The Church and the Internet

Brother Charles introduces our supporters to our transition into Cyber Space. We hope you enjoy your visit to our page.

First Baptist Church – Miles, TX

Policy statement for Internet activity by our ministry

Some years ago I made what I considered a major effort to upgrade our ministry, by entering the Cyber World.  After many months of preparation and work, we launched a Web Site on the Internet and established an e-mail address so that we can take advantage of the marvelous opportunities to witness for Jesus Christ in Cyber Space.

     I am really excited about this opportunity, and believe that it will help us accomplish our calling to "proclaim the Gospel of Christ to all who will listen".  The Internet is a field ripe unto harvest, ready for the Master to send in the workers to gather the sheaves.  There are literally millions of people who are now surfing the Net, and more are joining them every day. 

     But this has not been an easy transition for me, and it was not an easy decision to make.  Because of our experiences of the Internet in the business arena, I have been very hesitant to get involved in the Internet.  There are so many negatives about this medium, and there is no question about the fact that Satan has used it to further his hold on our society.  Pornography is readily accessible, and it is such an easy trap to fall into.  The internet provides a ready medium for that wicked traffic.  It has now grown to a multi-billion dollar industry, and the internet is it's primary source of income. Often times the language is foul and Godless, and many of the philosophies espoused in Cyber Space are definitely anti-Christian.

     When the concept of the World Wide Web was initiated a few years ago and people began to use this medium, they made a few amazing discoveries.  It is an international medium. You can connect to sites in Japan, Australia, Germany, and Russia as easily as you can connect to a site in you own home town.  All you need to know is their address (URL) on the WEB and you can visit their site.  Therefore, most of our local and national laws governing the regulation of communication don’t apply. Germany, for instance, can’t regulate our conversations and advertisements, and we can’t regulate theirs.

This fact alone opened the door for people to say (and sell) anything.

Also, there is a sense of anonymity. You can visit sites and no one knows you are there. While you are interacting on the Web, you can disguise your identity if you wish, and pretend to be anything you want to be... without fear of getting caught. 

     Now, in our society, it is precisely that fear that keeps many in line. They would behave altogether differently if they knew they would not have to suffer any consequences for their behavior. 

     However, those of us who operate under the Judeo-Christian moral system don’t make decisions based upon whether or not we are going to get caught. We know that we are answerable to an all-knowing God who sees and hears everything we do.  We also operate from a strong sense of servanthood.  We want to please God.  Therefore, we try to do what is right because that is what we want to do (not what we have to do.) 

     Another major principle that has guided my life is the admonition of Paul in I Thessalonians 5:22 where he tells us to "Abstain from the very appearance of evil" and in I Tim 6:11-12 where he says: 

"But thou, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, whereunto thou art called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

     I am an "abstainer" by principle.  I don’t drink, I don’t cuss, I don’t dance, I don’t gamble, and I don’t watch a lot of things in movies, on TV and on the internet that are very popular.  All of these things I do in an effort to be obedient to the principle of "fleeing from the appearance of evil." 

     And for several years, I abstained from the Internet for the same reasons. 

     But God spoke to me about it.  What if, for instance, Paul had refused to go to Corinth because it was an evil city?  Certainly it was, but that is precisely why God sent him there!  It was the cesspool of the world at that time.  Sin and idolatry abounded there.  Consequently, it was a very popular place, and humanity migrated there.  They were men and women caught in the trap of sin, and God longed to deliver them from it. 

     The World Wide Web is such a place, and it is attracting millions.  In many ways visiting the World Wide Web is exactly like visiting a big city.  If you visit Dallas, for instance, you can see the museums, the art galleries, the libraries, the universities, and take advantage of all the places to shop and eat.  All of this you can do without frequenting the sinful attractions that are also there.  But there are also porn stores, adult video outlets, strip tease bars, houses of prostitution, drug dealers and a myriad of other sinful places you could visit. 

     As a Christian, you don't just abandon such places and avoid them -- we must go there with the intent to redeem the lost that are there for Christ.

     I am also reminded of the fact that Jesus himself was reprimanded because he hung out with sinners.  To such accusations, His response was that he did not come to call the righteous but the sinful.  God has never allowed man to go to anyplace where he wouldn’t send his servants in after them.  If humanity is flocking to the Net, then God’s servants need to go there and be light and salt in their midst. 

     After I got past that problem, and realized that God intends for us to be on the cutting edge of humanity – wherever it is, I began to explore the Internet from that perspective.  When I did, I found literally thousands of Christian sites!  God is making an impact.  The Gospel is being presented there too. 

     Most of the major ministries, and thousands of local churches have established Web pages.  Their presence is being felt in the midst of the other influences that are there. It is much like what happened in pioneer America during the migration to the western frontier.  A settlement would just get established, and God would send ministers to plant churches.  In fact, many times the gospel circuit riders of the western frontier would be there to witness to the settlers as they unloaded their wagons.  As a results, the Church of the Lord has reached into every part of our society as it grew.

     The world of the Internet is no different.  God is putting his servants in Cyber Space to witness to those who are there.  And now, First Baptist Church in Miles, Tx  has joined the team and is on the playing field with the rest of God’s servants. 

     After all, Jesus did give us the great commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel, baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I’m sure he knew that Cyber Space was coming, and I am also convinced that we should be there as a witness. 

     And besides that, the Internet is a fabulous tool for Christians!  It opens the world of the entire global Christian community to them.  In their own homes they have access to wonderful teaching and instruction from the best. 

                                                                                                              Brother Charles

                                                                                                              Pastor, First Baptist Church

                                                                                                              Miles, TX