Millions are finding Jesus in cyberspace

"And then he [Jesus] told them [his disciples], “You are to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere" Mark 16:15.

Two thousand years ago, when Jesus issued this command to a fledgling Christian church, it might have seemed like a daunting task given the fact that the disciples traveled mostly on foot back then. These early Christians were the foot soldiers responsible for spreading the gospel throughout the then known world that included Asia and Africa. Little could they have envisioned a day when Christians could connect with millions of people in Europe, North and South America, Antarctica and Australia via the Internet with one click. Fast forward to the 21st century where millions of seekers are finding God from the comfort of their PCs, tablet computers and smartphones.

The Internet is giving Christians yet another way to deliver the good news of the gospel to virtual millions through online chatrooms, social networking, webcasts and weblogs. The Internet's ability to reach an audience of millions inspired Campus Crusade for Christ to create an online evangelism start-up in 2004. Its success launched Global Media Outreach (GMO) as a viable tool for evangelism. Since going live, over  50 million people have logged onto GMO's  many websites and made decisions for Christ.

In 2011, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) launched "Peace with God," an online evangelism website. BGEA's trained volunteer online missionaries converse with visitors via a chatroom. Visitors can ask any question, but at some point, the conversation always turns to whether they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Currently, over 3 million online visitors have logged onto PeacewithGod.net and made decisions to accept Christ. Another popular online evangelism website is "Need Him." Through its radio and TV spots, "Need Him" encourages listeners to call an 800 number to speak with an online counselor about their spiritual concerns. About the reach of online evangelism, a blogger writes:

"Many people in desperate need of the gospel stop in Christian chatrooms, hoping to meet someone who can lead them to God. They think of Christians as experts in how to be saved and how to live a meaningful life. Some of these desperate people know that they are lost. They want someone to help them become Christians, and they say so as they enter the chatrooms." (From ilovejesus.com)

According to GMO's Michelle Diedrich, online evangelism reaches a wider audience today than any other means of spreading the gospel:

"We are the first generation - ever - to hold in our hands the technology to give every person on earth multiple chances to accept Jesus Christ. More people use the Internet than go to church." 

Sharing Jesus with little ones

Diedrich explains, however, that online evangelism is intended to complement, not replace, traditional church programs and services. Q Place president Mary Schaller favors a [more] traditional face-to-face approach to evangelism. She shares her thoughts on the subject:

"The obvious advantages to digital spiritual dialogue are its convenience, flexibility, accessibility and anonymity. Yet our culture is caught in a problematic paradox: Despite the increasing digital interconnectivity, people continue to grow more socially disconnected and lonely because most of the conversation is superficial. Can you have meaningful, life- changing digital conversations and relationships? I believe to a certain extent you can, but they don’t take the place of being in the same room with people."

Facebook is yet another cyber way Christians have found to meet and connect old and new friends to Christ. Facebook is gaining popularity as a place to share scripture, testimonies, church happenings and invite others to evangelistic gatherings. Likewise, weblogs have expanded the reach of the gospel across continents. When I first started writing my blogs, The Gospel to GO and The Gospel to GO: London,  I didn't know whether they would find an audience. To my surprise, using Google Analytics, I discovered that the blogs have a worldwide audience spanning five of the seven continents--- just shows the power of the Internet. Antarctica and Australia, it's time to come onboard.

But where does all this cyber-evangelizing leave the lowly foot soldier of the gospel in the scheme of things? The Bible says that foot soldiers are still valued as the preferred method for communicating the gospel to others:

"And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news. Romans 10:15"

Evangelism team at Siloam Baptist Church

Online evangelism will never diminish the local church's role as an evangelizing body of believers. Online converts will always need a physical church to call home where they can practice their new faith, and build relationships. Local churches provide that personal touch, and face-to-face contact that the Internet cannot. The fact is many men and women who have trusted Jesus as their Savior, did so because a friend or a stranger simply took the time to explain the gospel to them. Online evangelism neither eliminates the need nor the responsibility of local churches to engage in vigorous soulwinning efforts in their communities. Siloam Baptist Church in Norristown, PA, USA is an example of  how the local church can embrace the soulwinning aspect of its mission (view slideshow). Every month, members of Siloam's GO!Team take to the streets surrounding the church to engage with the residents and pray for the neighborhood.

Ultimately, the gospel's power does not depend on a particular methodology but rather on its relational ---God2man2man ---connection. Whether that connection is communicated over Internet or over a backyard fence, this is the penultimate message that Christians have to share with the world.

"And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14"

Why Christians should adopt a wait and see approach toward gay marriage

"The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a farmer scattered good seed in a field. But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and scattered weed seeds in the field and then left...[The farmer's] servants then asked, 'Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?' 'No!' he answered. 'You might also pull up the wheat. Leave the weeds alone until harvest time. Then I’ll tell my workers to gather the weeds and tie them up and burn them. But I’ll have them store the wheat in my barn.'” - Matt 13:23-30 CEV (Emphasis added)

Barring Slavery and the Civil War, no other issue in American life has so divided these United States, torn apart our social, political and religious fabric, and splintered families like the issue of  gay marriage. And no matter what the U.S.Supreme Court decides in July, the controversy over gay marriage is unlikely to go back into the closet. Welcomed or not, gay marriage advocates have fought hard for a seat at America's table, and they're not likely to give it up anytime soon. To the naysayers, the message is clear "deal with it." And actually, that might not be bad advice.

For Christians, the concern is that the battle for gay marriage is becoming more of a distraction because of the cause celebre it has become. It seems Christians are spending more time becoming entangled in the affairs of this world than in doing the Lord's work. Where in the Bible does it say that Jesus, or his disciples or the early Church leaders spent their time protesting and debating the social and political issues of the day? What the Bible does say, is that Jesus and his disciples went about preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and doing good works.

This is not to say that Christians today should bury their head in the sand and remain silent in the face of this world's growing moral turpitude. There are issues like poverty, crime, illiteracy, and homelessness where Christian involvement is needed to help those at risk. But Christians must not become sidetracked by issues or neglect the call to spread the Gospel and win souls to Christ. Jesus always kept the mission in sight despite many distractions and much opposition. His number one priority was always to complete the mission.

Likewise, Christians, who follow Christ, must do as God's Word says. Commenting in Decision Magazine recently, J.C.Watts, a former U.S. Congressman and a pastor, said, "If you're a believer, your first allegiance is to the Word of God, and God expects you first of all to defend His Word. He also expects that even if you disagree with someone's sexual preference, you will still love them and treat them with human dignity."

Ideally, Christians around the world should be examples of God's love in action. If we do our part, God will do His part. It's God who judges sin, not us. God sees no difference between telling a lie and committing a homosexual act. Both are a sin and will receive the same judgement from God. Christians have a responsibility to tell sinners how their sins can be forgiven, and not just that they deserve to go to Hell. If we do our part, God will take care of all the rest.  Wait and see.

Update: In the U.S., 12 states and the District of Columbia have legalized gay marriage.