Virtual Mindfield

The Internet is a minefield—there is no doubt about it. For every blessing it brings (and there are many) there seem to be innumerable dangers. For every relationship strengthened, there is another destroyed. For every minute of time saved through some great technological advance, there are hours wasted in distraction and procrastination. (maybe like reading this blog...ha!) For every good use, there are uncounted evil uses. Such is the fate of technology in the hands of sinful human beings.

One problem with the Internet can be the loss of personal integrity. I ordered a new book today called Virtual Integrity and it is on improving, not removing, virtual experiences. It is not about fleeing the Internet, but about using it wisely and with integrity. In the words of the author Daniel J. Lohrmann, it is about learning “to recognize and repel the many, many challenges to integrity faced by anyone who goes online.” My wife and I have often talked about if we have children, how we will handle this issue with them having access online. Most, if honest, will admit that it is extremely easy for anyone to see and experience many debased things on the web, all in the privacy and secrecy of our home. This can be a huge temptation to those struggling with certain sins, having the capability of partaking in them in a private way. Not having children, we haven't had to deal with this yet, but when or if they do come along, it has been decided that all Internet access will be done out in the open spaces of the house, and monitored. No internet access in the bed rooms or closed spaces. I look forward to reading this book, although I'm not sure how quickly I'll get to it seeing there are a few other books ahead of this one waiting eagerly to be read.

I just got the Master's Seminary Journal in the mail and will be reading it next. It's a timely issue no doubt with five articles dealing with Homosexuality. The articles should be insightful as they deal with God's Word on Homosexuality, Cultural and Medical Myths about Homosexuality, Marriage and Homosexuality: A Biblical Understanding, Parenting and Homosexuality, and the Church's Response to Homosexuality. This journal comes out once a year, and the topics are decided a year in advance. One wonders if the faculty of the Seminary knew how timely these articles would be for the state of our nation today. I look forward to being taught the Word of God on this subject, as it is a sensitive and hot topic issue in our culture today. I stand unashamed with God's word on this issue, as I do with any other sin mentioned in the Bible. Some of which I've been guilty of myself. Thank God for his mercy and forgiveness of any sin, regardless, if one would just repent, turn from those sins, and trust in the work of Jesus on the cross as an atonement for those sins. The Bible teaches that Christ IS our Savior, but He's also our Lord, and we must obey Him. "And He was saying to them all, If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?" Luke 9:23-25
God Bless.