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Building Communities in Cyberspace
The Bible emphasizes community.
First, that God seeks relationship with his creation. Our designer wants all of his creations to live in an intimate fellowship with him and ultimately experience the heavenly joy he has prepared through his Son Jesus' atonement for all our sins.
Second, God designed us to live in a true, open fellowship with our neighbors. The fall of mankind and the existing reality of sin have not only damaged our relations with God but also perpetrates our everyday life in society.
As Christians, we are called to live as a forgiven, justified people fighting against the consequences of sin on a personal level as well as a structural level in our society. Our common task is to manifest Christ in all the realities of life. Or to use the words of Stanley Hauerwas, "For Jesus’ universality is manifested only by a people who are willing to take his cross as their story, as the necessary condition for living truthfully in this life." 22
Presenting the gospel to a buster is a challenge. Many busters have not read the Bible, they regard Christians as "whacked extremists" (Zander) and do not care what important and influential experts have to say. "To present a picture of Christ that busters can relate to, we need to rely on the power of story," says Zander, and continues,
"they will listen to your story, especially if it honestly describes the difficult as well as the good aspects of following Christ. They will listen to the story of someone who hasn’t necessarily been successful but has been faithful." 23
The only absolute for the busters, according to Zander, is,
"everyone’s story is worth listening to and learning from. Here’s what needs to be communicated: "God’s story intersected with my story; now I can share it with you so that you can consider making it a part of your story."24
One does not have to be a buster to realize that all of this is basically true for millions of people, no matter what generation or age they are in. Trying to understand and specifically target buster people in our communication of Christ will undoubtedly also relate to the lives and mentalities of many other people. Professor Kraft reminds us that "the messenger himself/herself is the major component of the total message. ... We are a major part of the message that we seek to communicate."25
Our challenge is to "embody Christ" in our lives, so that not only our words but also our deeds may converge into a holistic testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Also Kevin Graham Ford emphasizes this when he writes,
"What, then, is the evangelistic medium of the nineties and beyond?
Us!
Individual Christians need to become the medium for the message. This means that our lives need to be authentic. Integrity is the key to effective witnessing among today’s youth generation, because (1) Xers are highly suspicious of fakes and of people who want to exploit them, (2) a story that is told without authenticity and integrity is a lie and doesn’t deserve to be told, and (3) Xers are hungry for the kind of authenticity and integrity that they can’t find in the systems of this world. Only when we have shown by the quality of our own lives that we have something to offer will our message have power and credibility
Zander gives several important ideas to help communicate with the busters.
First, we need to be real in the midst of all kinds of hype and technical "effects." To be real means being vulnerable and honest, willing to share your own struggles with life.
Second, we need to dare to take chances. Fresh methods of all kinds are needed. Yet, the busters do not want to be entertained. They are not impressed by a slick presentation that avoids the tough, the honest, the sometimes unanswerable questions.
Third, be relational. Avoid an "us-versus-them" settings and relationships. It is a matter of talking with rather than talking to the person, always open for time to answer questions and interact within the fellowship. Fourth, be relevant. They deeply desire practical sermons, helping them to relate their faith to everyday life. The gospel can really be relevant to them. Zander strongly emphasizes that,
"for busters what is most relevant is the core of the gospel--redemption and reconciliation. To be reclaimed and made beautiful again and to be brought back into relationship with God and others are two truths that penetrate busters' broken hearts. Busters have been trashed so they feel like trash." 27
Finally, give people time. Time to sort out emotions, thoughts, life. Kevin Ford writes,
"Time for reflection is a key component of effective evangelism. Xers need time to reflect on their lives, on their problems and on their pain in order to see their need of Jesus Christ. They need time to reflect on the story of Jesus Christ in order to see that he is the answer to their need. Xers who cannot (or will not) take time for reflection are difficult to bring to a point of trust and commitment."
Notes:
22. Hauerwas, A Community of Character, 44
23. Dieter Zander, "The Gospel for Generation X: Making Room in the Church for "Busters." In Equipping the Saints, Second Quarter 1996, 6.