internet is all bad … there is much truth and good work available … the problem is that most Christians can’t decipher what’s truth … what’s good … and what’s not. People take what is written, published and uploaded as truth without really knowing if it really is truth or not … they form opinions, belief systems and theology based on other people’s personal opinions, deductions and interpretations. Of course, we all do this in different ways anyway … but the Internet provides people with the back up they want on any issue and any point of view.  God has a plan for the Internet, so it is not entirely evil. God can use it as a source to supplement people’s spiritual diets. The enemy can too. 

For example, if I don’t think that spiritual gifts are relevant in the church today, I can find hundreds of Internet articles to back up opinion. Of course I don’t believe this. I can also find articles about any popular authors, writers, speakers or churches that totally slags and bags them. Usually the one doing the hacking has their own opinions … and funnily enough even their own books that if you search you can find someone else who slags and bags them. I find this a little amusing. I actually find it a little offensive for someone to send me a link to an Internet article to back up their particular point of view … because as I said, you can find one on anything you want.  When people are hungry they turn to other sources – the internet and other mediums. Whilst there is a responsibility on the individual, I also acknowledge there is even greater responsibility on the Shepherds and Teachers in the church today. A great challenge to church leadership today, and one we are looking at how we can address better at Kingsway. 

There is a lot of division these days in areas of creation and end times … many different views that theologians have been arguing about for 2000 years. I believe that the solution is simple (but maybe I am just simple) … God is the Creator of all things and Jesus will come back like He promised he would … and I can’t wait. I believe to ONLY focus on the beginning, or ONLY on the end, is to the miss the importance of our call as the church today that is somewhere in the middle of the beginning and the end, and part of the whole story.  God started it all and God will end it as well … but we have the role to be active in the middle to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God. This doesn’t mean we can’t have opinions or interpretations of creation and end times, or ignore their importance … but why bring division over something that God has control of and our feeble human minds can’t really understand fully anyway. It is important but needs to be kept in perspective.  When there is contention – the smoke of contention signifies something un-godly at work. 

What to watch for and beware of on the Internet:
• People who claim they have the whole truth about a particular subject.
• Groups or people who claim to have the “only” answer. (apart from Jesus who is “the way, the truth and the life)
• People who see their role in life is to bring division to the church by pushing their particular point of view.
• Any posture, attitude or evidence of: self-righteousness, control, fame, fortune, abuse, manipulation … or the absence of love in any form.
• Reluctance of people to address or speak & teach publicly about such matters;
• Any form of coercion, to pull the wool over peoples eyes, to manipulate their thinking. 

The Internet can be used as a great tool for teaching, learning and spiritual development … but it can also be used as a tool of division and deception. So beware … and be aware. Bless you … Bretto