Internet as a Forum for

Christian Community

According to a recent article in Time Magazine, 10 there are nearly 20,000 discussion groups on the Internet altogether and the number will surely be growing. This provides numerous opportunities for all Netizens to discuss various aspects of Christianity. For years, some information providers like CompuServe and America OnLine have facilitated their own groups for discussions on topics as Christian faith, etc. Also, the Usenet, in general, offers many opportunities for interaction and exchange of views on spiritual issues.
One can take the group .alt.christnet as one example. They offer several forums for discussion on the following topics,
alt.christnet
alt.christnet.atheism
alt.christnet.bible
alt.christnet.christianlife
alt.christnet.ethics
alt.christnet.evangelical
alt.christnet.hypocrisy
alt.christnet.nudism -for Christian nudists
alt.christnet.philosophy
alt.christnet.prayer
alt.christnet.public
alt.christnet.second coming.real soon now
alt.christnet.sex -Discussions on Christian views on sex
alt.christnet.theology

The names indicate the topics discussed in these groups--which truly may facilitate issues of interest for a rich variety of people! The «alt.» refers to the Alternative category were almost all kind of topics may get their own discussion group.

However, Christianity is also a matter of importance in other Usenet-groups. Home-schooling may for example be a controversial issue. There is a special subgroup under the «miscellaneous» category that deals with issues of concern for parents who have chosen to teach their children at home and others interested in the matter. (misc.education.home school. christian)

Under the category of «society» there are also many groups created to facilitate common exchange of views with more focuses on the society-related implications. Furthermore, there are national Usenets as well where religion is a «hot» topic and the debates can be long and exhausting.
A major Christian facilitator for e-mail groups and lists for people having the same interest in mission-related topics is the Brigada network, facilitated by Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). A total of 45 different conferences, many focusing on unreached people groups or specific peoples or events, provides a major source for networking among evangelicals in missions.

Barna Research concluded after interviewing hundreds of «wired» 1 Christians that «churches that don’t establish a presence in cyberspace will start to seem badly out of touch with their parishioners.» 2

Based on personal participation in several forums on the Net, many of them Christian, one cannot avoid observing a real proliferation of excitement and engagement among many believers. They are generally using the new electronic medias for rapid and effective interaction, discussions, asking for advice, providing resources for personal and ministry use. During the last two to three years Christians from all kind of ministries and churches have made available a real «gold mine» of resources for personal spiritual life and ministry resources. A few hundred people from different denominations may have achieved much more in terms of practical, ecumenical cooperation during a couple of years than through decades of ecumenical dialogue.

Perhaps the most significant spiritual tool developed is the opportunity for intercession and sharing of prayer needs, with several different groups and forums, and if desired--at the same time. The Internet has made possible a real unity in prayer across barriers of denominations, countries and time-zones.
There is much enthusiasm and eagerness. Quite a number of churches, virtual and real, aim to reach non-Christians. Some of this may not be very effective, however, and we need to investigate more in-depth what kind of effect some selected ministries may have measured. In terms of Christian witnessing, one cannot help noticing that there is a lot of the traditional «come and join us» type of evangelism but not much of a strategic, well-planned effort to reach out to all the corners and «ends» of the virtual word through e-mail lists, MUD’s, and general discussion groups.

Endnotes

1 "Wired" is a popular expression for being connected to the Internet

2 Ramo, "Finding God on the Web," Time, 63.